fork oil, primary chain, and brakes 2003
Harley Evo SportsterDiscuss fork oil, primary chain, and brakes 2003 in the Harley Sportster & Buell forums; wanta know how to change fork oil, hasn't been done that i know of and the front end seems a little slugish, and how difficult is it to do brakes ...
wanta know how to change fork oil, hasn't been done that i know of and the front end seems a little slugish, and how difficult is it to do brakes ona 2003hugger. done brakes on cars before is it similar?? also need to adjust primary chain, seems like it has a lota play in it. do i take off the primary cover to do this?? and what are the guidelines for chain play.
__________________ Ian S.
a man can keep his cool when others are losing theirs
Rudyard kiplings IF
If you've done car brakes you can do Hugger brakes no problem. As for the rest of your chores I'd say get yourself a Harley factory sevice manual for your bike. Last year they were $65. Best investment you can make. They are really good. No jive! Much much better than the Haynes or Chilton. A lot of guys, myself included, get the factory parts catalog too. About $35 last year. Not only can you get the parts numbers off them but the blow-up drawings clearly show how things go together. Good for when you're putting everything back together months later and you have a box of parts that you thought you'd remember how they all went together.
The Sportster front ends are not so great in the dampening department to begin with and your Hugger, which I believe are shortened, are even worse so don't expect much by changing the oil. You can go with different weight oils to get the dampening either a little stiffer or lighter but the change won't be night and day. Good to change the oil though. You also could go with different springs along with the oil change but the best front end mods I know of are the RaceTech Emulators and spring kits. Makes the forks act kinda like crotch rocket cartridge forks (almost...). Not cheap though. I considered going that route with my FXR (same forks as a stock Sportster) but the price held me back. I have no blood lust for Ducatis and Rice Burners anyway and I like having all my bones in one piece.
was waiting to lower the bike to replace the springs, the lowering kit from progressive wasn't too bad for back and front either $299 or $399. ok that still leaves the primary chain adjustment any help would be appreciated.
__________________ Ian S.
a man can keep his cool when others are losing theirs
Rudyard kiplings IF
I have an 04 Sporty. All that you asked about is in the manual that Mil suggested that you pick up. I have one and use it all the time. The work you asked about is pretty easy. Been doing my own work after the warrenty expired. Tightening lubing and adjusting I have always done even under warrenty. That book is a must. It will save you a ton of money and also will get you use to the ins and outs of yer ride.
The front ends suck on the sportsters. Progressive makes good equipment. I run their shocks on the back. They are very helpful when called with questions. I myself would not lower a sportster. You loose in cornering and ride quality. If you lower the front it will only get worse. Yer call.
great, thanks everyone i'll get a manual this weekend. doesn't progressive make a kit to tighten up the front end?? what are your thoughts on lowering the back an inch maybe?? this is one of the best sites i've been on. you all are very helpfull. THANKS! keep the rubber side down and the shinny side up.
__________________ Ian S.
a man can keep his cool when others are losing theirs
Rudyard kiplings IF
Lowering would be a choice you would have to make on yer own. I guess one would lower for a look or lower it so you can reach the ground.
I understand the later. An inch may not seem like much. But you will scrape more often depending on how agressive you are in the corners.
Your ride may also be a little more stiff depending on the shocks and springs you use. You will bottom out more. Make sure you have proper clearence so your tire don't kiss the underside of the back fender.
If you lower the back it would be a very good idea to lower the front also.
geting the manual tonight, founda website "trade bit" that has em for $8.15 that you down load, it's a PDF file so if any one's interested alot cheaper. thanks for the info.
__________________ Ian S.
a man can keep his cool when others are losing theirs
Rudyard kiplings IF
I had a nice black '87 1100 Sportster with Baby Bob tank, Ness quarter fairing, and slammed front and rear using Ness parts. It looked bad to the bone and I got a lot of admiring looks and comments. With a chick on the back however it dragged everything in the corners, especially the pipes. That got old real quick. Also I think shortening the front springs somehow almost completely negated the dampening up front. I tried heavier oil and pulled the forks apart and checked the seals. All OK. Anyway, it looked cool but riding it was a bit of a drag. Your call Tatooed.
thanks, love the slammed look, pipes aren't that low, but making the front end worse does have me concerned. let you all know what happens over the winter. hopefully putting a 91"S&S in it, streching the swing arm and wide tire, raking the frint end and having the trees powder coated as well as the lower forks. i'll tell you my wife is awesome we got 7month twins and shes telling me this is all ok. for now at least i want a custom fire breathing sporster!!
__________________ Ian S.
a man can keep his cool when others are losing theirs
Rudyard kiplings IF
fork oil, primary chain, and brakes 2003 
, pipes aren't that low, but making the front end worse does have me concerned
. let you all know what happens over the winter. hopefully putting a 91"S&S in it
, streching the swing arm and wide tire, raking the frint end and having the trees powder coated as well as the lower forks. i'll tell you my wife is awesome we got 7month twins and shes telling me this is all ok. for now at least
i want a custom fire breathing sporster!! 
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