Looking to have my local harley dealer do the 883 to 1200 conversion this winter as I dont want to void my warranty or have the mech. ability to do it myself. As I want to keep it simple, have ruled out outfits like headquarters or nallins. Based on my riding style/needs, I am looking for low / midrange grunt, with little need for top end power (#'s wise, high 60's hp and mid 70's for torque would suit me well). I am looking for advice (HD part nos., expected cost, performance pros/cons for things like new cams, valves, head work, Ignition, etc.) given my goal for low/midrange power. I would like to keep total cost below $1500. I have read the forums, but as I am a newbie with little knowledge on conversions, I need it in simple terms. Thanks. Also, performance curves would be a bonus.

If you want to stay with HD parts check out the conversion done by Shu and JT. The link is JT's conversion (http://www.jtcentral.net/xl/Default.htm) They both got respectable numbers and used all HD parts. :tour

Just had mine done, ALL HD parts, SE heads, SE cams, mt jug bored, SE pistons, SE ignition, (could I say SE one more time) ans a Mikuni 42mm carb , hell its an SE as hell :laugh I really am happy with it. There again I have had it 1 day. What the hell do I know? I was looking for the same numbers and got them in spades. Make sure you stay onthe dealers ass, they will try to nickle and dime you to death. The took my battery and placed on a rack of chargers and someone took it to put in another bike. My bill had a NEW battery included I called BS and didn't have to pay for it. Also initial quote for primary cover was 91.50, bill said 220. Another BS flag went up. Do some research get the prices and then look at thier est. make sure they stick to it. Other than that you should be happy for the most part with the all SE (Said it again) parts. IMO, form someone with it. Enjoy what you get no matter what, don't let anyone tell you what YOU like or want.

Try to pick up the new 05 Screamin' Eagle catalogue, it has all the details (including power graphs) of the conversion.

You don't void your warranty by doing your own conversion. What you do void is coverage on any parts you replace or the affect they may have on your engine by replacing them.

So, for example, if your belt breaks or your clutch blows and your bike is still under warranty those would be covered.

Sportymark, The 05 SE catalog is out? I asked my dealer and they said it wasn't out yet.

I just got a SE catalog, looked at it and it's a '04!!! :yikes

johnboy,

I just did the Shu/JT conversion over the T-Day holiday. The parts on JT's site are for the 03 and I see in your profile you're runnin a 04 so you'll have to dig up the PN's outa the catalog.

I did it all myself but I have worked on motors in a limited sense and outside of a 3/8 in torque wrench and a ring compressor I had all the tools. I dropped about a grand on everything but the heads from the local dealer, all SE parts. They went together well and the bike runs great. I know the parts can be had for less but the dealer I went to basically quotes that aftermarket catalog. In fact, all the dealers in the Cali bay area do the same.

I don't really see you gettin the jugs, pistons, cams, gaskets _and_ heads for $1500 AND get a dealer to do the work but perhaps if you shop and do some leg work it's possible.

In casual conversation with SJ-HD they told me $2500 for the basic conversion and the sky's the limit.

Most SE parts you put on that bike will have a sticker on it that says using this part will void the warranty, get over it. The dealer will stand behind their work provided they use parts they trust, (SE). The MoCo is not obligated to stand behind any machine modified with closed course racing parts and cannot legally warranty any machine modified to the point where it violates federal EPA standards. However, there does appear to be a gray area where the MoCo will support the dealer. My FLHR crapped out the cam and they covered it even though I had changed the pipes, AC and jets. The cam berring failure was well known and a common failure. If push came to shove, once a bike is modified, I believe it's yours.

You may want to try to go to an independent to do the work, they do just as good a job and may be a little less expensive. For the parts, try Surdyke H-D or Chicago H-D, they offer 20% off. Also, you may want to have your cylinders bored out that will save some cash too. One more thing, I was on the Phat Performance web site and was checking out prices for cams and pistons, Wiseco reverse domes were only 189.00 and a set of n-4's were 250.00. Seemed like pretty good prices.

You don't necessarily void your warranty. I had a clutch cable break a few months ago and they fixed it, no problem at all. If the trouble has nothing to do with the area you modified you should be alright. For the record I did use the SE parts (jugs and dished pistons with 883 heads). Different dealers may treat you worse, I don't know. There are dealers who look for any little excuse to exclude a warranty claim. They usually get a bad reputation but don't seem to care.

Doug
2004 883>1200 Custom

Both the SE and accessories catalogue are at dealers in the UK for customers and have been for 2 weeks (when I picked mine up). The dealers themselves have had copies since October.

Got my '05 catalog in October as well.

Kim

I saw you are from Sill. Right now I'm statione in Germany. I got an 04 883 Looking to upgrade. Did you go to McKinney's shop. He gave me a quote of aroung 3500 with SE parts. I should be back in Sill around June. Maybe we can get together and cruise around. My e-mail is ivcuevas72@yahoo.com. Bike looks great. My name is Jay, are you on outlook globel?

Johnboy,

If you chose to go with the SE parts and are trying to keep your costs to about $1500 (including the dealers labor), then do a simple SE 10:1 compression reverse dome pistons and SE cylinders, and the SE cams. I'd think they should be able to do it all for around $1500 to 1700. BUT I'd recommend that you read JT's article on his conversion first, so that you know what you are paying them upward of $800 to do.

Since not voiding your warranty is important to you, keep in mind, your dealer can be your best ally or your worst enemy depending on the position he takes 'if' something goes wrong. If he has told you the 1200 conversion will not void your waranty, then make sure that it is in writing before the work is done.

I'll post the SE part numbers tomorrow.

Shu, thanks for the advice. Looking foward to seeing the parts nos. I recall you having dyno charts posted for your conversion, but cant find them. Possible you could repost or send me a pm? Did you stay with the stock 883 heads?

I did stay with the 883 heads basically untouched. For the most part, everything is bolt on parts from the SE Catalog. I did post the dyno sheet on the old forum, I'll look around and see if I can find the image, but I got a new computer at work and may have lost it. If nothing else, I'll scan it again at home and submit it again.

To find the part numbers you are looking for, see http://a1264.g.akamai.net/7/1264/734/79b9e9bdad4800/www.harley-davidson.com/pdf/seproparts04.pdf

That is the online SE catalog for 2004.

I saw you are from Sill. Right now I'm statione in Germany. I got an 04 883 Looking to upgrade. Did you go to McKinney's shop. He gave me a quote of aroung 3500 with SE parts. I should be back in Sill around June. Maybe we can get together and cruise around. My e-mail is ivcuevas72@yahoo.com. Bike looks great. My name is Jay, are you on outlook globel?


Yep, I'm on the global. Had Allen do my work did a great job. I think the price is a little high though. They were sold out and a new owner bought them. Going to expand the store 3x the size. I work at the Battle LAb here look up me up on the global. Enjoy (i miss GE but don't tell my wife :shhhh )

The part numbers would be:

16954-02 for the Silver 1200 Cylinders
22698-01 for the 10:1 compression Conversion pistons
25197-04 for the '04 and up bolt in cams (if applicable)
Gasket kit is unchanged except for the cam cover gasket (which is not included in the kit anyway).