There seems to be lots of conflicting accounts of this model. The FXB Sturgis last year was 1982 and this model does have a primary belt and final drive belt.I am trying to find out if it is possible that a 1983 FXSB could have a factory installed primary belt drive. I have researched this topic several owners in some "old" posts claim to have factory primary belts on their 1983 FXSB but according to what I can find, the primary belt drive was not working out and was dropped for the 1983 FXSB year model.
Who can give me a clear answer to this?

 

No Help here... I also have heard many Claims... mostly from folks who did Not get their bike New...
I can tell you that by 1984... Chain Primary...
Harley was decidedly Not against using up "Stock" even after a change... especially remembering the "new Management" was strapped for cash so badly they had to decide ... Evo or Nova... among other things.
Thinking along those lines... it may Not be a Stretch to find early '83's with a leftover belt... as Assembled at the Factory... Me Thinks

 

The last 5 digits of the vin are 14260 so I don't know how early or late this bike is for the production year.
I Found info that 3277 FXSBs were made in 1983. Harley starts at 1000 so that would make the 4260 actually 3260 and close to the last bikes made for that production year....right??

 

But, I do Not believe the sequential number is for the given model... I thought it was the sequential number of [heavy weight] motorcycles!!

 

I've moved on the looking at the shovelhead FXR. Thanks

 

I have a ‘83 fxsb with a stock belt primary drive. I would like to know more about it(meaning the entire scoot).
The scoot is a basket case, but still intact. Much of my research does not add up. Can anyone assist me with sound knowledge? I am at a loss. I know I have a diamond in the rough, that just needs to be cut correctly.
I can not even get the same name for it from different articles. Low Ride, Glide, Sturgis, ect…primary belt, chain,
rear chain, rear belt, single disk, dual disk. You can’t tell me SOMEONE doesn’t know? The scoot is mainly stock, I just now found this forum, I hope I will get somewhere.

 

I have a 1983 fxsb with stock primary belt drive.

 

hello darjaymor,
i just looked at my 1983 harley sales brochure, i have 2 different ones & they say that your Bike is a FXSB Low Rider & yes your bike came with Primary & Secondary Belts, i will try to post some photos so you will be able to see what your Bike was originally , when you see the photos you'll have a better idea of how far away from stock your bike really is . . . are you going to try to bring her back to stock ? or are you going to do a custom build ? from the parts i see laying around on the floor you've got what looks like FXR foot pedals & will not mount to your frame . . . the very first thing you need to do is get a set of Parts & Service Manuals or you'll be just shooting in the dark when it comes to parts ,+ with the correct manuals you will find every thing you need to know about your Bike ,from carb, electrics, brakes ,exhaust & instruments, that are all missing on your Bike !!

the biggest challenge on your bike will probably be the electrics, it dose not look like there is much left of the original harness , but i think you will be able to find a complete repo harness for maybe 120-150 $ on the internet i would not try to salvage whats left, just start over fresh & save your self a lot of headaches !

i have a question for you how are you wrenching skills ? is this your first Harley ? your first build ? if your not sure of your abilities please get some help because this project is definitively going to be a challenge for some one just learning , but if you go slow and take your time & really study the Manuals before you start working on it , you'll be able to do it with no special tools , & theres plenty of help on this forum.

Good luck & happy wrenching !!


heres just a quick shot of your bike, i'll try to get a better photo tomorrow when the lighting is better for my camera . . .

just realised i posted this in the wrong thread , it was meant for darjaymor in 1983 FXSB talk to me . . .