sprockets

[Lew]

Can someone educate me on the differences between rear sprockets used on XLs through the years.  I'm thoroughly confused.........I'm trying to properly fit up an aftermarket rear wheel to a -83 XLS.  It now has a dished sprocket on it.  I think the wheel was set up wrong because of using a dished sprocket for reference........causing the wheel to be offset to the left.  After looking things over I think re-spacing the axle and going to a flat sprocket would make things right.  Is this model and year supposed to have a flat sprocket from the factory?  Some of my catalogs say it's flat and others say it's dished.  I'd appreciate some education on these XL sprockets.
Thanks
Lew

[biker3r]

My early 84 was a flat sproket, my 79 was dished the same as a big twin, im pretty sure you need to run the flat one,,,,,,,Dale

[dirtywhitewalls]

 i agree with biker3r, I'm pretty sure '79 & up ironhead uses dished, same part as shovel.
mike

[dirtywhitewalls]

o.k. i looked up in j&p. says  '73-'85 4spd BT and '79-'81 sportster use same.
of course pre '79 xl was drum
'82-'85 xl is different #, doesn't say flat or dished but i know shovel is dished and i thought spotsters were flat, perhaps only '82-'85 are flat.
mike

[Lew]

Thanks for the input guys.  OK here's what I was able to gather the 79-81 XL uses an offset sprocket...the same as the big twin (except FXR).  82-85 ironheads use an offset sprocket exclusive to those model years.  86-92 uses a flat sprocket.  All will bolt up as the bolt patterns and center cutout are the same.
Lew