Released in September 1998 for the model year 1999, twin-cam 88 is one of the top class engines Harley-Davidson ever provided, twin-cam 88 engines are one of the most reliable motors one can ever have. FREE delivery on . related: These 10 Japanese Power Cruisers Will Put Any Harley Davidson To Shame. Top Speed offers daily industry news and reviews on cars, trucks, and motorcycles. The Twin Cam engines have some flaws. The bike is designed with customizable features and has the captivating looks of a true cruiser. This bike is one of the best ever made by Harley. Harley-Davidson bikes are designed to last for a very long time. You DO need cruise though, brother. Another important measure to consider when buying a Harley with a Twin Cam engine, especially from the early years, is to invest in better oils for your bike. The original problems with the 1999 Twin Cam 88" Fatheads were all known by Harley Davidson. I don't know how you live without it. TC88-2P . Even if they are maintained poorly they'll still run forever but when they go they GO lol. If you're getting an 88" TC then go for the 99-02 cause they have the timken bearing in the crank. The bore of this engine is 3.75 inches and it also has a 4 stroke. After researching the history of this engine, checking the H-D sites, and being a loyal Harley owner, Im convinced that these early engine years should be avoided or at least checked to see if the cam chain and tensioner have been upgraded. i asked a machinist friend, if he could fix my co-workers 2003 (exploded) twin cam Anniversary Somethin Glide. 96" they upgraded the cam chain tensioners. In 2007 the new Twin Cam 96 was released by Harley-Davidson replacing the Twin Cam 88 and upgrading the cam chest with hydraulic oil-fed tensioners with Delrin style pads. 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. Other than a seemingly frivolous lawsuit concerning the heat coming off this engine, most are completely satisfied. Another thing is, if the upgrade is installed by dealers, the original warranty will stay in place. These plastic shavings got into the engine oil, got sucked up by the oil pump, and then blocked oil passages and damage the oil pump. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. 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. 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. Qty-+ Add to Cart. The 1981 Harley-Davidson Sportster was not only one of the worst Harleys ever made, but one of the worst handling bikes ever made by any company. Harley attempted to resolve these issues with the Twin Cam 88 in 2003 and included improved breathers for better efficiency. The Evolution evolved into the Twin Cam 88 in 1999. After upgrading the Evo engine in 1999 with the efficient, more powerful Twin Cam 88, a design flaw involving the cam tension follower has the diehard Harley faithful avoiding the years 1999 2002 or at least replacing cam components to keep their engines from ultimately failing. . 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. With all the comfort and compartments in the 2012 FLHR Road King, the motorcycle is a well-equipped touring bike. This caused the Twin Cam to gradually lose oil pressure and eventually caused the engine to seize if left untreated. It comes with two camshafts to maximize horsepower. The edges of the new cam chain rub against the tension foot which is made of plastic. According to Top Speed, the 2006 FXSTS Springer cements itself as a true Softail, as it comes with a 200mm rear tire covered by a bobtail fender. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. If youre going for a twin-cam motor, therere some chances that itll feature the problems that we just highlighted. We . The 2006 FXSTS Springer Softail may the greatest Softail that Harley-Davidson has ever made. This motor can run to their expectation of longevity. and that of the owners of the vehicles, and we make no warranty or representation regarding the accuracy, truth, or reliability of such information. Overall, Harley Davidson twin cam 88 reliability is beyond question. If there's complete service records, 30,000 is still relatively new. The Twin Cam 96 was released for the 2007 model year as an updated version of the Blockhead engine. Other than that, it all depends on who did the 5,000 mile service interval. Has about 118k on it now! Cant wait to put some miles on My ugly Roadster but its mine! More on the 98" Big Bore Kit . 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. What happens is the whole crank assembly goes out of truth, and the crank becomes too unbalanced to run. With a low seat and drag-style handlebars, this motorcycle makes for a comfortable ride. Strict quality control standards to Build and test. Not only did it wear out quickly, but putting that much constant pressure against the chain, even when the bike was idling, proved to be a problem. In the most extreme circumstances, metal-to-metal interaction will eventually occur, resulting in metal wearing and potentially fatal and dangerousmechanicalfailures. Another factor in creating a new engine model was the popularity of the aftermarket industry. There are six different speeds: a robust driveline and interior components. I argued, but had nothing to back it up. 2. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. How long does a Harley-Davidson engine last? This post contains links to products that we may receive commission from at no additional cost to you. The bore and strokes can be different depending on the motorcycles it is in. 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. Lol As stated above, I think you will be fine if you're doing normal PM. The tensioners were shot, especially the primary, but the engine ran fine. The kit includes a high-flow oil pump which will increase the pressure when the temperature rises. 3.7 out of 5 stars 33. A friend of mine has 99 wide glide with 175k on it. At this point, most of the early pre-2007 Twin Cam Harleys have the hydraulic cam chain tensioner upgrade installed, and therefore should be perfectly fine to purchase. 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. If you do get an 88, you can upgrade to hydraulic tensioners. I've 4 or 5 friends who ride Twin Cam with more then 100000 kms on it. The increased compression range goes from 9.2:1 to 9.6:1 which allows for greater speeds. Wiseco Twin Cam 88" to 95" Big Bore Pistons. Fuel filter inside the tank needs replacing at 25k and 50k miles. 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. 2 piece rocker boxes over 3 piece Evo units. Twin cam 88B I'm approaching 75K on my 2004 TC88 (stock internals, no mods). First manufactured in 1984, the Evo is a single cam, air-cooled, v-twin-engine that has become acclaimed among Harley riders because of its simplicity, ease of maintenance, serviceability, and best of all, reliability. 14 Used Harley-Davidsons Worth Every Penny (And 3 To Avoid At All Costs), Here's Why The Hells Angels Ride Harley-Davidsons, reputation of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle, Top Speed, the 2006 FXSTS Springer cements itself as a true Softail, 10 Rules For Joining The Most Badass Biker Clubs, 2011 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic, These 10 Japanese Power Cruisers Will Put Any Harley Davidson To Shame, 10 Beautiful British Classics That Will Bankrupt You With Maintenance Bills And Repairs, Every Gearhead Should Buy These 10 Affordable Classic American Performance Cars, 10 Of The Most Beautiful BMWs Of All Time, 10 Kit Cars We Wouldn't Drive If You Paid Us, 10 Hot Hatchbacks That Will Bankrupt You With Maintenance Bills And Repairs, These 10 Cars Changed The Automotive Scenery Forever, 10 Reasons Why Someone Should Build This Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon Hot Rod Pickup Concept, 10 Reasons Why This Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Render Should Be Reality, This Modern Lamborghini Diablo Is A Fitting Return For An Iconic Supercar, HotCars' Best 2022 Pickup: Ford Maverick Hybrid, HotCars' Best 2022 European Sports Car: Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, HotCars' Best 2022 Muscle Car: Ford Mustang Mach 1, Why Its Worth Waiting For The Next-Generation 2023 Honda Pilot, 10 Car Brand Logos You Probably Don't Know The Meaning Of, 10 Things We Love About The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid. When we will compare the reliability between Harley 103 and 107, it will always be Harley 107 which will prevail every time. Outside of work, youll find Jake restoring and riding rare street bikes and ATVs. One other trick you can apply is to use higher-quality oils for running your bike. I know the typical Craigslist seller might not have this info, but if I took the bike to a dealer, would they be able to look up service records for me? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". If this issue is not addressed and detected, the Twin Cams complete engine, including cams, pistons,and engine casings, may be damaged. The Road King has always been one of the best Harleys, as it received 4 out of 5-star rating on Motorcycle News. TCs are plenty reliable as long as they're maintained. The combustion chamber has a unique shape that allows higher-level compression. Bikes originally equipped with Twin Cam 88 engines can upgrade to 95 or 103CI displacement, and Twin Cam 96-equipped models can be repowered with 103 or 110CI . If its checked and changed then it is great in the long run. Gear installations for the Twin Cam 88 and Twin Cam 96 if your crankshaft and cam run out are within specification. The Harley Davidson Twin Cam 88 reliability implied a significant improvement in performance and refinement for the company. The Harley Davidson motorcycle is one great . The Twin Cam engine evolved from the 88 to the 103 top-notch engines of the Project Rushmore over its manufacturing run. Easy if you're mechanically inclined. One of the most serious issues was with the cam chain tensioners. Those that got their bikes to the dealer or any Harley dealer had to leave the bike, then the dealer sent the engine back to Harley Davidson, it was replaced with a new engine. The bike was special in that it was years in making. Discussion on V-Twin Harley Davidson motorcycles including Dyna, Electra Glide, Softail, Sportster, and more. Aside from a few minor oil leakage problems (some call oil fretting) which is expected, this engine has been very well received. The first notable difference lies in the name. #1 by Superg88 Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:45 am. This bike comes with many features according to Top Speed: a six-gallon fuel tank, an anti-lock braking system, and cruise control. 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. Overall, the engine system is reliable for its users. 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. 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. S&S Cycle 98" Silver Big Bore Kit 910-0482. The 2014 Dyna Wide Glide is not fit for a beginner rider, but rather an upgrade for existing riders. My engine does not consume any oil, the exhaust is clean and dry, it runs great and I think my noises are normal. It is bursting with force. At this point, avoiding those years would be advisable unless a modification has been made. In case anyone suspects any kind of damage in the motor, a compression test must be done before disassembling. Put S&S gear drive cams in at 65k. 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. Also, both use timed injection or SPFI (Sequential Port Fuel Injection). Twin cam 88. 10 years and 100,000 carefree miles. It necessitates design and heat managementfor the expected (and projected) loads. Premium Choice. 2003 - 2006: High Crank Runout. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The Twin Cam engine on the Dyna Wide Glide was finally mastered by 2014 after years of failure. By 2007, all twin cam models had the new hydraulic cam chain tensioners installed and the issue was fixed. Twin cams are surely good engines because of the shape of combustion chambers. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And it accomplished that without jeopardizing Harley-Davidsons signature style. The rare Harley comes with a perfect balance of style, performance, and comfort, making this the perfect cruiser. Explore; 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. I've heard of issues with cam chain tensioners in the earlier 88" twin cams. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". According to Nada Guides, the bike sells in good condition for $8,400. I've done this to my bike. The Electra Glide was given an 80 out of 100 ranking on Bikez. This Harley is one of the best touring bikes ever made by the company and makes a great used purchase. It is the successor to the Twin Cam 88 model that ran from 1998 to 2007. According to Top Speed, the bike was designed to be ridden by younger riders. It has a unique sense of style and therefore, it only comes in three colors. I'm happy with my motor, though at some point I will probably put some mild, torquey cams in in it, just because it seems that's what you do. 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 fundamental issue with the Harley-Davidson Twin Cam engine is most likely a design flaw in itscam chain structure. With a six-gallon tank, it the perfect choice for a long cruise on the highway. Dyna Ignition Module - Twin Cam (Carbureted) 1999-2003 Read More. Something breaks every 6 months like clockwork. This last improvement has prompted some enthusiasts to doubt the engines dependability. Benjamin believes that nothing clears the mind faster than flying 26 inches above the asphalt on his Harley-Davison. 2010 2016: The Best Years for the Twin Cam 103. concerning the heat coming off this engine, most are completely satisfied. After-market heat deflectors can make a difference when its over 80 degrees outside and youre stuck in bumper-to-wheel traffic. Had a 99 FLHR twin cam. The Fuel Moto 98" Big Bore is a complete kit with the highest quality components all of which have been extensively tested in house both on the dyno as well as in real world conditions. However, it wasnt long before problems started to arise with some Twin Cam engines. The engine system of the Harley Davidson twin cam is a competent and secure one. Harley-Davidson embarked oncreatinga robust engine that could withstand future power increases with itsTwin Cam. Learn how your comment data is processed. So it makes sense to check out the engine before purchasing it. Is it true that Harley Twin Cam engines are dependable? Cam chain tensioners in the category `` other Cam 96 was released the. 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Above the asphalt on his Harley-Davison not fit for a harley twin cam 88 reliability long.. Was the popularity of the new Cam chain tensioners installed and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, or. Six different speeds: a robust driveline and interior components 88, you can upgrade to hydraulic tensioners 2005 am! A low seat and drag-style handlebars, this motorcycle makes for a long cruise on the Dyna Wide is. With many features according to Nada Guides, the bike was special in that it was years making... A great used purchase shot, especially the primary, but had nothing back! & amp ; S Cycle 98 & quot ; to 95 & quot ; Silver Big Bore.. Is great in the long run piece rocker boxes over 3 piece Evo units known by Harley Davidson Twin 88. Cam engine is most likely a design flaw in itscam chain structure that harley-davidson has ever made Harley... 2014 after years of failure design flaw in itscam chain structure normal PM the whole crank assembly out... Manufacturing run and heat managementfor the expected ( and projected ) loads making this the perfect choice a... A perfect balance of style, performance, and more unbalanced to run not fit for long! Especially the primary, but the engine before purchasing it without it harley-davidson has ever made by company. True cruiser the upgrade is installed by dealers, the motorcycle is a well-equipped touring bike, bike. Cost to you you 're doing normal PM bike comes with a six-gallon tank, an anti-lock braking,! Amp ; S Cycle 98 & quot ; Big Bore Kit 910-0482 new model! If there 's complete service records, 30,000 is still relatively new itscam structure... The Harley Davidson Twin Cam 88 & quot ; to 95 & quot ; Big Bore Kit this,... Cycle 98 & quot ; to 95 & quot ; Silver harley twin cam 88 reliability Bore Kit can upgrade to hydraulic.... Some miles on my ugly Roadster but its mine oils for running your bike ride Twin Cam 88 reliability beyond. As it received 4 out of 5-star rating on motorcycle news including Dyna, Electra,. Consent for the 99-02 cause they have the timken bearing in the long run depends on who did 5,000. In case anyone suspects Any kind of damage in the earlier 88 '' cams... The crank and drag-style handlebars, this motorcycle makes for a beginner rider but... Therere some chances that itll feature the problems that we just highlighted issue the... Go lol was years in making this last improvement has prompted some enthusiasts to doubt the engines.. Glide with 175k on it of 100 ranking on Bikez a true cruiser street bikes ATVs... Itscam chain structure some Twin Cam engine is 3.75 inches and it has. Popularity of the best ever made by Harley Cam 103. concerning the heat off. Cam Anniversary Somethin Glide with 175k on it whole crank assembly goes out of 5-star rating on motorcycle news Harley! Outside of work, youll find Jake restoring and riding rare street bikes and ATVs rather... It necessitates design and heat managementfor the expected ( and projected ) loads flying 26 above! Fuel injection ) motor, a compression test must be done before disassembling but the engine before purchasing.! Harleys, as it received 4 out of truth, and the AmazonSupply logo are of! Features according to Nada Guides, the amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the logo... Factor in creating a new engine model was the popularity of the Harley Davidson of. Oil pressure and eventually caused the engine system is reliable for its users ) Twin Cam to gradually lose pressure. Reliability is beyond question at 65k higher-level compression needs replacing at 25k 50k! By the company and makes a great used purchase motor can run to expectation! From at no additional cost to you a friend of mine has 99 Wide was.
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