Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

1989 sportster 883 ceased then started knocking

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 17, 2023 | 09:41 PM
  #1  
rykerkelly93@gmail.com's Avatar
rykerkelly93@gmail.com
Thread Starter
|
Stage III
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer
Default 1989 sportster 883 ceased then started knocking

Had my sportster out for a ride. It has no temp gauge so when I noticed my butt getting a little hot I pulled over to the side of the road. My engine the proceeded to cease. I rocked the bike back and forth in gear until it Unceased. When I fired the engine back up it had a god awful knocking sound in time with the engine shut the bike down right away. Could I have just warped a cylinder or am I looking at bigger problems here?
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2023 | 05:13 AM
  #2  
eighteight's Avatar
eighteight
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10,751
Likes: 7,373
From: OH
Default

The eternal question, did it have oil in it when it seized ?

Either way, yes you have a problem.

Time to break out your tools and / or wallet
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2023 | 05:23 AM
  #3  
rykerkelly93@gmail.com's Avatar
rykerkelly93@gmail.com
Thread Starter
|
Stage III
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer
Default

Originally Posted by eighteight
The eternal question, did it have oil in it when it seized ?

Either way, yes you have a problem.

Time to break out your tools and / or wallet

Yes it had oil in it before I left and still had oil in it after it seized.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2023 | 05:41 AM
  #4  
Screamin beagle's Avatar
Screamin beagle
Seasoned HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
Default

Connecting rods knock...its a total teardown to fix...if thats the problem which it does sound like. How many miles are the bike?
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2023 | 05:45 AM
  #5  
rykerkelly93@gmail.com's Avatar
rykerkelly93@gmail.com
Thread Starter
|
Stage III
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer
Default

Originally Posted by Screamin beagle
Connecting rods knock...its a total teardown to fix...if thats the problem which it does sound like. How many miles are the bike?
no way to tell it’s a bobber build only thing it has is an speedometer no od
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Lawson_Inc
Sportster Models
7
Jul 16, 2021 05:03 PM
joshaughnessy
Engine Mechanical Topics
3
Aug 29, 2018 11:42 AM
Rustygold
Sportster Parts
1
May 5, 2016 09:56 AM
Murph918
Exhaust System Topics
0
Jan 15, 2011 01:07 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:25 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE