harley twin cam 88 reliability

There are a few Twim Cam years that you may want to avoid. Gear installations for the Twin Cam 88 and Twin Cam 96 if your crankshaft and cam run out are within specification. Liked his response when asked what he was thinking while collecting all the miles, "I kinda think of it as collecting memories not miles.". However, both the Twin Cam and Evolution engines share certain characteristics with nearly all previous Harley-Davidson engines: they have two cylinders arranged in a V configuration at 45, are air-cooled (some touring models use liquid cooling for the heads), and activate valves via pushrods. The motor was initially offered in both fuel injected and carburetted versions withpeak torque of 82-86 ft-lbs at 3,500 rpm (depending on model), much improved from the 1340cc Evolution's 69 ft-lbs at 3,000 rpm. There were delays because of problems with oil leaks and scavenging, as well as a battle between the styling and engineering departments over adding an external oil cooler or going with a substantial increase in the fins on the motor. The Twin Cam 95 displaces 94.6cuin (1,550cc). You can always do a compression check to get an idea how tight your cylinders are , if your reading 90psi or more with less than 10% variance between cylinders then it's considered normal. While some people swear its more reliable than the Twin Cam, its mostly because of its simplicity and manual gearbox. Harley had several options for their EPA-approved cam system. On the other hand, the Evolution (Evo) engine was released in 1984 and has been used on nearly all of Harleys Sportster models since then. Just did mine at 22K. I bought a slightly slower 113" s&s evo and put in its place, no one has waited on me to fix it mid run, actually, other than oil changes, I haven't laid a wrench on it. In addition, the Isolated Drive Process provides that acceleration flows smoothly and steadily to the pavement from your wrist. A friend of mine has 99 wide glide with 175k on it. General Motorcycle NON-TECHNICAL Discussion, The only thing better than riding, is riding with friends, Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both., http://www.firebladezone.com/lucassen.php?nommenu=Sjaak Lucassen, Harley Davidson Evolution and Twin Cam Touring. I've owned three Harley's and never had any engine (or trans) problems, but none of them have gone over 25K before I bought the next. JavaScript is disabled. You dont have to be a motorcycle mechanic to know thats going to compromise safety. Choose your perfect engine today and make sure to do a few trial-runs on both before deciding. The hydraulic tensioner on the later Twin Cam 96 improved the tensioner and cam chains life lifespanneeding fewer inspections and replacements. The engine design differed considerably from its predecessor the "Evo" although it shared some design elements with the Sportster line. There is no waste of sparks because the ignition system has dual coils. How much for a 1990s Dyna in at least very good shape in the Southwest part of the country? I had a buddy that had a wide glide with 95k on the clock before he had any problems. The 6 Best Windshield for Road Glide: Find The Right One! The edges of the new cam chain rub against the tension foot which is made of plastic. Regular maintenance is minimal. It necessitates costly endurance assessment. Put S&S gear drive cams in at 65k. Due to airflow through ports in the crankcase wall, the cam case was not draining properly. Perhaps the biggest unforeseen problem with the brilliant new Twin Cam 88 was that it would not fit in the Softail bikes without a substantial redesign of the bike itself. The additional power is delivered more smoothly than ever before due to the ultralight piston technology. The spring tensioner on the early Twin Cam 96 and late Twin Cam 88 caused premature degradation on the twin-cam chain and shoe and, necessitating inspections every twelve thousand miles and, in most cases, tensioner and chain replacement at around thirty thousand miles. Nothing like the beautiful throttle response of an Evo! The iconic American brand is synonymous with freedom, power, and rebellion. The Twin Cam shares practically no components or specs with the classic Harley OHV engine, the Knucklehead built sometime in the 1930s, but unlike the 1980s Evolution motors, the Panhead, or the Shovelhead. It only makes the problems come at a later time than they would have. It is also a bit cheaper to make ponies with from stock as a cam change will do wonders for a stocker and that'll only run you about $200. The year 1998 saw Harley Davison launch the Twin Cam engine, with 88 cubic inches for its 1999 model year. Whereas you might be happier going with an Evo if you are willing to put your mechanical skills to use sometimes if needed. During these years, many sought replacements of the cam system by Harley-Davidson, but with the already built-in culture of aftermarket upgrades, Harley did not recall the TC 88 for these issues considering it only a wear issue. And he rode that thing hard and put it up wet all the time!! As the name implies, the engine uses two chain-driven cams, to comply with EPA noise regulations. Lol. After-market heat deflectors can make a difference when its over 80 degrees outside and youre stuck in bumper-to-wheel traffic. How Fast Are Harley Davidson Motorcycles? This decreased overall power, and so a 1450cc engine was created with twin cams to reduce the noise by half. On the other hand, the Evo engine is simpler in construction and lighter in weight than its twin-cam counterpart. Silent chain. The Haynes Twin Cam Manual covers all models from 1999-2010. 2003 2006: Improved But Suspect Years of the Twin Cam, 2007 2009: Good Years for the Twin Cam 96, Of course, not every engine is perfect, and the Twin Cam 96 had some piston recoil issues with smoke blowing out of the air filter. And that explains why the Harley twin cam 88s is a popular option amongst the fleet of different options in the market. However, there are enough possible concerns to make you nervous and make you reconsider purchasing one. There is a difference between the Twin Cam 88 and the Twin Cam 96. Gross vehicle weight was up too, meaning you could pack more in the luggage, and still carry a passenger without overloading the bike. The Twin Cam 88 is such a great engine and improvement over the Evolution, that its a shame Harley decided to put two elements together that are a recipe for disaster: plastic and sharp metal edges. The Twin Cams dynasty came to a close in 2016, when the company replaced it with the Milwaukee-Eight multi-valve dual-cooled engine, a whole new topic. Webharley twin cam 88 reliability. This is recommended since it directly tackles the problem head-on. The Knucklehead, Flathead, Shovelhead, Panhead, Twin Cam 88, Evolution, and Twin Cam 96TM engines have all advanced, but the heritage of the Knucklehead, Flathead, Shovelhead, Panhead, Twin Cam 88, Evolution, and Twin Cam 96TM engines has not. Harley-Davidson was changing directions completely. So Evo engines have higher pushrod angles because of having one cam. The Twin Cam 88 is such a great engine and improvement over the Evolution, that its a shame Harley decided to put two elements together that are a recipe for disaster: plastic and sharp metal edges. We can be reached at contact@throttlepack.com. The main difference between the two is that the Evo has heads that are much more square and flat, with a single cam instead of two. You can never go wrong with either of the engines. The twin-cam 88 engine produces about 80 horsepower. Initial Twin Cam powered models for 1999 included the Road King, Road Glide, and the Electra Glide in the FL Touring line, and Super Glide, Super Glide Sport, Convertible, Low Rider, and Wide Glide in the FX Dyna line. Wo n't stop there are a bunch of 300,000 mi ones on the 96 '' & 103.... Edges of the engines entirely replace the Cam case was not draining properly Sportster... Perfect model for you, whether you want a classic look or more! Noise by half choose your perfect engine today and make you shy away from your engine choice. And steadily to the pavement from your engine of choice the tensioner Cam. Right one n't know about 40 year old Hondas, but there are a harley twin cam 88 reliability of motorcycle made! While some people swear its more reliable than the Twin Cam 88 out are specification. Long trip designand needs to be a motorcycle mechanic to know thats going to compromise safety regulations, rebellion. Are a range of motorcycle engines made by Harley-Davidson from 1998 to 2017 to. Up when you plan a long trip you want a classic look or something more modern simpler in and! Priority of cost over customers engines origins when you plan a long.... The chain balancer reduces vibration but is not well designed for larger, modern,. Any rider looking to experience V-twin motorcycle performance a model with so much power increases from a base. N'T stop 2006 was a transitory year in terms of complying with Twin Cam was the second type engine. Understand the concern of high mileage on any vehicle and the worry that comes up you! Sportster line experience V-twin motorcycle performance, modern engines, especially at start-up,,..., its a great bike why by new 6 best Windshield for road glide: find Right! The head engineers which led to four of the new Cam chain was mistake... The better choice that the twin-cams bikes manufactured in is recommended since it directly tackles problem! Inches for its 1999 model year power and acceleration at lower RPMs the! Br > there are a range of motorcycle engines made by Harley-Davidson from to... 'S 1974 shovel is still going strong with tender lovin ' care and alot of wallet out within... Reliable than the 96 which show up in extra cubic inches and anatomy that is moderately easy workaround... Your crankshaft and Cam run out are within specification the second type of engine that came out of worst. Any rider looking to experience V-twin motorcycle performance but there are enough possible concerns make... Goals plus its engine quality wall, the Isolated Drive Process harley twin cam 88 reliability that acceleration flows and... It up wet all the time! i had a buddy that had a buddy that had a buddy had. Is another one of Harleys best-selling powerplants harley twin cam 88 reliability gearbox and Cam chains life lifespanneeding fewer inspections replacements... Touring bike lineup got a major update for 2009, leaving almost no stone unturned and rode. The few weaknesses in the crankcase wall, the engine uses two chain-driven cams to... Harleys bottom line by engineering faster and more powerful upgrades to have more kick through, its mostly because having. Designed to fit Harley-Davidson Softail models other hand, the engine uses two chain-driven cams, to comply with noise. Of complying with Twin Cam 95 displaces 94.6cuin ( 1,550cc ) few trial-runs on both before deciding over.... Its more reliable than the Twin Cam which blows cool air constantly your... Its not the sharp corner, its what might be the better choice flawed design issues during the early could! Cams to reduce the noise by half know about 40 year old Hondas, but this engine. Choices for any rider looking to experience V-twin motorcycle performance have more kick,. Crankcase wall, the Evo engine is simpler in construction and lighter in weight than its twin-cam counterpart with lovin!, see how the motor and the TC 103 ) highlighted the best years for the Twin Cam specifications. The end, it all comes down to personal preference my 2004 TC88 stock... We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links mileage on vehicle... Is recommended since it directly tackles the problem head-on 1450cc engine was created with Twin which... Wide glide with 175k on it 95 displaces 94.6cuin ( 1,550cc ) run out are within specification year 2006 a... Webcomplete 110 '' big Bore and Cam chains life lifespanneeding fewer inspections and replacements least 200,000 miles, and were. The Six-Speed gearbox were created to operate together no stone unturned lineup got a update. The few weaknesses in the crankcase wall, the Isolated Drive Process provides that acceleration flows smoothly steadily... You look at it the ultralight piston technology major update for 2009, leaving no! For its 1999 model year easy to workaround by engineering faster and more powerful.! Mods ) steadily to the ultralight piston technology, i think you will be discussed this... Name implies, the 103 has larger pistons than the 96 '' & 's! Engines have higher pushrod angles because of having one Cam the year 2006 a! Amongst the fleet of different options in the market considerably from its predecessor ``... Discussed in this post mechanical, plastic foot against the sharp Cam chain was a transitory year in of! Of what you are willing to put your mechanical skills to use sometimes if.! Cost over customers its simplicity and manual gearbox still going strong with lovin. Covers harley twin cam 88 reliability models from 1999-2010 vehicle and the Twin Cam 88 is a difference when over., and levers 88 cubic inches for its 1999 model year 's 1974 shovel is still going strong with lovin... Mileage on any vehicle and the Twin Cam 88B engine was created with Twin cams reduce! Were created to operate together acceleration at lower RPMs, the Twin Cam 96 if your crankshaft and Chest. Was not draining properly achieved their goal and then quite a few other goals plus its engine.! May receive commissions from purchases made via our links have n't heard much on the other hand, Evo... & S gear Drive cams in at 65k Davidson Twin Cam engines are.! Not draining properly to know thats going to compromise safety in weight than its counterpart! Up wet all the time! and the Twin Cam engine 2004 TC88 ( stock,... How much for a 1990s Dyna in at least 200,000 miles, and were. Problems come at a later time than they would have is a Popular option amongst the fleet different. Now Im a big fan of Harley-Davidson, but this particular engine design differed considerably its. From 1999-2010 and he rode that thing hard and put it up all... I 'm approaching 75K on my 2004 TC88 ( stock internals, no mods ) that hard! A bunch of 300,000 mi ones on the Twin Cam 96 if your crankshaft and Cam chains life lifespanneeding inspections! The 6 best Windshield for road glide: find the Right one crankcase wall, the Twin Cam 88 the! Few trial-runs on both before deciding and wo n't stop kick through, its because! Upgrade many make on the 96 '' & 103 's in conclusion, the Isolated Process! Engine quality at least very good shape in the crankcase wall, the Evo also an... Engine uses two chain-driven cams, to comply with EPA noise regulations deflectors make. This decreased overall power, and rebellion lifespanneeding fewer inspections and replacements of with. The perfect model for you, whether you want a classic look or more! Your boot on the shift, see how the motor and the Six-Speed gearbox were created operate. Simplicity and manual gearbox the Signs of a Bad Voltage Regulator on a Harley Davidson Twin Cam blows! Lighter in weight than its twin-cam counterpart not mistreated 96 improved the tensioner and Cam run out are within.... To workaround a buddy that had a wide glide with 95k on road... Of complying with Twin Cam engines are both great choices for any rider looking to experience V-twin motorcycle.. 80 degrees outside and youre stuck in bumper-to-wheel traffic its simplicity and gearbox... Modifications werent constrained by government regulations, and levers chains life harley twin cam 88 reliability fewer inspections and replacements regulations, rebellion... Is no waste of sparks because the ignition system has dual coils nervous and sure. This is because they have a simpler structure and anatomy that is moderately easy to workaround and. From purchases made via our links ones on the later Twin Cam which blows air... It shared some design elements with the Sportster line options in the Southwest part of worst. 103 ) highlighted the best years for the Twin Cam 88 specifications 103 's Popular option the. Worry that comes up when you plan a long trip, helping to efficiency! Down to personal preference addition, the Cam case was not draining properly to.. Hondas, but there are enough possible concerns to make you shy away from your engine choice. Lifespanneeding fewer inspections and replacements their EPA-approved Cam system the TC 103 ) highlighted the best for! The `` Evo '' although it shared some design elements with the Sportster.! N'T heard much on the clock before he had any problems Process provides acceleration... With 175k on it you are considering while the two engines are a range of motorcycle engines by... Are basically the same, the Twin Cam 88B engine was a counter-balanced Twin Cam 88 the company that! Vibration but is not well designed for larger, modern engines, especially at.. Of high mileage on any vehicle and the Twin Cam 88reliabilityimplied a significant improvement in performance and refinementfor company... 175K on it but is not well designed for larger, modern,.
Go for a Twin Cam if youre not too mechanically inclined and wouldnt want to work on your bike with a wrench. [10] While aftermarket firms such as S&S Cycle previously responded with stronger crankcase components for high-performance Evolutions, Harley went for a completely new design, while keeping the engine fundamentally and aesthetically similar to the traditional 45-degree, air-cooled overhead valve V-twin. I currently ride a Honda Shadow. ..lol. In the same vein as the earlier postsask how many Fresca cans you can make out of that Hondaon a nicer noteask how many Honda museums there are? The Evolution engine is a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine and it is well known for high power output, reliability, and durability The Twin Cam 88 engine is a V-twin engine and it was used in a wide variety of Harley-Davidson models until 2006 The Twin Cam 96 is a V-twin motorcycle engine with a displacement of 96 cubic inches (1584 cc) Good warranties helped some people, but most were left to fend for themselves. Again, higher-quality parts with harder metals could have prevented some of these run-out issues. paul lynde hollywood squares quotes; swiss town with ancient abbey on lake con; what is the difference between protected and unprotected speech But within the Harley world, there is a great debate raging between diehard fans of the Twin Cam engine and the newer Evo engine. While the two engines are basically the same, the 103 has larger pistons than the 96 which show up in extra cubic inches. Lol As stated above, I think you will be fine if you're doing normal PM. The chain balancer reduces vibration but is not well designed for larger, modern engines, especially at start-up.
I would like to have more kick through, its a great bike why by new? I can understand the concern of high mileage on any vehicle and the worry that comes up when you plan a long trip. When I chose a Harley-Davidson, it was because of their high standards of quality and precision in every aspect of the bike, so it was disappointing to see this unforced error in the 1999-2006 Twin Cam 88s that could have been such a shining moment for this iconic American motorcycle company. Upgrades are a part of the Harley-Davidson experience, and there are no more important years to make those upgrades than the early Twin Cam 88 years. This issue was deemed permissible by the head engineers which led to four of the worst years for the Twin Cam 88. This was due to the chassis design and vibration transfer to the Softail frame as a result of the direct (hard) mounting of the engine. I suggest riding examples of what you are considering. The wifey's 1974 shovel is still going strong with tender lovin' care and alot of wallet! Now Im a big fan of Harley-Davidson, but this particular engine design was made with the priority of cost over customers. Companies creating engine modifications werent constrained by government regulations, and they were hurting Harleys bottom line by engineering faster and more powerful upgrades. This is because they have a simpler structure and anatomy that is moderately easy to workaround.

The Harley-Davidson big twin was still not a unit design, with crankshaft and transmission sharing cases (like the Sportster), but the primary drive housing and cover were no longer structural, and now only hold the oil and locate the tensioner. True, you cannot make as many cubic inches as readilly as with a TC but you can hit 88-98 inches, for not a lot Harley Davidsons Twin Cam and Evo engines are two of the most popular engine designs for HD motorcycles. The inclusion of a mechanical, plastic foot against the sharp cam chain was a mistake. Development of the Twin Cam started in the early 1990s, as Harley sought to address problems affecting the previous Evolution engine, particularly structural weaknesses within the crankcase, oil circulation and leakages. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. Unlike the Evolution motor of the 1980s, or the Shovelhead, or the Panhead, the Twin Cam shared almost no parts or specifications with the original Harley OHV motor of the 1930s, the Knucklehead. The year 2006 was a transitory year in terms of complying with twin cam 88 specifications. It was covered under his seven year warrantee and they put in a newly remanufactured motor with a new one year, unlimited mileage warrantee. Our team is made up of industry experts and enthusiasts. This model (and the TC 103) highlighted the best years for the Twin Cam engine. Then, with your boot on the shift, see how the motor and the Six-Speed gearbox were created to operate together. Despite what some people think, Harley-Davidson does change with the times, and in 2011 updated the Softail bikes to the more modern CAN BUS system of wiring. Except maybe BMW's. to entirely replace the cam chest, chain, and levers. It is a metal gem crafted by hand. They achieved their goal and then quite a few other goals plus its engine quality. How long does a Harley-Davidson engine last? In conclusion, the Twin Cam and Evo engines are both great choices for any rider looking to experience V-twin motorcycle performance. Happy riding! The air-cooled Twin Cam 88 Harley-Davidson motor produces greater stump-pulling power, and its Electronic Port Fuel Injection design provides a crisp, energetic throttle response. The Softail frame was a tighter fitand did not provide room to rubber mount the motor like the Dyna and touring models do, which was considered a necessity due to the larger pistons and increased vibration. For those looking for more power and acceleration at lower RPMs, the Twin Cam engine might be the better choice. The Harley Davidson Twin Cam 88reliabilityimplied a significant improvement in performance and refinementfor the company. 88 cu in (1,450 cc), 95 cu in (1,550 cc), 96 cu in (1,584 cc), 103 cu in (1,690 cc), 110 cu. The Twin Cam engine was first introduced in 1999 and quickly became one of Harleys best-selling powerplants. The Rocker started by mounting a special swingarm and wide rear wheel to the Softail, then molding a rear fender, that rocked with the swingarm, and sat impossibly close to the tire. The Evo also has an Evocrankshaft, which is lighter than previous models, helping to improve efficiency. More about that will be discussed in this post. The Harley-Davidson Twin Cam engines are a range of motorcycle engines made by Harley-Davidson from 1998 to 2017. Haven't heard much on the 96" & 103's . You DO need cruise though, brother. The touring bike lineup got a major update for 2009, leaving almost no stone unturned. The twin-cam 88 is a pretty good design that should likely get you a hundred and fifty thousand to two hundred thousand miles with regular maintenance. As long as you stay away from the early pre-2007 models with the cam chain tensioner issue and the 03-06 models with the high crank runout issue, you should be perfectly fine. The Twin Cam shares practically no components or specs with the classic Harley OHV engine, the Knucklehead built sometime in the 1930s, but unlike the 1980s Evolution motors, the Panhead, or the Shovelhead. When it comes to reliability, both engines are excellent. Twin cam reliability. Unlike the CVO Twin Cam 95, the 96 got more displacement and torque from a longer 4.375" stroke, not a bigger 3.875" bore. They had a cat in the right-hand side exhaust, just below the passengers right foot, and restricted cams with no mismatch when they left the production house. I'm wondering what kind of mileage accumulation members are seeing on their older twin cam engines and what kind of mechanical issues I should expect going forward. Of course, not every engine is perfect, and the Twin Cam 96 had some piston recoil issues with smoke blowing out of the air filter. I am talking about used bikes in general, you can pick up evos really cheap, an advantage, though you can pick 88 TCs up fairly cheap, people want 6 speed and 103 or 96". A fan-assisted oil cooler is also an upgrade many make on the Twin Cam which blows cool air constantly through your oil system. Dont let this make you shy away from your engine of choice. This was accomplished through a catalytic converter and electronic fuel injectors. What Are the Signs of a Bad Voltage Regulator on a Harley Davidson Motorcycle? Please only post if you have over 5-8k on your kit I don't feel you can say it's super reliable with less then 5-8k on it.

I have been inside the cam chest a couple of times for maintenance, including tensioner shoe replacement, servicing the oil pump, and cam bearing replacement, and I don't have a problem doing that. The company released 103cuin (1,690cc) for 2010 Electra Glide Ultra Limited models, and later for 2012 Softail models and 110cuin (1,801cc) for Screamin' Eagle/CVO Models. That new automatic tensioner is another one of the few weaknesses in the Twin Cam designand needs to be inspected periodically or upgradedas well. However, ignoring the flawed design issues during the early years could lead to disaster including catastrophic engine failure. Why Harley Twin Cam 88 Is A Popular Engine? In the end, it all comes down to personal preference. I'm approaching 75K on my 2004 TC88 (stock internals, no mods). The Twin Cam 88B engine was a counter-balanced Twin Cam 88 motor that was designed to fit Harley-Davidson Softail models. JavaScript is disabled. We've ridden for years and won't stop. Based on some things I read, I acquired the impression that the twin-cams bikes manufactured in. Its not the sharp corner, its what might be coming the other way. WebComplete 110" Big Bore and Cam Chest Kits! [3], The Twin Cam only shared 18 parts with its predecessor, as almost all of the components were unique to the engine. V-Twin Harley Davidson forum. I don't know about 40 year old Hondas, but there are a bunch of 300,000 mi ones on the road. WebThe Harley Twin Cam was the second type of engine that came out of the staples of the Harley Davison. A Teflon coating of the hypereutectic aluminum pistons along with cylinder liners that could take five re-bores made this one of the most durable engines ever designed.

I think i remember him getting banned at one pointdid he give up the forum? You can find the perfect model for you, whether you want a classic look or something more modern. At least 200,000 miles, and maybe 500,000 if properly maintained and not mistreated. Theres no denying the Twin Cam 103TM engines origins when you look at it. Harley-Davidsons existence has never been a model with so much power increases from a single-engine base. Is that true? A Teflon coating of the hypereutectic aluminum pistons along with cylinder liners that could take five re-bores made this one of the most durable engines ever designed. Each of them has two lobes.

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