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Hi Joe,
in the 1990s, I was offered a 1988 FXSTS Springer Softail 85th Anniversary model. The motorcycle was from the first owner, with low mileage, but unfortunately I didn't buy it.
Unfortunately, I no longer remember the serial number of the limited edition; the first "Springer" model was not very popular in Germany at the time, and consequently, the used prices were low.
I am following the story of your machine with great interest, and would like to thank you for the wealth of information and all the photos!
You have written and illustrated everything important very well, exemplary.
Ride safe, and good luck for you from Germany!
Mike
PS The narrow front wheel on the 1988 model simply looked too "dizzy" for my personal taste; I might have bought it with a 16" front wheel, but that wasn't foreseeable back then...
Last edited by Mike1956G; Feb 9, 2026 at 08:14 AM.
Hi Joe,
in the 1990s, I was offered a 1988 FXSTS Springer Softail 85th Anniversary model. The motorcycle was from the first owner, with low mileage, but unfortunately I didn't buy it.
Unfortunately, I no longer remember the serial number of the limited edition; the first "Springer" model was not very popular in Germany at the time, and consequently, the used prices were low.
I am following the story of your machine with great interest, and would like to thank you for the wealth of information and all the photos!
You have written and illustrated everything important very well, exemplary.
Ride safe, and good luck for you from Germany!
Mike
PS The narrow front wheel on the 1988 model simply looked too "dizzy" for my personal taste; I might have bought it with a 16" front wheel, but that wasn't foreseeable back then...
You’d be looking for a Heritage springer softail for the larger front wheel. Not the FXSTS. The little tire is the “HotRod” look version. Kinda grabbed some of the chopper look of the day from the factory.
Thanks, guys! I had some running around to do this morning, so all I accomplished was cleaning, polishing, and clear painting some bolts. Here's the first batch, from the frame and swingarm, so you can see the NAPA clear that I use. I also did the motor mount bolts for tomorrow's job.
Are you saying you clear coated the bolts? Never heard of that before. How do they hold up to tool marks?
I've done this before, they hold up fine using 6-point sockets. Maybe a little damage, but you can't really see it, and the areas you can see continue to look great.
One more little task to finish the swingarm before tackling the motor. Some may remember my ill advised attempt to use a later softail 4-piston rear caliper, which led me to buy a later swingarm. That swingarm doesn't fit my frame, but it did come with chrome trim. Due to differences in the way the swingarms are built, I had to trim them to fit mine, but they came out great.
This will make up for the black caliper mount that replaces the pitted chrome one that was on there from the flood.
Last edited by Joe12RK; Feb 10, 2026 at 11:22 AM.
Reason: typos
Productive day! The motor is in, and the cylinders cleaned up and painted.
The shop that rebuilt the motor painted the top part of the cases, but I had to paint the bottom half which was inside the stand. It's sitting in the frame now, with all the bolts in but not tight.
The factory did a much better job machining the motor mounting points than they did on my shovelhead. I couldn't fit a 0.001 feeler under either side, with the back bolts tightened. I do this check to prevent loading the case.
The cylinders needed a good cleaning, mineral spirits and a scotchbrite pad on the fins, brakleen, acetone and windex on the cylinder walls. They are only 0.010 over stock.
I'm letting the paint cure overnight, then I'll file the edges of the fins. I'm using HD Texture Black, which is what they used back then. This is different than wrinkle black, if you didn't know.
Tomorrow, if all goes well I'll install the pistons and rings, then slide the cylinders on them.
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