20 Most Recent 2004 Harley Davidson XL 883 Sportster - Page 8 Questions & Answers

you can add a resistor to the led turn signal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAhcdlM0k6g not sure on starting issue you may have flattened the battery https://www.customled.com/blogs/custom-led-product-information/13640005-all-about-led-load-equalizers-for-led-blinkers-on-motorcycles

this video on you tube show the basic oil line lay out from the oil reservoir down under the case to the oil pump then lines for the oil pressure gage and the oil cooler lines... get the icer quality braided stainless steel replacement oil lines much stronger last longer and look better on some bikes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPwsz_rRNg8&ab_channel=NelsonSantiago will give general idea and the barn find video after this video of oil lines it covers the 79 sporty very well

Hey if fine out what the problem is please let me know am having the same problem with right now.

I am not familiar with this model and I don't want to insult your intelligence but are you sure that it has seperate oil for the gearbox from the engine? If it has then I assume you have checked for a sump plug and there isn't one. The absence of a plug would indicate that Harley Davidson probably don't think the oil needs to ever be changed. I have a GM car that has done 215,000 miles and I don't think the gearbox oil has ever been changed (No sump plug). However having said that your machine is a quality bike and you probably want to treat it to an oil change. It should have a level plug or a dipstick to check the level. Plug types require you to remove the plug and top up the oil until oil starts to leak out of the plug to get the right level. If you haven't got a sump / drain plug the only way you are going to drain the old oil is to use a vacuum pump and a hose in from either the filler hole or level plug hole. Vacuum pumps with a reservoir are a useful tool and can be found on eBay.

Is this a recent issue? With the ethanol gas we are forced to use could be your problem. What year is it? When was the last time your carb was cleaned? The corn byproduct in the gas has been an ongoing issue. It will gunk up your jets and in some cases eat away the needle. First make sure you are getting fuel to the carb itself. The same problems it causes with the carb it can cause issues with the tank.

Does it backfire or crank erratically? Timing issues

check and test bulb,connector,and wiring

Consult the tire, itself, but typically you want 32 - 38 rear and similar in the font.

If your Sportster has a four speed transmission, it's is an older Ironhead Sportster. If it's an 883cc (900), it was built prior to 1971. I suspect that this is not what you have.

All Evolution powered Sportsters had five speed transmissions. I would suspect that your shifting problem is a broken shifter pawl in the primary. The pawl is just behind the clutch assembly. They are not difficult to replace. You may can do it without pulling the clutch assembly but I've always pulled the assembly.

As for the tranny running hot, you should be running about a quart of H-D semi synthetic primary lube for Sportsters in the primary. They will get hot since the engine and tranny are unitized and heat will be conducted throughout the engine case.

Good Luck
Steve