sporster year?
#1
02-26-2009, 09:58 PM
#3
02-26-2009, 10:52 PM
4A == XLCH which is kick start only, no electric start.
next 5 digits are the serial number
next is the letter H for Harley Davidson
last is the year 1= 1971, 2= 1972, etc.
1970 and 71 are 883 cc, commonly referred to as 900
1972 and later are 997.5 cc, commonly referred to as 1000
One year, i think 1972 or 1973 [not sure which] it is a different 1000cc between the early and the late models. The later ones have thicker cylinder walls and a different bolt pattern. Other guys here know more about this than do i.
The most reliable way that i have heard of to determine which cylinders you have is to obtain cylinder gaskets for each of the 3 possibilities [900, thin 100, later 1000], remove the cylinder heads/cylinders from the bike, and see which gaskets are correct.
Someone else may have an easier way.
Last edited by IronMick; 02-26-2009 at 11:07 PM.
#4
02-27-2009, 12:17 AM
1970 and 71 are 883 cc, commonly referred to as 900
1972 and later are 997.5 cc, commonly referred to as 1000
One year, i think 1972 or 1973 [not sure which] it is a different 1000cc between the early and the late models. The later ones have thicker cylinder walls and a different bolt pattern. Other guys here know more about this than do i.
The most reliable way that i have heard of to determine which cylinders you have is to obtain cylinder gaskets for each of the 3 possibilities [900, thin 100, later 1000], remove the cylinder heads/cylinders from the bike, and see which gaskets are correct.
Someone else may have an easier way.
1972 and later are 997.5 cc, commonly referred to as 1000
One year, i think 1972 or 1973 [not sure which] it is a different 1000cc between the early and the late models. The later ones have thicker cylinder walls and a different bolt pattern. Other guys here know more about this than do i.
The most reliable way that i have heard of to determine which cylinders you have is to obtain cylinder gaskets for each of the 3 possibilities [900, thin 100, later 1000], remove the cylinder heads/cylinders from the bike, and see which gaskets are correct.
Someone else may have an easier way.
Actually there is ( here what I know) different "combinations" of ironhead cylinder and head sets/gaskets.
Cylinders 883/900cc 57-71 (OEM#16464-58 and 16465-58 ) fits only to pre -71 crankcase and has cylinderheads (OEM#16673-57 and 16674-57 ????? not sure about this!!!)
and headgasket (OEM#16769-57) and own cyl.base gasket.
Cylinders 997/1000cc 1972 (OEM#16464-72 and 16465-72) fits only pre -72 crankcase.
Cylinderheads (OEM#16673-7? and 16674-7? ????? not sure about this!!!)
head gasket (OEM#16769-72A)
As I understand cylinder has in base bolt pattern as 900cc and in head pattern a like 1000cc. These cylinders crack easy from base... some sources says that this cylinders has been on 72 and early 73's. Might be so that these aren't interchangeable to any other.
Cylinders 997/1000cc 1973-85 (OEM#16464-73A and 16465-73A) fits crankcase 73-85 and has cylinderheads (OEM#16673-73 and 16674-73) headgasket (OEM#16769-73)
Note that 1979-85 Low compersion models has thicker head gasket (OEM#16769-82)
As IronMick wrote only way to be sure is compare current gaskets.
Last edited by sepixlh; 02-27-2009 at 02:08 AM. Reason: add
#7
02-27-2009, 11:05 AM
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#8
02-27-2009, 11:20 AM
Here's a post from a highly respected man on another forum ...
<<
5 different basic castings for street Iron Head Sportsters:
- 57 for 1957-58 with small valves, go with 900 cyls, only one casting for these cylinders.
- 57 for 1959-1969 with larger valves, same cyls as above. It's not just that the valves are bigger, the casting is different as well.
- 70/71 900 heads, different fin pattern above exhaust port, cheaper to cast, AMF influence!!!, same cyls as above.
- 72 heads for 1972-E73, will only fit "small rebore" 72/E73 1000 cylinders.
- 73 heads for L73/85 heads. These have some variation over the years, such as added bosses for HUGE 79 air cleaner, but bolt pattern don't change..., will only fit "big rebore" L73/85 1000 cylinders.
The two 1000 cyls and heads variants will only fit their respective crankcases... Be careful when you buy replacement sets!!!
-plus the special casting for the race 58/70 900 XLRTT, 3/4" plug and the "small port" Iron XR 750, based/derived from the 58/69 900 heads.
>>
Since yours are -57 they are 900 cc, in one of the first two categories above.
<<
5 different basic castings for street Iron Head Sportsters:
- 57 for 1957-58 with small valves, go with 900 cyls, only one casting for these cylinders.
- 57 for 1959-1969 with larger valves, same cyls as above. It's not just that the valves are bigger, the casting is different as well.
- 70/71 900 heads, different fin pattern above exhaust port, cheaper to cast, AMF influence!!!, same cyls as above.
- 72 heads for 1972-E73, will only fit "small rebore" 72/E73 1000 cylinders.
- 73 heads for L73/85 heads. These have some variation over the years, such as added bosses for HUGE 79 air cleaner, but bolt pattern don't change..., will only fit "big rebore" L73/85 1000 cylinders.
The two 1000 cyls and heads variants will only fit their respective crankcases... Be careful when you buy replacement sets!!!
-plus the special casting for the race 58/70 900 XLRTT, 3/4" plug and the "small port" Iron XR 750, based/derived from the 58/69 900 heads.
>>
Since yours are -57 they are 900 cc, in one of the first two categories above.
#9
02-27-2009, 05:28 PM
#10
03-01-2009, 07:19 AM
