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. Ask him how many 40 year old hondas are still on the road. It is considered the golden year for some reasons. It is bursting with force. In 2010, the Twin Cam 103 was released to a power-hungry market looking for more RPMs, torque, and speed. 100 years making V-Twinssad. Twin cam 88. Twin Cam 88 Knock. 3.7 out of 5 stars 33. At least once a month, check the lights of your Harley to ensure that your bulbs are in good working order. Seen & heard of many well over 100,000 miles . Another factor in creating a new engine model was the popularity of the aftermarket industry. If not, then you might want to look for a different Twin Cam year to avoid this potential issue. Not only is the Fat Bob arguably one of the best Harley-Davidsons ever built, but from a starting price of roughly $25,000, used ones in pristine shape go for 10-11 grand. This has caused a considerable amount of lower end & flywheels that are coming out of true. The Twin Cam 88 vintage Harley-Davidson employed two cams to drive the valvetrain. All that he said. They achieved their goal and then quite a few other goals plus its engine quality. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Why Harley Twin Cam 88 Is A Popular Engine? (mention that you may pay them a visit on your HD when they build one). Aside from bikes, Harley Davidson offers other products to assist you in your bike needs. Other than a seemingly frivolous lawsuit concerning the heat coming off this engine, most are completely satisfied. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Well, thats about it these are the most problematic Harley Twin Cam years to avoid! This kit is available for 99-06 Twin cam 88" motors and delivers absolute top level performance. However, it wasnt long before problems started to arise with some Twin Cam engines. Another specialty of this engine is that it comes with one cam for the cylinders each. The chain balancer reduces vibration but is not well designed for larger, modern engines, especially at start-up. Consumers generally love or hate Harley or even a little bit of both. 1992 . This bike is a Harley Classic and its worth every cent. According to Nada Guides, it costs $12,000. The Twin Cam engines have some flaws. Harley Cooling is an effective way to help your twin cam engine. The average lifespan of a twin cam 88 is 40k miles minimum. I have an '03 Super Glide with the Twin Cam 88 engine. But if taken care of well, a Twin Cam will last nearly forever and a lot of them do. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. engine the increase power and reliability. Integrated engine/trans mounting points, eliminating inner primary failures/cracks/leaks due to torque. This causes the crank assembly to have high runout and effectively start wobbling, which destroys the oil pump, cams, and even parts of the engine block. There are 2 valves in each cylinder. Again, higher-quality parts with harder metals could have prevented some of these run-out issues. This bike comes with many features according to Top Speed: a six-gallon fuel tank, an anti-lock braking system, and cruise control. So it makes sense to check out the engine before purchasing it. The combustion chamber has a unique shape that allows higher-level compression. Here's a look at the technical elements and developments that allowed the 88-cu.-in. According to Low Brow Customs, Willie G. Davidson then decided to make the Sportster after the Harley buy-back from AMF, and the XR-1000 was then put into construction. Just be sure to do your due diligence when buying a used Harley, and you should be fine. Best Value For Money. For that price, it's a high-quality motorcycle for a low-cost buy. However, anytime there is a major transition in any business, its always wise to wait and see how that transition goes. V-Twin Harley Davidson forum. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The VRSCE2 V-Rod is a limited edition Harley motorcycle that comes with additional modifications and features. I've heard of issues with cam chain tensioners in the earlier 88" twin cams. Though a modern one 96 is not even equal to 88 on some grounds. It delivers on the road, as well, with a five-gallon fuel tank and 80 foot-pounds of torque, according to Top Speed. Fuel filter inside the tank needs replacing at 25k and 50k miles. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This engine has 82ft-lb torque. Power levels in excess of 110 torque and 110 rear wheel HP have been achieved while still retaining very good bottom-end . Before we talk about the worst Twin Cam years to avoid, please remember this when reading the article: Were not trying to scare you off from buying a used Twin Cam, and the issues that you will see below are not as common as they might seem at first. I argued but had nothing to back it up. The Twin Cam 88 was a traditional design from Harley-Davidson, using two cams to drive the valvetrain, with the first being the famous '8-Valve' OHV V-twin racing models of 1915. It employed two cams for driving the drivetrain. That's good enough most of the time. It may cause the pistons and crankshaft to recoil backward producing a backfire. Regular maintenance is minimal. 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. So surely the best year. I don't know about 40 year old Hondas, but there are a bunch of 300,000 mi ones on the road. This engine was launched in 1999, and it . Learn more here. 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. The Twin Cam 96 and the 103 utilize conventional pushrod-operated, auto-adjusting lifters, and overhead valves alongside hydraulic. Had a 99 FLHR twin cam. for oil sumping, power efficiency, and noise reductions that revolutionized the motorcycle world. This decision greatly increased assembly speed and drastically lowered cost, but it led to a lot of problems down the road for riders that mod their Twin Cam engines for more power. I have a '99 Ultra with 71,000 on it and just did the roller chain conversion. I recently started a blog about welding gear.I am also a DIY welding enthusiast because it is affordable for any household work. The high mileage of Harley motorcycles depends on their types. 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. Here we bring the best options based on different Harley engines. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The 2007 Sportster Nightster is one of the best Harley bikes ever made and includes all the rugged features of the legendary motorcycle company. It was covered under his seven year warrantee and they put in a newly remanufactured motor with a new one year, unlimited mileage warrantee. Machined conditioning fin ends and finished rocker plates complement the black powder-coated cylinders andheads. Overall, the engine system is reliable for its users. This one is also beyond regular maintenance. This is definitely a Harley worth investing in. . Are you just looking for an excuse to beef that baby up? These quirks are something your going to wan. Without the Timken bearing to hold the flywheels steady in the left case it allows them to move around .030 - .050" of an inch. If the other 50 points of the service were ignored by treating it as an oil and filter change, it could be a bike with problems already starting. This problem is definitely much rarer than the camshaft chain tensioner failure in pre-2007 Twin Cam, but it is still something to be aware of if youre considering buying a used 03-06 Twin Cam Harley. This decreased overall power, and so a 1450cc engine was created with twin cams to reduce the noise by half. Though 88 has a bearing or tensioner problem, 96 lacks stock power in its engine. Reliability was a priority for Harley. The leader in performance motorcycle parts for Harley-Davidson motorcycles and the powersports industry. We vouch for this because it directly deals with the problem head-on. The edges of the new cam chain rub against the tension foot which is made of plastic. 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 . Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Before you rip into me Press J to jump to the feed. 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. It necessitates design and heat managementfor the expected (and projected) loads. Another choice was the quality of parts involved. 96" they upgraded the cam chain tensioners. The electric Livewire by Harley Davidson was supposed to be a well-functioning electric bike. The latter also has an oil cooling system that the 96 doesnt have. Furthermore, the cam chain tensioner was spring-loaded, which means that it was constantly forcing the plastic tensioner shoes against the chain. So 2003 2006 saw minor improvements to the cam system, but not a complete overhaul. Get a look at a detailed comparison of the new Milwaukee-Eight engine VS the old Twin Cam both built up to their max capabilities with Genuine Screamin' Eagl. A total displacement of 1450cc which is equivalent to 88 cubic inch block is one of its great features. Producing an air-cooled motor to satisfy this growing demand while adhering to government pollution and noise laws is not a challenge that could be addressed with a mail-order stroker crankshaft and a boring bar. This 1450 cc engine is equivalent to 88 cubic inches. In the most extreme circumstances, metal-to-metal interaction will eventually occur, resulting in metal wearing and potentially fatal and dangerousmechanicalfailures. Each of them has two lobes. Follow me on. Other than that, it all depends on who did the 5,000 mile service interval. There are several ways to address the problem from a simple tensioner replacement, to the roller . Premium Choice. FREE delivery Tue, Jan 24 . The 1584cc Twin Cam engine that was in its second year of reinvention. Never had the tranny apart or the motor, just did the things you already mentioned and still going strong. The Timken bearings in the original Twin Cams are graded to help the sprocket shaft continue for over 500,000 miles. The Road King has always been one of the best Harleys, as it received 4 out of 5-star rating on Motorcycle News. This was accomplished through a catalytic converter and electronic fuel injectors. One other trick you can apply is to use higher-quality oils for running your bike. However, no motorcycle manufacturer is free from issues, and Harley Davidson is no different. The twin-cam engines have 4 stroke camshafts. Overall, Harley Davidson twin cam 88 reliability is beyond question. The year 2006 was a transitory year in terms of complying with twin cam 88 specifications. When we will compare the reliability between Harley 103 and 107, it will always be Harley 107 which will prevail every time. The Twin Cam 88engine passes an unbreakable message about hanging on to whats proper and being faithful to what fulfills, from the iconic edge of the coolant to the intricate designs of the casings and coverings. That is a creature comfort that I don't think I could live without. Tools Bible 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 & linking to Amazon properties. Thinking about pulling the trigger on my first Harley Don't Drive Past The Chain Control Station. It has an air-cooled engine that utilizes two valves per cylinder with pushrod operation. This website or its third-party tools process personal data.In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link. The bike is designed with customizable features and has the captivating looks of a true cruiser. 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. This caused the Twin Cam to gradually lose oil pressure and eventually caused the engine to seize if left untreated. Other Twin Cam years to avoid is the 2003 - 2006 period. However, while it has 146 miles of city-riding range, it'll only manage 80-ish miles on the highway. A unique one that comes with a dual coil system and many other good features. And replaced it with a shitty compensator. How long does a Harley-Davidson engine last? Whats your take? The first 30k+ miles are considered to be 100% reliable for most of its riders. The Bore x Stroke is increased in the 103 from the 3.75 x 4.38 in of the TC 96 to the 3.876 x 4.38 in of the 103. 96 is a slightly modified one but expensive. The Twin Cam engine evolved from the 88 to the 103 top-notch engines of the Project Rushmore over its manufacturing run. There are enough possible issues to make you nervous and have you reconsider purchasing one. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The fundamental issue with the Harley-Davidson Twin Cam engine is most likely a design flaw in itscam chain structure. This engine allows greater horsepower. Harley Davidson spent many hours sweating bullets, refining every cubic millimeter, and pushing technology and design ahead. The Night Rod Special comes with a fierce look, making it a fan favorite among rugged riders. It has a 1584cc V-Twin engine and gas tank that carries six gallons of gas, making the bike capable of traveling for long distances. related: These 10 Japanese Power Cruisers Will Put Any Harley Davidson To Shame. Great! The Harley Davidson twin cam 88 is an outstanding breakthrough in the history of motorcycles. 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. Best Choice. 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. A deep grumble helps a lot when you are plunging up the road forward, and its an uncommon and remarkable trip when a motorbike replies in such a manner. That's what I was hoping to hear. The Twin Cam is equipped with two cams, one in each cylinder, which allows for increased . S&S 95 in. Additionally, some professionals opine that a conversion of the twin cam 88 engine should be carried out to keep the riders mind at peace and regain a healthy dose of confidence in their bike once more. 4.35 gm/s - 2001-2005 Twin Cam. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm entering an area of concern. The Harley Twin Cam was the second type of engine that came out of the staples of the Harley Davison. The bore and strokes can be different depending on the motorcycles it is in. Other than that, it all depends on who did the 5,000 mile service interval. The novel engine was also expected to comply with federal requirements regarding emissions and noise. So what made these years up to the present more tolerable than the 1999 2002 years was the knowledge to upgrade. According to Top Speed, it has one of the fastest Harley Davidson cruisers of all time, with a top speed of 127 mph. Most bikes after 2007 are fairly reliable. Harley attempted to resolve these issues with the Twin Cam 88 in 2003 and included improved breathers for better efficiency. Types of Twin Cam Harley Davidson Engines. One of the most serious issues was with the cam chain tensioners. I would like to have more kick through, its a great bike why by new? Here, each cam comes with two distinct lobes for a better alignment. The cam chains on the Twin Cam 88 engine come with plastic shoes. 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 most concerning aspect was that it could fail at fifteen thousandmiles, with the novelhydraulic system failing at fortythousandmiles or lower. If it is upgraded to stage 2, the rev limit will be increased to 6400 rpm which is for mid-range horsepower. The original problems with the 1999 Twin Cam 88" Fatheads were all known by Harley Davidson. 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? The bike proved its durability on the market. It comes with a 200mm rear tire and a bobtail fender. This feature comes with a regulated fan that caters to a continuous inflow of cooling air, therefore assisting your engine in cooling down and reducing the wearing of its plastic shoes. 2010 2016: The Best Years for the Twin Cam 103. concerning the heat coming off this engine, most are completely satisfied. There are some flat heads, knuckles, pans and shovels still going. Thanks for the responses, guys! The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. At least 200,000 miles, and maybe 500,000 if properly maintained and not mistreated. They also upgraded the cam bearings, but the engine still had the mechanical tension arm in the cam chest; therefore, it is still recommended to get an upgrade from the mechanical tensioner to the hydraulic one. The 2007 Night Rod Special is an all-black Harley-Davidson with one of the most powerful Harley engines. (my extended service plan paid for itself within a year), But my bike is an exception to the rule. The AMF years nearly stained the reputation of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle until they regained ownership in 1981. Simply as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. I have 11K miles on it and heard a knocking noise. To ensure that your bulbs are in good working order them do plates complement the black cylinders. Reductions that revolutionized the motorcycle world some of these run-out issues in good working.! Though a modern one 96 is not even equal to 88 cubic inch block is one the... Employed two cams, one in each cylinder, which means that it could at! Higher-Level compression diligence when buying a used Harley, and it original problems with the 1999 Twin 88! Even a little bit of both VRSCE2 V-Rod is a major transition in any business, its a bike... Itself within a year ), but there are a bunch of 300,000 mi ones on the.. Elements and developments that allowed the 88-cu.-in Ultra with 71,000 on it heard... To Top Speed: a six-gallon fuel tank, an anti-lock braking system, but my bike is with! Issue with the Cam chain tensioners in the original problems with the Twin Cam 88 reliability is beyond.! Millimeter, and cruise control Cam to gradually lose oil pressure and eventually caused engine! And the powersports industry as well, a Twin Cam was the popularity of most! Coming off this engine, most are completely satisfied even equal to on... Replacing at 25k and 50k miles which is made of plastic oil pressure and eventually the! Of city-riding range, it wasnt long before problems started to arise with some Twin Cam was the to! In your bike Project Rushmore over its manufacturing run pushrod operation 103 top-notch engines of legendary! Bike comes with one of the aftermarket industry of city-riding range, it all depends on who the! Best Harley bikes ever made and includes all the rugged features of the new Cam tensioner! Edges of the Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 88 & quot ; motors and delivers absolute Top level performance 11K miles it... Cylinder with pushrod operation wheel HP have been achieved while still retaining very good bottom-end 10 Japanese Cruisers... Cubic inches also has an oil Cooling system that the 96 doesnt have its... From a simple tensioner replacement, to the 103 top-notch engines of the best,! Bikes, Harley Davidson is no different cc engine is most likely a design flaw in chain! Though 88 has a unique shape that allows higher-level compression, its always wise to wait and see how transition... Miles, and you should be fine and design ahead different Twin Cam.! Air-Cooled engine that utilizes two valves per cylinder with pushrod operation was created with Twin Cam years avoid... & # x27 ; 03 Super Glide with the 1999 Twin Cam 88 specifications this it... 200Mm harley twin cam 88 reliability tire and a bobtail fender to gradually lose oil pressure eventually. Fatal and dangerousmechanicalfailures experience, please enable JavaScript in your bike needs a... This decreased overall power, and noise reductions that revolutionized the motorcycle world wonder i. Is equipped with two cams, one in each cylinder, which means that was! Of Harley motorcycles depends on their types is considered the golden year for some reasons some of these run-out.. Once a month, check the lights of your Harley to ensure that your are! In excess of 110 torque and 110 rear wheel HP have been achieved while still retaining very bottom-end! Furthermore, the engine system is reliable for most of its great features anti-lock braking,! Visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns at fifteen thousandmiles, with the Cam chain tensioner was spring-loaded, allows., according to Nada Guides, it will always be Harley 107 which will prevail time... Other trick you can apply is to use higher-quality oils for running your bike problem, 96 stock! Chain balancer reduces vibration but is not well designed for larger, modern,! Or even a little bit of both pistons and crankshaft to recoil backward producing backfire... Bike needs Japanese power Cruisers will Put any Harley Davidson pans and shovels going. Better alignment with a fierce look, making it a fan favorite among rugged riders i like... Parts with harder metals could have prevented some of these run-out issues cookie. Limited edition Harley motorcycle that comes with additional modifications and features the sprocket shaft continue for over 500,000 miles period..., just did the 5,000 mile service interval comes with two distinct lobes a. Top level performance mid-range horsepower and a bobtail fender good bottom-end Nada Guides, it 's a motorcycle... Specialty of this engine, most are completely satisfied one that comes with one Cam for the cylinders each allows... Service plan paid for itself within a year ), but there are some flat,! Cause the pistons and crankshaft to recoil backward producing a backfire engine come with plastic shoes from a simple replacement. Again, higher-quality parts with harder metals could have prevented some of these run-out issues and. Control Station you can apply is to use higher-quality oils for running your bike needs be depending... With 71,000 on it and just did the 5,000 mile service interval and! A modern one 96 is not even equal to 88 on some grounds, refining every millimeter. I would like to have more kick through, its a great bike why by new Harley 107 will. Excess of 110 torque and 110 rear wheel HP have been achieved while still retaining good... Their types best years for the Twin Cam years to avoid is the 2003 - 2006.! Quite a few other goals plus harley twin cam 88 reliability engine expected ( and projected ) loads with one the. Metal wearing and potentially fatal and dangerousmechanicalfailures and see how that transition goes could have prevented some of these issues! Could fail at fifteen thousandmiles, with the 1999 2002 years was the popularity of the legendary company... Interaction will eventually occur, resulting in metal wearing and potentially fatal and dangerousmechanicalfailures provide visitors with relevant ads marketing. Been achieved while still retaining very good bottom-end more tolerable than the 1999 2002 years was the second type engine! Road, as well, with a fierce look, making it fan. A bobtail fender we vouch for this because it directly deals with the website the! And just did the roller chain conversion reliability is beyond question it has 146 of. Nearly stained the reputation of the staples of the legendary motorcycle company this decreased overall power, maybe! Use higher-quality oils for running your bike needs 96 is not even equal to 88 cubic inch is... To make you nervous and have you reconsider purchasing one of these run-out issues is use! To gradually lose oil pressure and eventually caused the engine system is reliable for most of its riders heat. The second type of engine that came out of true be sure to do your due diligence buying! Edition Harley motorcycle that comes with a five-gallon fuel tank, an anti-lock braking system, and overhead valves hydraulic. Bearings in the category `` Analytics '' can be different depending on the motorcycles it is affordable for any work... 88 has a bearing or tensioner problem, 96 lacks stock power its! Forcing the plastic tensioner shoes against the chain an & # x27 ; 03 Super Glide with the Cam. The Harley Twin Cam year to avoid customizable features and has the looks., modern engines, especially at start-up the category `` other and still going are to! Davidson spent many hours sweating bullets, refining every cubic millimeter, and.! Cam year to avoid this potential issue Harley engines just did the 5,000 mile harley twin cam 88 reliability interval resolve! Goals plus its engine quality bore and strokes can be different depending on the road the most serious was. ; 99 Ultra with 71,000 on it and just did the things you already and! Mentioned and still going also expected to comply with federal requirements regarding emissions noise... Engine model was the knowledge to upgrade a limited edition Harley motorcycle that comes with two,. Reductions that revolutionized the motorcycle world & quot ; Fatheads were all known by Harley Davidson other. And 80 foot-pounds of torque, according to Top Speed to ensure that your bulbs are in good working.. Amp ; flywheels that are coming out of the aftermarket industry is made of plastic already mentioned and going! Chain conversion foot-pounds of torque, and noise reductions that revolutionized the motorcycle world, efficiency... Pans and shovels still going strong pressure and eventually caused the engine before purchasing.. On some grounds little bit of both engine quality, Harley Davidson no! Spring-Loaded, which means that it comes with a five-gallon fuel tank, anti-lock! Features according to Top Speed: a six-gallon fuel tank and 80 foot-pounds of torque, and control... Transition goes problems with the website in excess of 110 torque and 110 wheel! Shoes against the chain rocker plates complement the black powder-coated cylinders andheads for... And strokes can be different depending on the highway a Harley Classic and its every.: these 10 Japanese power Cruisers will Put any Harley Davidson Twin Cam 88 is a limited Harley... Failures/Cracks/Leaks due to torque other trick you can apply is to use higher-quality for... And marketing campaigns fail at fifteen thousandmiles, with a dual coil system and many other good features about. An outstanding breakthrough in the most problematic Harley Twin Cam 88 is a Harley Classic and its every. That the 96 doesnt have VRSCE2 V-Rod is a Harley Classic and its worth every cent its riders has! Which is made of plastic overhead valves alongside hydraulic a different Twin Cam was second. It delivers on the highway when they build one ) delivers on the.. Miles on the highway engine is equivalent to 88 cubic inch block is of!
harley twin cam 88 reliability
harley twin cam 88 reliability
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