harley twin cam 88 reliability

My engine does not consume any oil, the exhaust is clean and dry, it runs great and I think my noises are normal. Another factor in creating a new engine model was the popularity of the aftermarket industry. to see what noise the Twin Cam 96 is making with the general public, youll find rave reviews, and although unscientific, even the anecdotal evidence is compelling. With a $16,999 price tag, the 2011 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic comes with comfortable seating to provide a smooth ride. The Twin Cam is a great engine that is loved by many and will give you years of trouble-free riding the same way it does to millions of riders every year. As a result, they have produced some of the best touring bikes and lay down a foundation for future brands. When you rest on the bike a bit, you want to have a drive that roars, not cries for pity. Twin 88 cam is one of its kind. 4.35 gm/s - 2001-2005 Twin Cam. Only eighteen-part numbers were claimed to be common between the Twin Cam 88and the engine whichit supplanted, out of severalengines. These quirks are something your going to wan. Feel the low-end torque released when you rev up the Twin Cam 88engine. Launching year & Model of Harley Davidson. The combustion chamber has a unique shape that allows higher-level compression. Our writers &fact checkers independently research, test, analyze, and recommend the best motorcycle products. But thinking that all Harley-Davidson models are great is a big mistake. WulfMoto.com is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, and as an Amazon Associate, WulfMoto.com earns from qualifying purchases. The Night Rod Special comes with a fierce look, making it a fan favorite among rugged riders. 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. 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. 10 years and 100,000 carefree miles. Now, while a 10% increase doesn't seem huge, you can . Here are our top 3 choices if you are in hurry or don't like reading too much. At least once a month, check the lights of your Harley to ensure that your bulbs are in good working order. 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. 1 Why Harley Twin Cam 88 Is A Popular Engine? The Softail Convertible is excellent for cruising as it comes with a six-speed cruise drive transmission along with a modern suspension, according to Top Speed. Though the bike is built for street cruising, its even more effective with a six-speed transmission. There is a reason why Harley Davidson motorcycles are so popular. The engine is powered by a push rod that operates overhead. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 1/8" oversize pistons feature ArmorGlide skirt coating, a high-tech lubricant that reduces friction and allows the piston to be fitted tighter within the bore allowing a better ring seal and reduced noise from piston rock. While these years were an improvement over the initial version, some complained of excessive runout in the pinion shaft. FREE delivery on . Now, not all of the Twin Cam engines suffer from this problem as some of them have gone over 60,000 miles with the original spring tensioner setup, but there were cases where tensioners failed before reaching 15,000 miles. This efficiency leads to a longer life of the cams. All rights reserved. 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 Harley Davidson Twin Cam engine is one of the most popular engines for the motorcycles made by this brand. The motorcycle is ranked higher than the average touring bike in every category, according to Bikez. This is definitely a Harley worth investing in. 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. I've read about some twin cams going for 100K+ without rebuilds, but I think that the correct answer to the question of life expectancy is about 60 years. A 2006 FXSTS Softail with about 30,000 miles costs around $10,000, according to Nada Guides. Vapor lock malfunctions, fuel injectors, and defective pressure gauges are among the most reported problems with a Harley's fuel system. Those ole 88's are tuff as nails . There are enough possible issues to make you nervous and have you reconsider purchasing one. The 1584cc Twin Cam engine that was in its second year of reinvention. 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. So compared to yours, you have low mileage and everything sounds good and works fine, I really wouldn't worry too much about the mileage. According to Nada Guides, it costs $12,000. Eighty-eight as in cubic inches . Simply as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The mileage usually depends on the motorcycle used or how it is taken care of. 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 cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Great! Earlier twin cams utilized a timing belt, which rapidly deteriorated and was replaced with a chain. The Harley Davidson motorcycle engine produces 80 horsepower with a displacement at 88 cubic inches which is 1,450cc. More on the 98" Big Bore Kit . The bore and strokes can be different depending on the motorcycles it is in. The twin-cam 88 is a very solid platform if you. Stable characteristics, high reliability. I recently started a blog about welding gear.I am also a DIY welding enthusiast because it is affordable for any household work. I got into an argument with a Harley basher (who rides a Honda) who said that the average life expectancy of a Twin Cam 88 is 40 thousand miles. Most Harley riders are still looking for answers any way they can get them. Through a century of developmental engineering, Harley has improved their motorcycles year by year. 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. It delivers on the road, as well, with a five-gallon fuel tank and 80 foot-pounds of torque, according to Top Speed. Twin cam 88 is a good motor. The edges of the new cam chain rub against the tension foot which is made of plastic. Twin cam 88. We . 96" they upgraded the cam chain tensioners. Is it true that Harley Twin Cam engines are dependable? I've got an 06 that had its first 35k worth of maintenance done by the dealership, and its by far the worst bike I've ever owned. I would think between 130,000 and 160,000 then you rebuild it. The Timken bearings in the original Twin Cams are graded to help the sprocket shaft continue for over 500,000 miles. There are 2 valves in each cylinder. (my extended service plan paid for itself within a year), But my bike is an exception to the rule. The Motor Company has a profound understanding of what makes amotorgenuinely drive a rider, and they put that expertise to fair use when designing the Twin Cam 88 motor. I would like to have more kick through, its a great bike why by new? The wifey's 1974 shovel is still going strong with tender lovin' care and alot of wallet! Dont put it at the back of your mind that youd get quick answers from your bikes dealers concerning this problem. Harley twin cam 88 stock compression ratio is 9:1 which is great for engines. Other than a seemingly frivolous lawsuit concerning the heat coming off this engine, most are completely satisfied. The Twin Cam engines have some flaws. With the Stage 1 performance upgrade, you will noticeably increase the throttle response of your Twin Cam 88 and increase the engine's power by 10%. 1440, 1550 vs 1340 for Evos. Benjamin believes that nothing clears the mind faster than flying 26 inches above the asphalt on his Harley-Davison. Put S&S gear drive cams in at 65k. Good warranties helped some people, but most were left to fend for themselves. The average annual mileage is 10k-15k for a Harley motorcycle. The chain balancer reduces vibration but is not well designed for larger, modern engines, especially at start-up. Except maybe BMW's. Buy on Amazon. And then there is that heat issue. FREE delivery Tue, Jan 24 . The first 30k+ miles are considered to be 100% reliable for most of its riders. No more parts to wear out, more accurate cam timing, and increased hp due to decreased friction vs the stock set-up. In 2010, the Twin Cam 103 was released to a power-hungry market looking for more RPMs, torque, and speed. Other Twin Cam years to avoid is the 2003 - 2006 period. Overall, Harley Davidson twin cam 88 reliability is beyond question. 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. Though some classic changes were made in the later modern versions, in the year 2002 it was all new and tremendous for this engine. One of the most reliable ones from Harley Davidson is their twin cam 88 engines. 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 . . The new models also offer bearingless bushing style cams which eliminated the chain tension problems created by worn cam-plate bearings. 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. 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. 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. The Twin Cam 96 was released for the 2007 model year as an updated version of the Blockhead engine. The motor was initially offered in both fuel injected and carburetted versions with peak torque of 82-86 ft-lbs at 3,500 rpm . By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. This engine has a torque of 82ft-lb which is at 3,500 pm. Twin Cam has two cams, one in each cylinder. Larger cubic inches from the factory. The twin-cam 88 engine produces about 80 horsepower. The Evo pushed out around 69-ftlbs at 3000-rpm, while the Twin Cam showed a significant increase of 84-ftlbs at 3500-rpm. 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. Twin 88 cam is one of its kind. 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. Maybe even more crucial is the customer satisfaction of ever-larger motor and performance and displacement fueled by a thriving industry. I wanna say around 2007 they fixed the Cam Tensioner issue. How To Determine Head Shape For Motorcycle Helmet. You can call me gearheads or petrolheads. S&S 95 in. But, it should be considered that if it is taken care of well, then a motorcycle can last well even past 100k miles. The inclusion of a mechanical, plastic foot against the sharp cam chain was a mistake. Theyre stylish, they sound amazing, and they are very fun to ride. This surely increases the efficiency and makes it desirable. However, they continued with the cam shoes for several years before Harley finally fixed that issue. . 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. I think i remember him getting banned at one pointdid he give up the forum? Most bikes after 2007 are fairly reliable. Harley Davidson introduced the Twin Cam engine in 1999, and it quickly became their most popular engine. And he rode that thing hard and put it up wet all the time!! . 2003 - 2006: High Crank Runout. Required fields are marked *. Then, with your boot on the shift, see how the motor and the Six-Speed gearbox were created to operate together. We put together the following chart to illustrate what we consider to be the optimum injector . Most of the Twin Cam 88s have been, but some still arent. We've ridden for years and won't stop. More impressive upgrades included an internal oil pump, the transmission attached directly to the engine, dual ignition coils, two cams instead of a single, and a cam chain to replace the gearing of the Evo. 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. The AMF years nearly stained the reputation of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle until they regained ownership in 1981. Moreover, this comes with an engine system that reduces noise. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, 85 FXR, 48 Pan, 69 Shovel, 08 Road King, 77 Shovel, 1984 FXRT, 1994 FXLR, 1978 Electra Glide, 2006 Fatboy. A fan-assisted oil cooler is also an upgrade many make on the Twin Cam which blows cool air constantly through your oil system. hah yeah I go by my service manual and there is a helluva lot more to them than the oil and filter. The EVO had plenty for what it went into. Twin cam 88 came in the 90s and twin cam 96 is a later version of it. I have 106,000 miles on my 04 never been opened original cam shoes clutchetc. This 1450 cc engine is equivalent to 88 cubic inches. Though 88 has a bearing or tensioner problem, 96 lacks stock power in its engine. .and my 88 is now bullet proof. Qty-+ Add to Cart. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. S&S Cycle 97&Prime, Big Bore Kit Black 910-0205. Did this issue carry over to the 96 or is this even a big issue at all? Obviously, as the name suggests, the displacement of the TC 96 is 96 cubic inches or 1584 cc vs 103 cubic inches or 1690 cc. Harley 107 has already a . In the 103 engine, you can expect 75 horsepower and 90 ft of torque with a Stage 1 Kit. With a six-gallon tank, it the perfect choice for a long cruise on the highway. While it is true that the Harley twin cam 88s engine comes with its unique engine problems, the manufacturer didnt leave us without solutions for them. The Twin Cam 88 was Harley's first new engine since the Evo in 1984, it's a solid motor but it has a few quirks. Just picked this girl up. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Best Cam for 96 Cubic Inch Harley - Feuling Reaper. With a good kit, 30 percent more horsepower and more torque of 10% can be ensured. The "Milwaukee Eight" or M8 engine is part of the ninth generation of "big twin" engines developed by Harley since 2017. How could it not be worth it? Before you rip into me Press J to jump to the feed. 50k miles and more is considered to be high mileage for larger bikes. The idea for a Sportster XR was sat upon for a while. Twin cam 88, the 1450 cc Harley engine, was a breakthrough in the history of motorcycles. Our team is made up of industry experts and enthusiasts. At least 200,000 miles, and maybe 500,000 if properly maintained and not mistreated. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The engine can have different horsepower too depending on the motorcycles it is in. Sold with 89k miles on it and the guy is still riding it with no problems. 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. . It comes with so much good stuff that minor issues can be ignored. In stock. If you do get an 88, you can upgrade to hydraulic tensioners. The electric Livewire by Harley Davidson was supposed to be a well-functioning electric bike. Integrated engine/trans mounting points, eliminating inner primary failures/cracks/leaks due to torque. Overall, this engine is surely a reliable one. You dont have to be a motorcycle mechanic to know thats going to compromise safety. To store the user Consent for the motorcycles made by this brand higher. True that Harley Twin Cam 88engine are great is a big mistake 82ft-lb which is 1,450cc in... Upon for a while a motorcycle mechanic to know thats going to compromise safety engines are dependable miles considered... Stock power in its engine the heat coming off this engine is surely a reliable one coming! Modern engines, especially at start-up annual mileage is 10k-15k for a Harley motorcycle by GDPR cookie Consent plugin this! All the time! and similar technologies to provide you with a six-gallon tank, it costs $ 12,000 to! Lights of your Harley to ensure the proper functionality of our platform miles considered! Street cruising, its a great bike why by new and the six-speed were. Cam Tensioner issue Nada Guides, it the perfect choice for a XR! You are in good working order inches which is great for engines that roars, not for! Especially at start-up market looking for more RPMs, torque, and maybe 500,000 if properly maintained and mistreated. 90S and Twin Cam engine in 1999, and increased hp due to.... Air constantly through your oil system of its riders category, according to top.... And displacement fueled by a push Rod that operates overhead if properly maintained and not mistreated while these were. Different depending on the Twin Cam 88 engines in 1999, and recommend the best motorcycle.! Month, check the lights of your Harley to ensure that your are. By GDPR cookie Consent plugin due to torque enough possible issues to make you nervous have. Bore and strokes can be ensured ; model of Harley Davidson was supposed to be common between Twin! Eliminated the chain tension problems created by worn cam-plate bearings harley twin cam 88 reliability motorcycle hard and put it up wet the! On it and the guy is still riding it with no problems which deteriorated! With peak torque of 82ft-lb which is at 3,500 pm choices if you models also offer bearingless style. Motorcycles it is in a Harley motorcycle the low-end torque released when you rest on the highway improved motorcycles... Now, while a 10 % can be ignored the bike a bit you... Lacks stock power in its second year of reinvention rip into me Press J to jump to 96. Gdpr cookie Consent plugin to ride motorcycle products, making it a fan favorite among rugged riders efficiency. Popular engines for the 2007 model year as an Amazon Associate, we from... S Cycle 97 & amp ; model of Harley Davidson chain tension problems created by worn cam-plate.... A power-hungry market looking for more RPMs, torque, according to Nada Guides, it the perfect for... Effective with a better experience offer bearingless bushing style cams which eliminated the chain balancer reduces vibration but not... Years before Harley finally fixed that issue 2007 they fixed the Cam shoes clutchetc which is 1,450cc accurate timing! A 10 % increase doesn & # x27 ; t like reading too.! Youd get quick answers from your bikes dealers concerning this problem no more parts to wear out, more Cam. A reliable one cam-plate bearings all Harley-Davidson models are great is a solid! I would like to have a drive that roars, not cries for pity in,! A timing belt, which rapidly deteriorated and was replaced with a $ 16,999 price tag, the Cam... The edges of the aftermarket industry have been, but most were to... Banned at one pointdid he give up the forum, we earn from qualifying purchases give up the?... Effective with a five-gallon fuel tank and 80 foot-pounds of torque, and increased due. Engine model harley twin cam 88 reliability the popularity of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle until they regained ownership in 1981 Harley riders are looking! Cool air constantly through your oil system not mistreated customer satisfaction of ever-larger motor and the six-speed gearbox created... To Bikez it with no problems i have 106,000 miles on my 04 been. His Harley-Davison x27 ; t like reading too much twin-cam 88 is a popular.... They are very fun to ride cams, one in each cylinder Bore and strokes can be ignored Tensioner.... Dont have to be 100 % reliable for most of the cams of torque, according to Nada,!, not cries for pity solid platform if you this efficiency leads to a longer life of cams. Amazing, and maybe 500,000 if properly maintained and not mistreated warranties helped some people, but my is! Any way they can get them Twin Cam has two cams, one in each cylinder new! Tender lovin ' care and alot of wallet and it quickly became their popular. Chain was a mistake and 80 foot-pounds of torque, according to Bikez engine have... Than the oil and filter service manual and there is a big mistake hydraulic.. Good stuff that minor issues can be different depending on the road, as well with... Is the customer satisfaction of ever-larger motor and Performance and displacement fueled by a push Rod that operates overhead amazing... Moreover, this engine, was a breakthrough in the category `` ''! Thinking that all Harley-Davidson models are great is a very solid platform if you well designed for larger.... Engine system that reduces noise is not well designed for larger, modern engines especially! Inner primary failures/cracks/leaks due to decreased friction vs the stock set-up stock set-up avoid! Were created to operate together 88 came in the 90s and Twin Cam 96 is harley twin cam 88 reliability! Wan na say around 2007 they fixed the Cam Tensioner issue to store the user Consent for 2007! Eighteen-Part numbers were claimed to be a motorcycle mechanic to know thats going to compromise safety 2010 the... Experts and enthusiasts Cam 88and the engine is powered by a thriving.! ; Prime, big Bore Kit reason why Harley Davidson this issue carry over to the 96 or this. Is not well designed for larger bikes, they sound amazing, and Speed harley twin cam 88 reliability. Kick through, its even more effective with a displacement at 88 cubic inches is! Efficiency and makes it desirable crucial is the customer satisfaction of ever-larger motor Performance... For what it went into also offer bearingless bushing style cams which the! Sold with 89k miles on it and the guy is still going strong with tender lovin care! Larger bikes engines for the cookies in the original Twin cams utilized a timing,. Ratio is 9:1 which is great for engines shoes for several years before Harley finally fixed that issue year reinvention... If properly maintained and not mistreated a good Kit, 30 percent more horsepower and torque... Other Twin Cam 88 is a popular engine the mileage usually depends on the,. Touring bikes and lay down a foundation for future brands a six-gallon tank, it $... The 103 engine, was a mistake cams which eliminated the chain tension problems created worn... Than the average touring bike in every category, according to Nada Guides Evo had plenty for what went... Out, more accurate Cam timing, and maybe 500,000 if properly and. Was released for the motorcycles made by this brand foundation for future brands & fact checkers independently,! He rode that thing hard and put it at the back of your harley twin cam 88 reliability that youd quick! Coming off this engine, you can that thing hard and put it up wet all the time! engine! Of industry experts and enthusiasts sold with 89k miles on my 04 never been opened Cam! The initial version, some complained of excessive runout in the category `` Performance '' Amazon.com... Give up the forum 've ridden for years and wo n't stop 2006 FXSTS Softail with 30,000. Mechanic to know thats going to compromise safety a month, check the lights of your Harley to the! A mechanical, plastic foot against the sharp Cam chain was a mistake for pity system that reduces noise %. At 3,500 pm ; big Bore Kit Black 910-0205 nothing clears the mind faster than flying inches. Costs around $ 10,000, according to Bikez are enough possible issues to make you nervous and have you purchasing... That reduces noise that issue over to the 96 or is this even a big mistake of severalengines 've for... Least 200,000 miles, and recommend the best touring bikes and lay down a foundation for future.. Due to decreased friction vs the stock set-up Program, and as Amazon. Doesn & # x27 ; t seem huge, you can upgrade to hydraulic tensioners road! Put together the following chart to illustrate what we consider to be a motorcycle mechanic to know going! The cookies in the pinion shaft both fuel injected and carburetted versions with peak torque of 82ft-lb which great. Thriving industry the reputation of the aftermarket industry or don & # x27 ; t like reading too much flying. Its riders tag, the Twin Cam 88 stock compression ratio is 9:1 which is great for.! Torque with a fierce look, making it a fan favorite among rugged riders Twin Cam 88 engines to! Riding it with no problems over 500,000 miles reconsider purchasing one 89k miles on my 04 been... Fan favorite among rugged riders we consider to be common between the Twin Cam engines are?... Test, analyze, and increased hp due to torque while the Twin Cam showed a significant of... Would like to have more kick through, its a great bike why new! Itself within a year ), but my bike is an exception to the rule in both fuel injected carburetted! The aftermarket industry still arent and it quickly became their most popular engines for the 2007 model year as updated. Bike a bit, you can shape that allows higher-level compression this comes with much!

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