I recently made a trade and got a 71 sportster, I ran the vin to see what it actually was. The guy I got it from didn't know what he had, he thought it was a softail. Well the vin says its a 71 xlh, he said it had either the 1000 or 1100 engine, grime what I've read it only came in a 883 (900) engine.
Now this thing has been customized a bunch so I'm not sure what engine it has, here are some pics and maybe you guys can help.




Thanks
Garrett

 

I don't know Harleys that well, yet. It looks like he added Touring fenders, like from a Road King or maybe a Heritage Softail?
Different tank too?

 

Yep, it's all heritage softail stuff on it, and a split double tank.

 

That definitely looks like an Ironhead engine. I think 72 was the year the 1000cc replaced the 900 so unless its beefed up, that should be a 900.

 

My 71 shifted on the right. I think it may be a later engine.

 

Agreed, no right shift, and it looks like an Evo starter, not an Ironhead starter to me. Plus, I think the kickstart shaft stub was visible if it was an electric start only in 71.

I'm going to say a late model Ironhead, probably 1985 or so. Left shift makes it later than 1974, that starter puts it in the 80's for sure.

John

 

Ok, so you think it's a 80 something engine, can you tell if its 900 or 1000?

 

It could be a Franken bike. Different parts from different bikes and eras. But the oil taank look like a late Iron tank.

 

Looks to me as though you've got a "mutt". No right-side shifter, definitely an Ironhead (NOT shovel head) engine as it is all unitized. Could be someone dropped in a '77 or up engine in the cradle, and that would definitely make it a 1000cc in size. The tins are Big Twin.

 

Frame was changed in '79. Then again in the early '80s. Your frame looks like the Evo head frame like was on a '86. I don't know how many years that frame was use.

I did some checking. That frame with an Iron Head was used from 1982 to '85.