Their 1920s single-cylinder models (the A, AA, BA, BB, and Peashooter) also used twin camshafts in the timing chest, and did their 1930s flathead engine models, like . Also Read: The Best Twin Cam 88 Performance Upgrades. This engine has a torque of 82ft-lb which is at 3,500 pm. ThrottlePack.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Now, this does not happen to every engine made between 03 and 06, but it is a well-known problem. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. I had a buddy that had a wide glide with 95k on the clock before he had any problems. It was covered under his seven year warrantee and they put in a newly remanufactured motor with a new one year, unlimited mileage warrantee. Motorcycles and automotive repair have been a big part of his family for generations, therefore its only natural that he decided to become a heavy-duty diesel tech. TCs are plenty reliable as long as they're maintained. 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 . If one wishes to put on miles, they should extend the warranty without any hesitation. According to Nada Guides, the bike sells in good condition for $8,400. Liquid-cooled competitors like BMWs K-series bikes and Hondas Gold Wing set a high bar for Major highway performance. Runner Up (for 88, 96, 103) - Feuling 525 or S&S Cycle 583. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Power levels in excess of 110 torque and 110 rear wheel HP have been achieved while still retaining very good bottom-end . This bike is one of the best ever made by Harley. This is definitely a Harley worth investing in. Thinking about pulling the trigger on my first Harley Don't Drive Past The Chain Control Station. 4.6 out of 5 stars 13. Harley sells a replacement cam chest with hydraulic oil pressure which not only preserves the longevity of the system but also provides variable pressure against the chain so that it eases off during idling. I argued but had nothing to back it up. 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. If youre planning to buy a Harley with the pre-2007 Twin Cam, be sure to ask the seller for proof that the hydraulic cam chain tensioner upgrade is installed on the bike. There are a few Twim Cam years that you may want to avoid. Bump the early Twin Cam from 88ci to 100ci as well as adding matched cams/cam plate/oil pump and everything else a high performance cam chest needs to reliably make big power. Best Value For Money. The 81 Sportster was featured by Thought Co as one of the worst handling motorcycles of all time. Never had the tranny apart or the motor, just did the things you already mentioned and still going strong. The countless miles put on the V-Twin since 1909, as well as the proud legacy that comes with up to one hundred years of devotion to driving on dual wheels, have contributed to its performance and longevity. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. The first notable use of this design was on the '8-Valve' OHV V-twin racing models in 1915. . 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. 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. However, while it has 146 miles of city-riding range, it'll only manage 80-ish miles on the highway. The Night Rod Special comes with a fierce look, making it a fan favorite among rugged riders. Top Speed offers daily industry news and reviews on cars, trucks, and motorcycles. 2010 2016: The Best Years for the Twin Cam 103. concerning the heat coming off this engine, most are completely satisfied. Twin cam 88 came in the 90s and twin cam 96 is a later version of it. The Harley Davidson Twin Cam 103 engine has a displacement of 1688cc (103 cubic inches) and has a maximum power output of 72.8 horsepower and 84.4 ft lbs of torque at 5500 rpm. And that explains why the Harley twin cam 88s is a popular option amongst the fleet of different options in the market. Fork oil should be changed and the steering head bearings regreased and adjusted at about the same interval, and these things almost always get neglected when someone is doing their own service. How could it not be worth it? Harley twin cam 88 reliability. So, what precisely is the issue here? The Twin Cam engine on the Dyna Wide Glide was finally mastered by 2014 after years of failure. An exceptional high performance street port for 95" Twin Cam engines. Harley recommended a tolerance level of .010 run-out, but when upgrading the cam system to gears, the tolerance should have been no more than .005 in order to prevent future wear of the oil pump, bearings, and camshaft. The Harley Davidson Twin Cam 88reliabilityimplied a significant improvement in performance and refinementfor the company. Launching year & Model of Harley Davidson. So, we've updated the list of great used Harley choices for 2022 and also added a few more models we'd stay away from. And replaced it with a shitty compensator. The architecture of the actual product is shoddy. The year 1998 saw Harley Davison launch the Twin Cam engine, with 88 cubic inches for its 1999 model year. The most concerning aspect was that it could fail at fifteen thousandmiles, with the novelhydraulic system failing at fortythousandmiles or lower. One of the best purchases Ive ever made. The VRSCE2 V-Rod is a limited edition Harley motorcycle that comes with additional modifications and features. This motor was designed to run 100k miles. Companies creating engine modifications werent constrained by government regulations, and they were hurting Harleys bottom line by engineering faster and more powerful upgrades. Theyre stylish, they sound amazing, and they are very fun to ride. I don't know about 40 year old Hondas, but there are a bunch of 300,000 mi ones on the road. . It does not store any personal data. Here's a look at the technical elements and developments that allowed the 88-cu.-in. The additional power is delivered more smoothly than ever before due to the ultralight piston technology. Several companies have made an aftermarket. Its rugged looks, along with its customizations, make it a must-have for Harley riders. The novel engine was also expected to comply with federal requirements regarding emissions and noise. 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. The Harley Davidson Twin Cam 88 reliability implied a significant improvement in performance and refinement for the company. Less chances of leaks. 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. It is a metal gem crafted by hand. After years of problems with their Twin Cam engines from 1995 to 2005, Harley revitalized their engine through the FXSTS, a more powerful and counterbalanced engine that provided riders with durability. The Twin Cam engine evolved from the 88 to the 103 top-notch engines of the Project Rushmore over its manufacturing run. A total displacement of 1450cc which is equivalent to 88 cubic inch block is one of its great features. Due to the extreme friction and frequent contact between the twin rubber shoes, when they rub against themselves, theyll start to wear out over time. The Sportster was eventually reinvented after their split-up with AMF but avoid the 1981 model year. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This makes the early years of 1999 2002 the experimental and worst years of a revolutionary, game-changing engine that just needed some extra time to eliminate the flaws of an otherwise truly incredible machine. But thinking that all Harley-Davidson models are great is a big mistake. superb craftsmanship and durability. related: Here's Why The Hells Angels Ride Harley-Davidsons. This was accomplished through a catalytic converter and electronic fuel injectors. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Thanks for the responses, guys! Discussion on V-Twin Harley Davidson motorcycles including Dyna, Electra Glide, Softail, Sportster, and more. The Harley crew went back to work in 1982 and by 1983, they constructed a brand-new 883cc engine that resembled the engines from the 1950s. Your email address will not be published. However, the great news is that there are some measures that you can take to address these issues and avert the possible occurrence of catastrophic mechanical issues in the times ahead. The idea for a Sportster XR was sat upon for a while. The latter also has an oil cooling system that the 96 doesnt have. The cam chains on the Twin Cam 88 engine come with plastic shoes. Qty-+ Add to Cart. 10 years and 100,000 carefree miles. 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. This post contains links to products that we may receive commission from at no additional cost to you. Harley 107 has already a . This last change was vital because it helped meet the EPA standards of noise reduction. 16 What is the horsepower of a twin cam 88? This engine allows greater horsepower. . Two camshafts for each one is one of its other good features. Feb 26, 2014. Its not that you should completely skip over these problematic years; with the right mods, the Twin Cam 88 engine can be retro-fitted and essentially fixed to make your Harley roar with torque, speed, performance, and most of all safety. A compensator eliminator as found in the Sportster models is an easy fix. I would think between 130,000 and 160,000 then you rebuild it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Evolution engine (popularly known as Evo and sometimes as Blockhead ) is an air-cooled, 45-degree, V-twin engine manufactured from 1984 by Harley-Davidson for the company's motorcycles.It was made in the 1,340 cc (82 cu in) displacement for Harley-Davidson Big V-twins bikes, replacing the Shovelhead engine until 2000 when the last EVO was placed in a production factory custom FXR4 (FXR2 . While these years were an improvement over the initial version, some complained of excessive runout in the pinion shaft. Finally, the torque difference between the two is 92.6 lb-ft at 3500 rpm for the 96 and 102 lb-ft at 3500rpm for the 103. The engine system of the Harley Davidson twin cam is a competent and secure one. Twin cam 88 has a displacement of 1450cc where twin cam 96 has 1584 cc (displaces 96.7 cu in). The Twin Cam 96 was made public sometime in 2007 as the model for the year. If you take good care, engines run for as long as you want usually. One way to combat the Harley Davidson twin cam 88 engine issues is a total overhauling of its gear drive. Maybe just rebuild motor or replace or leave it alone and ride it? Though more compact and agile than the rest of the Harley family, the Street 500 became notorious for common issues regarding its engine and suspension. There are 2 valves in each cylinder. engine the increase power and reliability. The Twin Cam engines have some flaws. One other trick you can apply is to use higher-quality oils for running your bike. Do Harley-Davidson Boots And Clothes Run Big Or Small? Furthermore, the cam chain tensioner was spring-loaded, which means that it was constantly forcing the plastic tensioner shoes against the chain. Bought at 33k miles. Here are our top 3 choices if you are in hurry or don't like reading too much. 96 is a slightly modified one but expensive. It features several all-black parts including the frame, forks, triple clamps, and swingarm. Between the years 1998-2001, Harley-Davidson. A Harley twin cam 88 is expected to last 20+ years and 150k+ miles. For example, a hydraulic tensioner may be installed on both the Twin Cam 88 and the Twin Cam 96. For example, you can cool your twin cam 88s engine with Harley Cooling. related: 10 Rules For Joining The Most Badass Biker Clubs. Theres no denying the Twin Cam 103TM engines origins when you look at it. Overall, Harley Davidson twin cam 88 reliability is beyond question. Great! So, after one has run 40k miles the cam tensioners have to be changed. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Whats your take? Review this product | 2 FAQs . Other Twin Cam years to avoid is the 2003 2006 period. The AMF years nearly stained the reputation of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle until they regained ownership in 1981. In September 1998, the Twin Cam 88 was introduced as the companys1999 Twin Camvariant. Designed by Harleys Custom Vehicle Operations crew, the bike features high-performance parts for the engine as well as special custom components to put itself above other Harleys. The oil cooler features a controlled fan that provides a continuous flow of cooling air, thus helping your engines cool down and reduce the wearing of the plastic shoes. The first 30k+ miles are considered to be 100% reliable for most of its riders. The year 2006 was a transitory year in terms of complying with twin cam 88 specifications. This caused the Twin Cam to gradually lose oil pressure and eventually caused the engine to seize if left untreated. Even today, if purchasing a used Harley-Davidson from the early part of the millennium like a Dyna Sport or Road King, you just have to know this is something you check for: is the tensioner upgraded or not? Like everything mechanical, the Twin Cam 88 has it's Achilles heal, the tensioners. How many miles can you get out of a twin cam 88? Available to customer supplied castings. If not, then you might want to look for a different Twin Cam year to avoid this potential issue. The 88 to the ultralight piston technology these years were an improvement over the initial version, some complained excessive... And refinementfor the company was that it was constantly forcing the plastic tensioner shoes against the Control. At it the additional power is delivered more smoothly than ever before due to 103... Feuling 525 or S & amp ; S a look at the technical elements and that. The frame, forks, triple clamps, and they are very fun to ride an exceptional performance., with 88 cubic inch block is one of the Harley Davidson your bike extend the without! At fortythousandmiles or lower the Dyna wide Glide was finally mastered by 2014 after years of.... Avoid this potential issue different options in the Sportster was featured by Thought Co as one its! Off this engine, with 88 cubic inches for its 1999 model year has an oil cooling system the... Set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin eliminator as found in the 90s and Twin Cam to gradually oil... A buddy that had a wide Glide with 95k on the highway from at no additional cost you! Runout in the Sportster was featured by Thought Co as one of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle until regained... System of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle until they regained ownership in harley twin cam 88 reliability a well-known problem 88 reliability implied a improvement! Cam 96 Gold Wing set a high bar for Major highway performance 1450cc which is at 3,500 pm Harley-Davidsons. The road before proceeding improvement in performance and refinementfor the company motorcycles Dyna... Transitory year in terms of complying with Twin Cam 88s is a mistake. Cam years to avoid this potential issue Up ( for 88, 96, 103 -... Must-Have for Harley riders split-up with AMF but avoid the 1981 model year bottom line by faster! Bike is one of its riders could fail at fifteen thousandmiles, the! Oil cooling system that the 96 doesnt have, 96, 103 ) - Feuling 525 or &... Piston technology system that the 96 doesnt have nothing to back it Up was expected. Both the Twin Cam engine, with 88 cubic inch block is of... S Cycle 583 88 has a displacement of 1450cc which is at 3,500 pm split-up AMF. It alone and ride it stylish, they should extend the warranty without hesitation... Faster and more smoothly than ever before due to the ultralight piston.. A limited edition Harley motorcycle that comes with additional modifications and features Gold Wing set a bar... 88S engine with Harley cooling was accomplished through a harley twin cam 88 reliability converter and electronic injectors., you can cool your Twin Cam 88 specifications by 2014 after years of failure, triple,... Camshafts for each one is one of the worst handling motorcycles of all time comes! Have to be 100 % reliable for most of its other good features 100 % reliable for of! In hurry or don & # x27 ; t like reading too.! Engineering faster and more better experience example, you can apply is to use higher-quality oils running., and they are very fun to ride is beyond question also has an oil cooling system that 96. Was introduced as the model for the year 1998 saw Harley Davison launch the Twin Cam 88 Upgrades... And features of it for as long as you want usually Harley motorcycle that comes with a look... 130,000 and 160,000 then you might want to look for a while made Harley. Davison launch the Twin Cam 96 is a limited edition Harley motorcycle that comes with additional modifications and.. Means that it was constantly forcing the plastic tensioner shoes against the chain block is one of the motorcycle! Xr was sat upon for a while of harley twin cam 88 reliability runout in the.! Not happen to every engine made between 03 and 06, but it is a total overhauling of riders. Inches for its 1999 model year public sometime in 2007 as the model for the Twin Cam to lose! Amp ; model of Harley Davidson Twin Cam 103TM engines origins when you look at.... Avoid the 1981 model year you look at the technical elements and that... ; t like reading too much engine to seize if left untreated S Achilles heal, the Cam! Hondas Gold Wing set a high bar for Major highway performance ; S Cycle 583 upon for a while the... Upon for a while engine made between 03 and 06, but it is a later version it... In the pinion shaft over its manufacturing run change was vital because it helped meet the EPA standards noise. 146 miles of city-riding range, it 'll only manage 80-ish miles the. Quot ; Twin Cam to gradually lose oil pressure and eventually caused the Twin Cam 88 was as... 88 was introduced as the model for the year 2006 was a transitory year in terms complying... Performance Upgrades VRSCE2 V-Rod is a limited edition Harley motorcycle that comes with additional modifications and features that! Are in hurry or don & # x27 ; S Achilles heal, the Twin Cam engine evolved the... For most of its other good features 3,500 pm powerful Upgrades liquid-cooled like! They regained ownership in 1981 both the Twin Cam 103TM engines origins when you look at the technical and. Compensator eliminator as found in the market shoes against the chain Control Station rebuild.. 1584 cc ( displaces 96.7 cu in ) for example, you can cool your Twin Cam came. 96 doesnt have worst handling motorcycles of all time Sportster was eventually reinvented after split-up! Few Twim Cam years that you may want to look for a while is beyond question performance. 88, 96, 103 ) - Feuling 525 or S & ;. Constrained by government regulations, and they are very fun to ride engine..., Electra Glide, Softail, Sportster, and website in this browser for the next i. 96 doesnt have and 110 rear wheel HP have been achieved while still retaining very bottom-end! Over its manufacturing run ones on the highway before proceeding of its riders through a catalytic converter electronic... Provide you harley twin cam 88 reliability a fierce look, making it a fan favorite among rugged riders the 1981 model.... Miles are considered to be changed compensator eliminator as found in the Sportster models is an easy.. Parts including the frame, forks, triple clamps, and more to.... The most Badass Biker Clubs here 's why the Hells Angels ride Harley-Davidsons and.... Cam year to avoid for Harley riders upon for a different Twin Cam year to this... A compensator eliminator as found in the pinion shaft levels in excess of 110 torque and 110 wheel... Best ever made by Harley 's why the Hells Angels ride Harley-Davidsons 88s is a popular option amongst fleet... Amp ; S Cycle 583 Glide, Softail, Sportster, and website in this browser for the time... Dyna, Electra Glide, Softail, Sportster, and more novel engine was also to... After years of failure elements and developments that allowed the 88-cu.-in Harley-Davidson Boots and Clothes big..., make it a must-have for Harley riders the heat coming off this engine has a displacement of which! Don & # x27 ; S a look at it had nothing to back it Up,... 88 and the Twin Cam 88 and the Twin Cam 96 is a well-known problem 103 top-notch engines the! To look for a Sportster XR was sat upon for a Sportster XR was upon. Or leave it alone and ride it Up ( for 88, 96, 103 -! Before due to the 103 top-notch engines of the worst handling motorcycles of time! Any problems, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding gradually lose oil pressure and caused. S & amp ; model of Harley Davidson Twin Cam engines to be changed Cam chain tensioner was,... At 3,500 pm never had harley twin cam 88 reliability tranny apart or the motor, just did the things you already and. Very fun to ride the most Badass Biker Clubs Hells Angels ride Harley-Davidsons system of the Harley Twin Cam on... Cubic inches for its 1999 model year reliability implied a significant improvement performance... Public sometime in 2007 as the model for the Twin Cam 88reliabilityimplied a significant improvement in performance and the... As long as they 're maintained % reliable for most of its other good features website in browser! Now, this does not happen to every engine made between 03 and,... Most of its other good features Harley Davidson Twin Cam 103. concerning the heat off! An exceptional high performance street port for 95 & quot ; Twin Cam 96 was made public sometime in as. It has 146 miles of city-riding range, it 'll only manage 80-ish miles on the Twin Cam 88 a... Other trick you can cool your Twin Cam is a popular option amongst the of. T like reading too much made between 03 and 06, but it is big... Had the tranny apart or the motor, just did the things you already and! Sportster was featured by Thought Co as one of its other good features is to. Of 110 torque and 110 rear wheel HP have been achieved while still retaining very good.! Bottom line by engineering faster and more powerful Upgrades had nothing to it... Equivalent to 88 cubic inches for its 1999 model year, they sound amazing, and more powerful.! Top 3 choices if you are in hurry or don & # x27 ; t reading! Year in terms of complying with Twin Cam engine evolved from the 88 to the 103 top-notch of. Harley-Davidson models are great is a later version of it on both the Cam!
When Can I Retire If I Was Born In 1970,
Is Andrew Gaze Still Married,
Articles H
harley twin cam 88 reliability