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Sportster Project

Sportster Project

Build. Tinker. Ride. Trials and Tribulations (and good times) of my motorcycle projects and other garage tinkering. Learning and building things. Building, wrenching on, and riding Harley Davidson Evolution Sportsters, Big Twins, and anything else with two wheels. Currently working on restoring and preserving a 1988 Harley Davidson Sportster chopper. I also post information on other DIY projects I tinker on.




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  • 1988 Sportster
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  • Tested the rear brake bracket fit using the hardware supplied in the kit.
    1990 Sportster

    Sportster Hardtail Rear Brake Bracket…

    December 27, 2023 by Hersey
  • Checking Engine Fit after Welding the TCBro's Hardtail
    1990 Sportster

    Sportster Hardtail Progress…

    December 14, 2023 by Hersey
  • 1990 Sportster

    Cutting the Sportster in Half…

    December 1, 2023 by Hersey
  • TC Bros Sportster Weld-on Hardtail Kit
    1990 Sportster

    Measure 3157 times…

    November 27, 2023 by Hersey
  • Sportster Stripped Down Ready for the TC Bros Hardtail Kit
    1990 Sportster

    Hardtailing the 90 Sportster…

    November 25, 2023 by Hersey
  • Antique Motorcycle License Plate
    1988 Sportster / 1990 Sportster / 1992 Heritage Softail / 88 Swedish Style Sportster / vlog

    Registering an Antique Motorcycle

    August 30, 2021 by Hersey
  • Front Forks Reassembled on the 1990 Sportster
    1990 Sportster / vlog

    90 Sportster Leaky Fork Seal…

    August 25, 2021 by Hersey
  • All Balls Carburetor Rebuild Kit - Everything needed for a CV Carburetor Rebuild - Gaskets, Jets, Screws
    1990 Sportster / vlog

    Rebuilding the carb for the 90 Sportster…

    August 16, 2021 by Hersey
  • Harley Davidson Carburetor Cleaned and Ready for Rebuild
    1990 Sportster / vlog

    Cleaning the carb for the 90 Sportster…

    August 14, 2021 by Hersey
  • Sportster Project Build. Tinker. Ride.
    1988 Sportster / 1990 Sportster / 1992 EVO Big Twin / 1992 Heritage Softail / 1999 Honda Shadow / 2014 Street Glide / 88 Swedish Style Sportster / vlog

    Sportster Project YouTube Channel…

    July 20, 2021 by Hersey

Tag: ignition

First start after 15 years…
88 Swedish Style Sportster 

First start after 15 years…

May 10, 2021 by Hersey

The last time this 1988 Sportster was started was around 15 years ago, back in 2006. Well Friday night, that clock was reset. Finished putting the motor back together, added some oil and primary fluid, threw on a set of pipes, wired…

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Start Her Up…
1988 Sportster 

Start Her Up…

February 1, 2020 by Hersey

Friday night I finally had everything together to give starting the 1988 Sportster a go. Ignition in and static timing set, oil in the tank, primary oil in and primary chain adjusted, and the exhaust mounted. I wired up a temporary oil…

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Dynatek S Ignition…
1988 Sportster 

Dynatek S Ignition…

January 31, 2020 by Hersey

The Dynatek S Ignition system I ordered last week was delivered yesterday. Had some time to tinker after work so I got it installed, wired up, and set the static timing.

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Get Her Running To Do List…
1988 Sportster 

Get Her Running To Do List…

January 13, 2020 by Hersey

Did a bit of tinkering on the 1988 Sportster over the weekend. Got the oil tank painted, mounted, and plumbed up. Looks pretty good on there.

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She RUNS!!!
1992 EVO Big Twin 

She RUNS!!!

June 23, 2019 by Hersey

Had some time Friday after work to get things buttoned up and give starting her up a try. Wasn’t much left to do: connect the coil, add some oil, put some fuel in the tank, cross our fingers, and hope for the…

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Compu-Fire HDE-1 Ignition Static Timing…
1992 EVO Big Twin 

Compu-Fire HDE-1 Ignition Static Timing…

June 2, 2019 by Hersey

For the EVO project I am using the Compu-Fire HDE-1 Digital Electronic Ignition. I used this same set up on the 1990 Sportster Project, it was easy to set up and so far it works well. I decided to do something a…

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Getting her started to do list…
1992 EVO Big Twin 

Getting her started to do list…

May 13, 2019 by Hersey

Made a fair bit of progress on the EVO project this weekend. Time to start working toward getting her running. Want to get her to start before putting a bunch more money into other functional and cosmetic pieces (like controls, lights, etc.)

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She’s Alive! She’s Alive!
1990 Sportster 

She’s Alive! She’s Alive!

April 14, 2018 by Hersey Cartwright

She started!!! I replaced the ignition system with a new module, sensor, rotor, and coil. Prior to replacing the ignition system I was getting a spark on both plugs but based on some youtube research; we had a spark, just not enough….

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battery black brakes caliper carburetor chain cut cylinder engine exhaust fender frame garage gaskets gas tank hardtail Harley Davidson headlight heads honda shadow ignition intake iron butt jeep mount oil lines oil tank paint parts piston Primary project pushrods rear ride sissy bar Sportster start Street Glide tank TJ Brutal Customs valve weld wheel wiring

Links and Resources

  • Tidewater Motorcycles – Local Shop
  • The Good Old Motorcycle Parts Company
  • Lowbrow Customs Sportster Parts
  • My 1990 Sportster Project Pinterest Board
  • CV Performance – Harley Carb Parts
  • JP Cycles – Aftermarket Parts
  • 1992 EVO Project Budget
  • Biker Direct – Aftermarket Parts
  • HD OEM Parts Finder
  • Deadbeat Customs
  • Billet Proof Design
  • Dime City Cycles
  • XL Forum – Sportster & Buell Community
  • TC Bros Choppers
  • SportsterProject on Instagram
  • TJ Brutal Customs

Manual

If you own a 1986-2003 Sportster this is a must have manual.


Clymer Harley-Davidson XL/XLH Sportster
(1986-2003)
Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repair

Recent Comments

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Categories

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Most Viewed Posts

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