Table of Contents

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IH: Suspension

Front Fork Info

1957-1985 Forks

Slider Tube, Damper Tube & Spring

Fork Parts Length
1957-1985Slider Tubexxxxx-xx
Damper Tubexxxxx-xx
Spring-#Coilsxxxxx-xx

Slider Lower Legs

Model(s)Lower Sliders
Left Leg		Lower Sliders
Right Leg
1953-1963 1)K/KH/XL/XLH/XLCH45948-5245947-52
1970 and earlier 2)XLH/XLCH45944-7045946-70
1970 3)XR/XLR45952-70R45951-70R
1971-1972 4)XLH/XLCH45944-7145946-71
1973 5)XLH/XLCH
Kayaba		45976-73 w/
disc brake
bushings		45974-73
1974 6)XLH/XLCH45976-7445974-73
1975-1978 7)XLH/XLCH
Showa		46024-7546025-75
1977-1978 8)XLCR46026-7746027-77
1978 9)XL/XLCH46027-7746026-77
1979 10)XL/XLCH46027-7946026-79
Early 1979 11) XLS45657-7745658-77
Late 1979 12)XLS46027-7745906-80
1980-1983 13)All45912-8045906-80
1984-1987 14)15)All45912-8445906-84

Fork Oil

  • The MoCo specifies HD Type B or E (and respective equivalents) fork oil depending on year model.
Year ModelFork Oil TypeFork Oil Amount (Wet)Fork Oil Amount (Dry)
1957-1967 all modelsHD Type “B” or equivalent.16) 17)3 1/2 fl oz18)19)4 1/2 fl oz20)21)
1968-1969 all modelsHD Type “B” or equivalent.22) 23)4 1/2 fl oz 24)25)5 1/2 fl oz 26)27)
1970-1972 all modelsHD Type “B” or equivalent.28) 29)5 1/2 fl oz 30)31)6 1/2 fl oz 32)33)
1972-1978 XR-750 20 weight (Ceriani forks)
1980 XR-750 10 weight (Marzocchi forks)
1973-1978HD Type “B” or equivalent.34) 35)5 fl oz (148cc)36)37)6 fl oz (177CC)38)39)
1979-1983 all modelsHD Type “E” (99884-80). 40) 41)5 fl oz (148cc)42)43)6 fl oz (177CC)44)45)
1984-1987 all modelsHD Type “E” (99884-80).46) 47)5.4 fl oz (160CC)48)49) 50)6.4 fl oz (189CC) 51)52)53)

For more information on fork oil comparisons, see Fork Oil in the reference section.


Rear Springs Info

1957-1985 Shocks / Springs

Complete Shock and Spring Assemblies 54) 55) 56) 57)
YearModelLeftRightStandard/ Option
KH195654500-5654501-56Standard
54500-56A54501-56AUpgrade
XL1957-195954500-5654501-56Standard
54500-56A54501-56AUpgrade
54503-5854504-58Option for extra 1“ ground clearance
XLC195854503-5854504-58Standard
XLH1958-195954500-5654501-56Standard
1958-196654500-56A54501-56AUpgrade
54503-5854504-58Option for extra 1” ground clearance
1967-1972 54501-67 (2) Low road clearance
1973-1974 54504-73 (2) High road clearance
1967-1974 54490-78 (2) Optional retro-fit to '78 (Showa)
w/ Conversion Kit (2)- (54529-76)
1975-Early 1977 54504-75 (2) Standard
54490-78 (2) Optional retro-fit to '78 (Showa)
Late 1977-1978 54490-78 (2) (Showa) Standard
Early 1979 54528-77 (2) Standard
Late 1979 54565-79 (2) Standard
XLCH1958-1966 54503-58 (2) Standard
1973-1974 54504-73 (2) High road clearance
1967-1974 54490-78 (2) Optional retro-fit to '78 (Showa)
w/ Conversion Kit (2)- (54529-76)
1975-Early 1977 54504-75 (2) Standard
54490-78 (2) Optional retro-fit to '78 (Showa)
Late 1977-1978 54490-78 (2) (Showa) Standard
Early 1979 54528-77 (2) Standard
Late 1979 54565-79 (2) Standard
XLSEarly 1979 54565-79 (2) Standard
Late 1979 54470-79 (2) (Black) Standard

Shock Conversion Kit 54529-76

  • Basically, a new stud kit (one for each side) was needed to retro-fit '67-'74 shocks to the new '78 Showa shock assembly including;
    • Upper and lower studs, washers and an outer bolt cover.


1)
1953-1963 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 49
2)
1978 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (99451-78B) pg 103
3)
1970 HD XR/XLR Parts Catalog pg 12
4)
1978 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (99451-78B) pg 105
5) , 6)
1978 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (99451-78B) pg 107
7) , 9)
1978 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (99451-78B) pg 109
8)
1977 HD XLCR Parts Catalog with 1978 Supplement pg 49
10) , 11)
1979 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 51
12) , 13) , 14)
1979-1985 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 83,85
15)
1986-1990 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 65
16) , 22) , 28) , 34) , 40) , 46)
Clymer Repair Manual for Sportsters 1959-1985 pg 83
17) , 23) , 29) , 35) , 39) , 41) , 45) , 47) , 50) , 53)
Haynes Service Manual for Sportsters 1970-2010 pg 1.3
18) , 20) , 24) , 26)
1959-1969 HD Sportster FSM pg 2F-15
19) , 21) , 25) , 27) , 31) , 33)
Clymer Repair Manual for Sportsters 1959-1985 pg VIII
30) , 32) , 36) , 38)
1970-1978 HD Sportster FSM pg 2-21
37) , 43)
(Haynes Service Manual for Sportsters 1970-2010 pg 1.3
42) , 44) , 49) , 52)
1979-1985 HD Sportster FSM pg 2-47
48) , 51)
1986 - 1988 HD Sportster FSM pg 2-44
54)
1952-1959 HD Spare Parts Catalog for all Sportsters and K Models pg 50-53
55)
1953-1963 HD Sportster and K Model Parts catalog pg 58
56)
1954-1978 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (99451-78B pgs 129, 131
57)
1979 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 57
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