I got a 1988 XLH883. Need a new chain soon, I'm running the one thats been on the bike for years, its dirty and rusty and can break any moment and also very loose. Do all the 883s use the same size chain? what size do I look for? no, i dont have a shop manual YET, and this needs to be done now. I have someone who is going to help me change it.

and any brand recamendations? which are most reliable and have the least stretch for the best price?

 

Remove the master link from your chain, and remove it from your bike [ There is an actual tool you can get that helps in removing the master link] But you don't have to have one...Take it to a bike shop, and they will match the links length to a new chain....Personally on my old sporty that had a chain, i put on an O RING chain.....Which runs a little quieter, slightly smoother etc, I forget the company name that makes the particular chain, possibly diamond chain, But not sure....The bike shop will surely know, and carry them in their inventory... Note , you can also just cut the old chain off, using a dremmel tool with a cutting wheel.....[ wear eye protection }...... And keep your chain clean and lubed on a regular basis, as well as properly aligned and tightened....It will last ALOT longer....And check your sprockets also for excessive wear...If worn, your new chain will wear much faster. The teeth on your sprocket should be flat on the tip of them....If they are pointy and sharp, they are worn....Good luck.

 

and what do I do if my sprocket is worn? I looked at it while inspecting my chain and alot of it is worn away, im going out again in a few hours to really check it now, but where can I get a new sprocket?

 

New sprockets are a standard maintenance item available through any stealership, independant shop, online, etc. Your best bet right now is to buy a new set of sprockets in the standard gearing (count your teeth if you need to know what that is) and an O ring chain. You will likely not have to touch it again except for occasionally tightening it up. I think the O ring chains still need the occasional chain lube. You have been lubing the one on there, right? There is no chain oiler on that model. They didn't work very well anyway and mostly just made a mess.

Even better than putting an O ring chain on is to just put a belt drive on it and forget about it. The belt drive kit on our 883 was about five bills about 20 years ago. Don't know what they are now, but you may not want to blow five bills right now, so that's why I suggested the O ring chain first.

Dirty and rusty are not necessarily a problem. Loose chain with the adjuster all the way back is. Frozen links are. With the chain loose and the rear wheel up, spin the wheel slowly, wiggle each link and make sure it is not frozen. If any are, then you need a chain now. If the adjusters are all the way back, you need a chain now. Cheap fix is to just put a new Diamond regular (non-O ring) chain on and get a little more out of it, but going with the O ring or a belt drive are the best way. We got about 6K miles from the original chain on the 883 (wore out when we got the bike home from the dealer at 6K miles) and I put the belt drive on it then. I used to get 6-8K miles from the chain on my shovelhead. I used to just use the cheap Diamond ones and I had to adjust them about every 500 miles, or every night on the road. A friend of mine put an O ring chain on in Anchorage, AK and only had to adjust it once all the way back to Texas. I'd go O ring if I had anything with a chain today. An 1-1/16" combination wrench in the saddlebag is pretty standard for anyone with a chain.

It really sounds like your bike was rode hard and put up wet. It is a very tough, reliable bike. You just need to get all the DPO issues worked out and you should have years of trouble free riding. You did get the air filter element in, right?

 

hahaha -cough- ..yeah... about that air filter..... couldnt afford it last week. will try this week along with the new chain.

my adjusters are all the way back and the chain has a lot of slack, but i dont have any frozen links, and upon closer inspection its not really rusty, just very loose and dirty. still getting a new one anyways. any tips for installing it? how lengthy is the process? ive worked on chains and engins and all this stuff for smaller bikes, im always doubting myself and in need of opinions of others, just how i am and always been.

 

Don't ride the bike another mile without an air cleaner element in there. You don't have a POS. Don't treat it like one.

Chain replacement is the same as any other bike. Given the DPO status, you might first try counting the links on what you have and seeing if the DPO had someone put on a chain that was too long to start with. If that was the case, pop a link out of it with a chain breaker and you're fixed. If the chain is worn out, then use one of my suggestions above (cheap Diamond, good fix with O ring and sprockets, or belt). Worn out sprockets will eat up a new chain, so if you go cheap, get ready for one of the other choices. Sprockets are cheap anyway. Check the online suppliers like Jireh.

 

Definitely do the sprockets if they are worn. If the sprockets are OK, here's a quick method to install a chain: Get the rear wheel off the ground and the bike in neutral. Open the chain at the master link but do not remove the chain yet. Use the master link to connect the old chain to the new chain. Pull the new chain through using the old chain. Attach a new master link. Good luck.

 

Wow, Some folks here remember what a chain is! [&:]

 

the sprockets are worn out with the chain. If i replace I have to go the all the way and replace my sprockets and chain. I'm going to take Dr. Hess' advice and move the adjusters forward, remove a link or two, and adjust the chain tension. this chain was hanged some 6 years ago, but wasnt a daily rider until recently.

would this fix last me the 2 months or so i need before i can afford the new set of replacements.

 

It may but be sure to keep it well lubed if you are willing to take that risk. I wouldn't recommend it for too long. But I can understand$$ issues when you are young. Try not to beat the snot outta it till you can replace those vital parts.
Also make sure you get an accurate count of the links or remember that you took one out when purchasing the new chain.

And PLEASE for the love of GOD get an air filter for that bike!