I just started my winter project and will post some other pics as I go .. I picked up a 1989 softail barn find , mileage is 5400 and has set in a barn and outside for about 25 years. I have the engine and tranny out of it now pics are on my phone so will post some other pics later today.. the first question I have is , has anyone seen the head studs put in upside down from the factory? I know it was done from the factory because of the type of sealant that was used between the jugs and cases.

 

Please keep us updated! Enjoy the process

 

If you're referring to the abutment on the stud being on the upper end, yes, they were that style stud from the factory '88 on. I can't remember when they started putting instructions in the replacement stud kits to install the abutment down.

Do yourself a big favor - if they aren't bummed up or loose, leave them alone! Often as not, removing them will bring the threads out of the case on one or more of them.

Reason they turned them the other way is people were milling heads, using thin head gaskets, etc and the long head nut could jam against the abutment and either cause a blown head gasket and/or foul the nut against the abutment. Then you had to cut the stud of chew it up with vise grips to get the head off...

 

Good luck with your build.

 

Looks like she’ll clean up nicely.Nice project, keep the pics coming.I like that color combo.

 

89 Heritage Softail did not have tank badges, and I don`t remember a blue color when I was picking mine out, the colors were maroon, black and cream, and some weird pink color...

Still have the `89 in the garage, runs better than new...

Some rocker boxes in `89 were made with a substandard material, and warped easily, especially the center part, which can become very soft, you`ll know if you have the bad ones...

You should toss the lifters into the scrap bin, they were problematic until the factory upgraded them in the mid 90`s.

The inner cam bearing on that bike will be the Torrington B-138, no reason to replace it.

The transmission pulley will be the old design, which was notorious for coming loose, that should be replaced with the upgraded hardware from `late `95 or later.

Front fork springs were junk when new...

 

Obviously that thing is not stock.. Be careful how you take it apart and take note as to the way everything is set up.. I would take a lot of pictures with every little step that you make.. Seeing that you have an LSR pipe on there along with the S&S E, I'll venture to bet that there's probably some pistons in there and other things done to the motor... So make a good photographic library of everything...
First thing I would also do is take a compression test to know where you're at...

 

That looks like an original carb to me, a Keihin butterfly type (`89 was the last year for these carbs on Harleys).

 

Shoot. Phones don't do it justice.... Thanks

 

Looking forward to seeing this come together over the winter. I'm jealous. Looked all year for a project bike and never found one. I'll just have to sit back and watch everyone else.

What's your plan? Is this a restoration to stock, or we looking at something more elaborate?