Just finished reading a post on Sportster.org about a guy who did a conversion to his 2004 883 using Thunderstorm pistons. He was not aware that those pistons would shear off the oil spray nozzles that H-D put into the new 2004 and later Sportsters.

My question is. When using your recommended Hurricane CP pistons, mainly the XB Buell 10.5 to 1 dome type piston, for a conversion are the skirts relieved to clear the new nozzles, or is additional machine work to the piston required?

Just trying to keep all of my ducks in a row here. So many things come up when reading these boards that I need to ask questions.

Thanks in advance

Great question Jimbo,
You are absolutely correct in that using stock Thundertorm pistons is very bad due to the piston skirts hitting the nozzles on 04 and later Sportsters and Buells. The good news is that Hurricane pistons already have the skirts relieved and will bolt right on with no machine work needed. Thanks for your question.

What about the typical conversion pistons from HD (10:1 Compression ones). I know many have done that conversion on this forum, do they have anything to worry about? Also, do you happen to have a picture of how they did the oiling system?

Any piston that has a full skirt is going to be a problem with the 04s and later due to the oilers. I don't have a picture handy but basically the oilers are shooting from the sides of the cases and they will get hit on the downstroke by the piston skirts if using T-storm or stock style pistons from 03 and older XLs.

What do you think???? These be a problem?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/Mark_Shumaker/SEPistons.jpg

Was wondering the same thing as Shu, SE piston for 86 up Part # 22698-01 as far as using on a 04 and up.

I really can't tell by looking at that pic if they are going to be a problem or not. If they are not specifically designed for 04 and up there is a good possibility that they will not work. But I can guarantee that a set of our forged Hurricane conversion pistons will not be a problem.:D

Where does the piston need to be relieved at to make it clear ? was looking at the stock 883 piston and a SE conversion piston and the skirt length is the same so now im confused as to where it would hit.

SE pistons are not a product we sell so I would suggest talking to either your dealer or Screaming Eagle. Our Hurricane Forged pistons are competetively priced with the SE pistons and I truly believe our customer service is second to none!! ;)

im really scared for my motor.. i dont know if my engine builder did this.. and he is no longer building and only racing so i have no means of contact for him.. is there any way i can tell without taking my motor apart?

call a harley dealer. It is their product

Just my 2 cents but either talk to your dealer or just order the Huricane kit for 04+. I have found that the dealer I call back to the states and talk to is very helpfull. Furthermore the more I look at stuff the more I find problems with stuff for the 04+ in the aftermarket. Seems like alot of companies are lumping all the sportsters together with there product lines. Anyone with an 04+ can tell you this can cause a lot of problems.
Basicly find someone who really knows what they are talked about and seperates the different era of sportsters when discussing them and explaining modifications and also bounce things off a local dealer. And yes some dealers are dumb @sses that really don't know what they are saying sometimes. I always try talk with the head mechanic. It doesn't take long to figure out if they are full of it if you really listen to them. The folks at NRHS are definately well versed and seem like they definately know what they are talking about. I haven't had them do anything on mine yet as I try to do it myself plus it is a little expensive shipping stuff back and forth from Germany. I have yet to here one bad thing about them.

A lot of people have used the SE 10:1 Compression conversion pistons on the '04 and up 883s. I just saw in the 2005 SE book that they still list the pistons as 86 and up. You shouldn't be having a problem.

I'd be pretty careful of the listngs in the catalog. I personally purchased a set of Screamin Eagle sparkplug wires for my 04 Sportster and they didn't fit. One was short and the other long, the new sportsters use two long ones. The printing on the box indicated it would work with my bike but it was wrong. And the parts guys didn't have a clue. You really have to know what you are buying with the number of changes that happen to this product line, alot in 50 years.

My personal take on this thing is if you have already done the conversion and you are riding the bike or started the motor and nothing happened then you should be fine. If the pistons are the wrong skirt length I would of thought you would of had a problem as soon as you started the motor. Just my take on it.

I've had those pistons in my 04 for over a year now with absolutely no issues, as have many others on here...:banana