883 Top End Work
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 41
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From: Louisville, KY
883 Top End Work
This winter I will be doing the S&S Cycles 1200 Upgrade.
Bike has 30,000 miles on it. Any good suggestions on what I need to look at/replace while I have the top end off?
PS: No BS about upgrading an 883. I love my bike, the color and don't want to get rid of it or get another sportie. Plus, I like wrenching!
Bike has 30,000 miles on it. Any good suggestions on what I need to look at/replace while I have the top end off?
PS: No BS about upgrading an 883. I love my bike, the color and don't want to get rid of it or get another sportie. Plus, I like wrenching!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,735
Likes: 17,570
From: Driftless Area
I don't know what the S&S kit comes with, but I would inspect the lifters carefully, if they aren't included.
At that mileage, the stock ones may not last with that extra oomph.
At that mileage, the stock ones may not last with that extra oomph.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,315
Likes: 1,663
From: Tampa
I've done numerous 883-1200 conversions in my life. They're pretty straight forward. A couple things worth mentioning:
Make sure your cylinders are clean as a whistle. Use brake cleaner and a white paper cloth to get them spotless. Clean until the white paper towel stays white.
Since it's a kit from S&S I'd bet your rings will be gapped. I'd check anyway though.
Be mindful of the piston orientation too. The arrows don't always mean the same thing across different manufacturers.
Good luck and have fun. What year Sporty is it? Carb tuning is important as well if you have a carb, otherwise FI tuning. I blew up my first 1200 conversion because I didn't use a large enough main jet.
Make sure your cylinders are clean as a whistle. Use brake cleaner and a white paper cloth to get them spotless. Clean until the white paper towel stays white.
Since it's a kit from S&S I'd bet your rings will be gapped. I'd check anyway though.
Be mindful of the piston orientation too. The arrows don't always mean the same thing across different manufacturers.
Good luck and have fun. What year Sporty is it? Carb tuning is important as well if you have a carb, otherwise FI tuning. I blew up my first 1200 conversion because I didn't use a large enough main jet.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
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Years ago a builder told me an 883 is a great motor to bore for oversized piston and not end up with paper thin walls!
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Intermediate
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From: Louisville, KY
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,997
Likes: 2,083
From: Newport,TN area
You may have already discovered this, but Hammer Performance has a multitude
of good videos on numerous rebuild/conversion topics.....
http://hammerperf.com/ttvideos.shtml
hth,
T.
of good videos on numerous rebuild/conversion topics.....
http://hammerperf.com/ttvideos.shtml
hth,
T.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,782
Likes: 1,202
From: river
please elaborate in detail. You cant even bore the newer 883 cylinders, I forget what year that started. Im just curious what paper thin walls are on a 1200 conversion. As in the measurement.