Sportster 883 -1200 Conversion : Weekend Wrenching

[@5695q]

Bought an 883 in 1998, after 20K miles decided to do the 1200 kit for a trip to Sturgis. Buell T-storm heads, SE cams, ignition and Super Trapp 2-1 exhaust, re-jetted the carb and what a difference, the bike would do 120 no problem and cruise at 80 all day without breaking a sweat. Fairly easy to do if you are at least a little bit mechanically inclined. Get the manual for the bike and follow it along with instructions that come with the kit.

[@crazyirish4]

I know this is an older video but I have to say I really appreciate the time you take to tell us how/why something needs to be done.

[@chrishunter5041]

Not a HD owner but found this interesting, thanks for posting

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

When I first bought my 883 Harley Sportster everyone told me to put the 1200 kit in it. I said maybe if the engine is worn out. Twenty-five years and four hundred thousand miles and it has not worn out yet.Ironically I bought my Sportster because I am everyday Rider and I knew I would need to do stuff to it but it runs so cool and the oil lubricates the engine so well 200 degrees in Florida to up in the summertime cannot get better than that. If you don't cook your oil it continues to lubricate your engine. I change the oil twice a year and I change the oil filter every other time. When I would work a convenience store in a bad neighborhood you would see my Sportster outside the store road-weary. I once knew a girl who who was getting her stuff and the guys were talking about knocking off my store and one of them said oh no don't go there the crazy biker works there. My reputation preceded me.

[@Goatkid76]

I followed this video and converted my 883 - 1200. Thank you

[@connorbrady8740]

Thank you so much for making this video! Doing the 1250 kit on my 93 883 and it’s my first real project. This video has been a lifesaver. I would’ve been lost without it. Thank you so much for making this great tutorial! I also had a good chuckle at your “twist” tattoo on your hand. 😂

[@PipoCollins]

Excellent!!!, thank you kindly, this is what I want to do with my sportster 883 XL and watching you doing this is giving me the last push to get it done.

[@bobman7881]

That was really good thanks for taking the time to clearly explain each step

[@anthonywheeler133]

Man, I LOVE watching you work on bikes

[@carlokilmer9942]

Great tutorial! Video was very informative and stayed on point. Thank you for taking the time to make this.

[@plumberjd6811]

I would have to say whoever owns that bike must be hard-core. Only crazy people take off the front fender🤘. Looks like it might have just a few miles on it by judging those poor ole pistons. Keep up with the good videos fellas. Excellent camera/editing work and a damn good mechanic 🍻🇺🇲

[@jamesparks9269]

Best step by step I've ever seen!

[@PolskiAmbient]

Helpful vid. Thx. Cant wait for my conversion.All the best!

[@harleydave2316]

Thanks for taking the time to make this for us.

[@alazanjoe]

Perfectly Detailed Video Thank You

[@shovelhead4558]

Did this bike goes well good fun to do.

[@j.acencc6273]

I like the upsweep exhaust. I want those for my 1200 72

[@simonfreeman148]

Great tutorial, nice n relaxed which helps folks unsure of the task feel better. Basic stuff but with some important pointers well covered. Just ring orientation if that matters too much?

[@murphyr31]

I personally don’t think that it does. There’s virtually nothing keeping the rings from spinning around every time the pistons go up and down

[@sirelliott3753]

This is therapeutic

[@wisnuprajakusuma]

awesome work......fantastic...

[@jacklynn4424]

Thank you for sharing this informative video. The pipes you have on that Sporty are exactly what I have been looking for with no success. Can you tell me what brand of exhaust that is or where I can purchase it as I don't have the means to fabricate my own. Thx again

[@geraldburrow3524]

I learned a lot, thanks

[@jpcycles]

Love Sportsters as much as we do? Check out more on Countersteer www.jpcycles.com/countersteer/reviews/why-the-sportster-is-the-best-harley-ever-made?Sportster_883___1200_Conversion_:_Weekend_Wrenching&RK6All660&feature=youtu.be

[@timfleischman1676]

Great video 👍

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I shake a hand pump and I just stick it in the tank and pump it until is dry this way I don't have to mess with the oil lines .

[@richardknott2021]

Excellent tutorial..

[@chip9832]

That was a great vid . Thx

[@youngblood2]

I have a difficult time trying to wrap my head around such antiquated technology.

[@peglegtoo]

Great great video.

[@jamesbennett9654]

Took all day before starting, all the while getting older, took forever to listen to his 1250

[@ThaRealMikeyC]

Is the initial tightening to crush gaskets and then you loosen it up and then properly seal

[@Mordorer]

I was wondering the same thing. Seems like an odd extra step. But I think you’re correct.

[@Smoke-uh7ol]

If do the conversion do use 883 head gaskets or 1200 head gaskets

[@noelbriffa1528]

Hi first of all thanks for making such a well informative howto video :) I have two questions to make pls 1st : Are the jugs identical ? I mean does it make a difference one or the other in the front ? 2nd : Same thing for the wiseco 10:1 ratio reverse dome pistons they have the itentical numbers on them but does it make any difference installing one or the other in the front jug ? Best regards Noel

[@jpcycles]

Shouldn't matter front or back with the cylinders. Depending on the piston it could matter. One way is to look at the valve pockets in the piston, generally the intake pockets are bigger.

[@noelbriffa1528]

@@jpcycles Wow thanks for the fast response :) valve pockets I think that they are the same and its because both pistons have the same article number and I think none of them had any indication of being front or rear :(

[@noelbriffa1528]

@@jpcycles You were right, the intake valve is a little bigger, so all I have to do is set the gaps of the rings by the arrow and install the rear piston with the arrow pointing at the back of the bike so both intake valve pockets are facing towards eachother. Is that right ?

[@gtx332]

Can someone explain to me why they call this bike an EVO sportster? As far as I know, all sportster from 1987 are EVO sportsters, as the Evolutions engine that replaced the original ironhead. The engines post 2003 in the rubber mount are virtually the same engine.

[@robertadams4415]

When are you going to do another episode of high side low side

[@damiancobb8177]

Does anyone know if the wrist pins on the stock pistons are the same as the wiseco ones

[@guillaumedemeulle382]

Thanks for the video. I have a 90' sportster and want to put on the s&s conversion kit. But I am told that the lower engine can break. I need advice. do I or not?

[@jonnyfoxmtb]

I did it on a 1988 Sporty, rode 16000 miles on that without a problem before I sold it. Do it.

[@guillaumedemeulle382]

@@jonnyfoxmtb ok. Did you convert to a new model? Mine has about 25 000 miles..and i'm told that the crankshaft bearing can break??

[@leonsumrall524]

@@guillaumedemeulle382 that is only if you use a kit that requires a flywheel rebalance and you don't do it... Most conversation kits do not require that. Just read into the kit and make sure you don't have to

[@ninja63639]

What would it cost to have a shop do this?

[@Macarsul]

Went through this conversion years ago and I noticed the speed reading is now wrong. Speed reads higher than it is. The shop at the time told me I was just going faster, but that does not make sense. Can someone help me understand what happened and how to address it? Other than switching to a magnetic speed sensor?

[@codihash4007]

What kind of oil do you use for breakin

[@Onlyone10184]

Is the vtwin mfg big bore kit any good

[@fredericchausse989]

Whats is number for wiseco piston thanks

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I know this video is two years old but do you have any of your 883 parts left?

[@zm3111]

I have 883 cylinders and pistons both in great shape as I just did this conversion

[@Dj_Steve_M]

Do i need to tune the bike after the installation?

[@UsmihNeHasne]

What about a front pulley? Have you changed it? I will convert my 2005 883 to 1200 with Wiseco Tracker 10:1 pistons and I don't know will it be OK fow street with my stock 28T pulley and stock primary sprockets or it will be better to install 29T or even 31T pulley to have a comfort ride on the highway too?

[@jpcycles]

No need to replace the pulley unless you want to. I would ride it a bit before making the decision.

[@Chris-yy7qc]

The arrow should point to the front of the bike on both pistons? So the pistons are different? Because the cylinders are mirrored.

[@noelbriffa1528]

I had the same problem figured it out that my Wiseco pistons have the same valve pockets inlet & exhaust are the same size, Cylinders are both the same it does`nt matter which or where but pistons may be different with knowing that inlet valves are a little bigger than exhaust ones . Piston number (4719P1). Good luck !!

[@Chris-yy7qc]

@@noelbriffa1528 Thanks Noel

[@Roolis77]

Hello, Thanks!!. Does it mean that I can simply take heads from 883 cc and put them on 1200 cc evo sportster , I have 2000 build motor ?? Please advise. Appreciate .

[@jaytalory4836]

2000 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 I was going to do that 1200 kit from hammer and I called them and they said that the head wouldn't work the stock 883 hit I don't know maybe that's just their philosophy

[@Roolis77]

@@jaytalory4836 Hi Jay, I have very clear answer. Yes you can take stock 1200 cc barrels with stck 883 heads , but you have to change pistons to special pistons with deeper pit in a top of the piston. Because if you would use standard piston the compression would be above 11, thats is too high.., so you can go to wiseco and choose pistons with 9,5 or 10 :1 compression and the difference between two will be just a size of pit .. price is about 150 bucks

[@AndreaMaggi-t7k]

💪💪💪💪💪💪💪SPECTACOLUS.........Meccanic

[@JH-oh1in]

HammerPerformance 1275 from 883.

[@Scottrobertson1987]

is it nessessary to change cams if your going to do this conversion or are stock ones good?

[@leonsumrall524]

Stock w cam works. But if you plan on getting the most benefit out of it you already have the rocker boxes and push rods out soon all you have to do is take the cover off and your in the cam housing. Easy to do right away

[@ToqhzScopez]

What handlebars are those?

[@davidruiz3840]

I completed my conversion…my bike will not start now, any thoughts as to why this happened?

[@jpcycles]

Could be a list of reasons. Does the bike turn over? Did you set the move the ign timing at all? Did you re-jet the carb?

[@davidruiz3840]

@@jpcycles bike will not turn over. Did not reject. Did not change cams. The one step that I missed was on the rear cylinder, I don’t think I turned the rear wheel to lower the exhaust and intake pins before assembling. I’m assuming that’s what wrong. Do you concur?

[@jpcycles]

@@davidruiz3840 possibly. Did you let the lifters bleed down so you could spin the pushrods with for fingers before moving to the next one? Can you turn the motor over by hand?

[@davidruiz3840]

@@jpcycles how do you bleed the lifters? I didn’t see that step in the video. Are you talking about spinning the rear tire to get them to their lowest point?

[@davidruiz3840]

@@jpcycles I will attempt to turn the motor over by hand this weekend and let you know

[@usingtheirhypocracyagainst8636]

u forgot the rocker locker advertisement

[@marcodioczbu5264]

Why low compression piston???

[@leonsumrall524]

You have to use a reverse dome pistons when using the 883 head.

[@itskrill]

I dont understand how you are able to use the same cylinders

[@hankjones2975]

foe what ever reason most all people that buy 883s say they are 1200. not sure why because it really don't make it a bit better or more valuable. if you have to have a sportster there are plenty out there that are 1200 for a little of nothing.

[@BrianMikasa]

Does anyone else want to get a bike just to wrench on them or am I a weirdo?

[@Drsnafubar]

Why in God's name did ya not go 88" kit or at least 1250. Get rid of those 883 heads and get Buell thunderstorm/xb heads or S&S. Red shift 605/591 cams or 567 V2, Mikuni HSR45, RB racing 2 into 1 pipe. Looking at right around 115-120 hp and hard to hold onto w/o spray. Add your 75 shot of spray and your looking at a widowmaker.

[@jpcycles]

Hell, why didn't we make it a stroker motor with a 100mm turbo and rocket boosters? Well first of all, its easy to list out all that stuff when you're spending someone else's money, there were budgetary concerns with this bike. Also, we weren't building a hot rod, he rides this bike all over the country, the bike also got a set of S&S .482 cams and its a good running ultra reliable bike that runs WAY better than it did before the top end build.

[@Drsnafubar]

@@jpcycles I like the idea of jato rockets and a giant turbo lol. Didn't mean to come off as a jackass but I thought you were building it to destroy rice burners or something. Maybe that was another project you guys were doing.

[@jpcycles]

@@Drsnafubar different Sportster video. I'm only 1/2 joking about the rockets :D - Patrick

[@visitinglowa3280]

Changement huile

[@segov2860]

The stock clutch is garbage, well it is a Harley... Need to upgrade it or it’ll just slip constantly. Like mine did (2012 IRON). Mines now unridden due to the stupid alarm system, Electronics are so fragile. I just want to tear them out except the bare bones so i can ride her with no fuss.

[@maxinecalvert6294]

¹000

[@segov2860]

@@maxinecalvert6294 ?

[@TracyGunz]

Should have just bought a bigger bike from get-go. Save ya time n money!

[@decimat777]

Not always the case, I bought my 2020 883 for $9500 with the intention of taking it up to a 1200 stage IV which was quoted at $4300 including labor. If I bought the 1200 for $13-15k and still spent around $4k for parts and labor on the stage IV. I would have wasted 3-4k if I had started on a 1200 or if I just stayed at a stock 1200 I’d have less power for the same money as the converted 883.