02 HEADS on 05 will it Work????????

[Remy13]

Ok So I have a Nice set of 883 XLR heads that are off an 02, I have an 05 883 low converted to 1200 with the old 05 883 heads on it now.

the 05 heads have about 16000 miles on them and a TON of carbon build up and I dont believe the valves are seating properly anymore.

So Will the 02 heads work with the 05???? how much of a difference is there between them???(other then the engine mounts on the front) I noticed the Valve springs are way different on the 883R's heads almost like they are doubled up (spring inside the main outer valve spring if that makes sense)

Thanks for any advice you can give

[ReddTigger]

You will not be gaining anything from the older heads. if anything, take off your existing heads and clean them..

go with a set of 04 and newer 1200 heads for the best you can get.

[Remy13]

Originally Posted by ReddTigger

You will not be gaining anything from the older heads. if anything, take off your existing heads and clean them..

go with a set of 04 and newer 1200 heads for the best you can get.

Thanks for the info

Not looking to gain anything if it maintains the same performance I'd be perfectly fine with it, just wondering if valve clearance might be different or if timing would have to be changed

More to the point I guess would be is there any difference in the heads other then the engine mount changing when they went to the rubber mount

[Shu]

I'm pretty sure the only changes between the 02 to 05 (actually 04 and up) 883 heads was the size of the fins on the outside. The rest of it I believe is identical (49.5 cc chambers, same ports, valve sizes (with the exception of the stem size), etc. The fins on your cylinders would stick out further than the 02 heads.

[Remy13]

Originally Posted by Shu

I'm pretty sure the only changes between the 02 to 05 (actually 04 and up) 883 heads was the size of the fins on the outside. The rest of it I believe is identical (49.5 cc chambers, same ports, valve sizes (with the exception of the stem size), etc. The fins on your cylinders would stick out further than the 02 heads.

Yes diffinetly noticed a difference in the fin size, the engine mounts are different as well, the 02 is about 1/4in wider

I read somewhere that the pushrods on the 02 where longer is there any truth to that?

[Bob F]

go with a set of 04 and newer 1200 heads for the best you can get

Best power choice for your money.

[xlint89]

If your heads have high mileage and alot of carbon build up, maybe it's time for a competition valve job?

Not too pricey, and will yield better performance while holding stock-like reliability.

Just a thought.

[Remy13]

Originally Posted by xlint89

If your heads have high mileage and alot of carbon build up, maybe it's time for a competition valve job?

Not too pricey, and will yield better performance while holding stock-like reliability.

Just a thought.

Its definitely a route i'm thinking about which is why I wanna throw the 02 heads on for now to keep the bike rideable and get the heads worked on possibly

[veight]

Originally Posted by Remy13

Ok So I have a Nice set of 883 XLR heads that are off an 02, I have an 05 883 low converted to 1200 with the old 05 883 heads on it now.

the 05 heads have about 16000 miles on them and a TON of carbon build up and I dont believe the valves are seating properly anymore.

So Will the 02 heads work with the 05???? how much of a difference is there between them???(other then the engine mounts on the front) I noticed the Valve springs are way different on the 883R's heads almost like they are doubled up (spring inside the main outer valve spring if that makes sense)

Thanks for any advice you can give

the 05 heads match your cylinders the 02 would look off. I would take the 05 heads in for a valve grind or reseat the valves and bead blast them myself cost only gaskets

[CharlieB]

You can clean the carbon out without removing the heads.... the water-mist injection trick works to do that really well. Get the engine hot, remove the air cleaner, start the engine. Lock the throttle at about 1200rpm, and use a fine mist spray of plain water into the carbs throat. Dont squirt in water. Make a mist in front of the intake and let it be sucked into the carb. Do that for maybe 5 minutes. If you want - put a floor fan on a crate and blow some air onto your engine while you do this - but its not absolutely needed.

The water will turn to steam and clean the carbon out of the head, piston, cylinder ridge, valves and seats. This trick has been known at least since WWII when mechanics noted the pristine innards of fighter engines that had battle boost (water injection) to get a few extra HP from their motors. It works.