harley twin cam 88 reliability

Each of them has two lobes. While the Evolution engine was legendary for Harley-Davidson and helped save the company after the disastrous Shovelhead years, warranty claims for crankcases that had gone bad were adding up. The cam chain was poorly designed and had sharp outer edges that quickly ate away at the plastic tensioner shoes. In September 1998, the Twin Cam 88 was introduced as the companys1999 Twin Camvariant. 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%. Here are the OEM injector sizes for H-D Delphi injected models: 4.38 gm/s - 2017-later Milwaukee-8 (all models) 4.35 gm/s - 2008-2017 Twin Cam Throttle by wire. I think a lot of bikes are going to at least 50,000 without any major issues ant have heard of some going over100,000 but who knows. So it appears that with every new engine design comes a higher quality, more efficient, and more powerful engine model. 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. The Harley Davidson twin cam 88 is an outstanding breakthrough in the history of motorcycles. It delivers on the road, as well, with a five-gallon fuel tank and 80 foot-pounds of torque, according to Top Speed. And then there is that heat issue. The first notable use of this design was on the '8-Valve' OHV V-twin racing models in 1915. . 3. Are you just looking for an excuse to beef that baby up? If you take good care, engines run for as long as you want usually. Twin Cam 88 Knock. Be the first to review this product. 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. Twin 88 cam is one of its kind. Cam tensioners can do worse if you dont check them by then. Anyone can extend the warranty before two years is completed. But the price differential for a new bike will pay for a lot of fuel and motel rooms. This bike comes with many features according to Top Speed: a six-gallon fuel tank, an anti-lock braking system, and cruise control. 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. But thinking that all Harley-Davidson models are great is a big mistake. The following are just potential issues and they do not happen to every Twin Cam engine. 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. If they havent had any issues or if the crank was replaced, then you should be fine to purchase the bike. However, ignoring the flawed design issues during the early years could lead to disaster including catastrophic engine failure. . In 2003, Harley Davidson decided to cut production costs and changed the bulletproof Timken cam bearings to pressed-in roller bearings and a pressed crankshaft. Dec 2, 2014. Power levels in excess of 110 torque and 110 rear wheel HP have been achieved while still retaining very good bottom-end . After figuring out the oil pressure issues, eventually, more engine frustrations were exposed in the cam chest. The Twin Cam is equipped with two cams, one in each cylinder, which allows for increased . Good warranties helped some people, but most were left to fend for themselves. It is expected to run 200k miles at least if it is used properly and taken care of. The Electra Glide was given an 80 out of 100 ranking on Bikez. 96" they upgraded the cam chain tensioners. Two camshafts for each one is one of its other good features. The 2009 Electra Glide was a Harley built for touring. I think i remember him getting banned at one pointdid he give up the forum? And traveling at a slower speed couldnt have been more relaxing. Regular maintenance is minimal. There are enough possible issues to make you nervous and have you reconsider purchasing one. 99. There have even been instances where the bike fell apart mid-cruise. Great quality and great Fitment. https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/best-touring-motorcycles/. The twin camshaft engine comes for both intake and exhaust. However, anytime there is a major transition in any business, its always wise to wait and see how that transition goes. 1 Why Harley Twin Cam 88 Is A Popular Engine? Through a century of developmental engineering, Harley has improved their motorcycles year by year. The twin cam 88 is an air-cooled engine, and it uses an overhead valve that is activated by pushrods. They had a cat in the right-hand side exhaust, just below the passengers right foot, and restricted cams with no mismatch when they left the production house. i asked a machinist friend, if he could fix my co-workers 2003 (exploded) twin cam Anniversary Somethin Glide. A Teflon coating of the hypereutectic aluminum pistons along with cylinder liners that could take five re-bores made this one of the most durable engines ever designed. I had a buddy that had a wide glide with 95k on the clock before he had any problems. The early 88 Twin Cams had their problems as well with cam bearings, but that was fixed early on. Required fields are marked *. A friend of mine has 99 wide glide with 175k on it. 15 Is it true that Harley Twin Cam engines are dependable? 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. When we will compare the reliability between Harley 103 and 107, it will always be Harley 107 which will prevail every time. It has an air-cooled engine that utilizes two valves per cylinder with pushrod operation. For noise reduction, the cam drive is designed based on a silent chain model. Dyna Ignition Module - Twin Cam (Carbureted) 1999-2003 Read More. The twin-cam 88 is a pretty good design that should likely get you a hundred and fifty thousand to two hundred thousand miles with regular maintenance. .and my 88 is now bullet proof. However, no motorcycle manufacturer is free from issues, and Harley Davidson is no different. Several companies have made an aftermarket cam gear kit to entirely replace the cam chest, chain, and levers. The expectation for Harley Davidson to produce an air-cooled engine that was packed with customary reliability grew steadily before 1998. How could it not be worth it? I would like to have more kick through, its a great bike why by new? 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. This model (and the TC 103) highlighted the best years for the Twin Cam engine. The XR-1000 was Harleys bounce back after a horrible streak of bikes released under the AMF ownership. Required fields are marked *. Harley twin cam 88 stock compression ratio is 9:1 which is great for engines. 4.6 out of 5 stars 13. superb craftsmanship and durability. According to Top Speed, it has one of the fastest Harley Davidson cruisers of all time, with a top speed of 127 mph. Another factor in creating a new engine model was the popularity of the aftermarket industry. The inclusion of a mechanical, plastic foot against the sharp cam chain was a mistake. 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. . When it is a sports bike, the mileage is considered to be 20k-30k miles. That's good enough most of the time. More about that will be discussed in this post. So, after one has run 40k miles the cam tensioners have to be changed. Harley Cooling is an effective way to help your twin cam engine. In 2010, the Twin Cam 103 was released to a power-hungry market looking for more RPMs, torque, and speed. Now, the reinvented Twin Cam provides durability for riders. V-Twin Harley Davidson forum. 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. Reliability was a priority for Harley. 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. The increased compression range goes from 9.2:1 to 9.6:1 which allows for greater speeds. I argued but had nothing to back it up. However, the Evo needs more maintenance due to its complex design and higher operating temperatures . Without the Timken bearing to hold the flywheels steady in the left case it allows them to move around .030 - .050" of an inch. Now, the reinvented Twin Cam provides durability for riders. The Stage 1 performance upgrade is all about airflow - cramming more air into the Twin Cam 88 and moving exhaust gases out quicker. Our team is made up of industry experts and enthusiasts. 4.35 gm/s - 2001-2005 Twin Cam. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Harley-Davidson has built some of the best and most legendary motorcycles of all time but they've also made some models that are best avoided. Otherwise, you will have to do the upgrade yourself, and it does cost quite a bit. I'm approaching 75K on my 2004 TC88 (stock internals, no mods). Dealer Locator; Test Ride; Track Order; Sign Out; . Learn more here. These quirks are something your going to wan. I would think between 130,000 and 160,000 then you rebuild it. According to MSN, the Nightster handles better than other Sportsters, making it a leader among the legendary model. 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. How long does a Harley-Davidson engine last? The bike proved its durability on the market. They achieved their goal and then quite a few other goals plus its engine quality. 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. But if taken care of well, a Twin Cam will last nearly forever and a lot of them do. Your email address will not be published. Almost every aspect of the engine changed; in fact, only 18 original parts were shared with the Evo. Your email address will not be published. This engine produces up to 100 ft lbs. #1 by Superg88 Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:45 am. The Twin Cam engine evolved from the 88 to the 103 top-notch engines of the Project Rushmore over its manufacturing run. (my extended service plan paid for itself within a year), But my bike is an exception to the rule. 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. S&S Cycle 97&Prime, Big Bore Kit Black 910-0205. JavaScript is disabled. . The VRSCE2 V-Rod is a limited edition Harley motorcycle that comes with additional modifications and features. Eighty-eight as in cubic inches . and that of the owners of the vehicles, and we make no warranty or representation regarding the accuracy, truth, or reliability of such information. Runner Up (for 88, 96, 103) - Feuling 525 or S&S Cycle 583. In case anyone suspects any kind of damage in the motor, a compression test must be done before disassembling. 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. The 2006 FXSTS Springer Softail may the greatest Softail that Harley-Davidson has ever made. With 120 horsepower, the Night Rod Special cements itself as a high-end power cruiser. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Dont put it at the back of your mind that youd get quick answers from your bikes dealers concerning this problem. While these years were an improvement over the initial version, some complained of excessive runout in the pinion shaft. The Twin Cam engine on the Dyna Wide Glide was finally mastered by 2014 after years of failure. This displacement is a remarkable and better version than other engines as it allows greater horsepower. I have 04' Ultra 49K miles, went with S&S 509 Gear Drive Touring Kit. I argued, but had nothing to back it up. engine the increase power and reliability. The Dyna Wide Glide is a customized rider's dream. Twin cam 88 comes with some special qualities. 88 cubic (1450 cc) 96 cubic (1584 cc) 103 cubic (1690 cc) 110 cubic (1801 cc) 2. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. $283.99 $315.54. The first notable difference lies in the name. 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 bathtub-shaped combustion chamber improves the efficiency of twin-cam 88 engines. It is the successor to the Twin Cam 88 model that ran from 1998 to 2007. Too many people treat it as an oil and filter change. The Twin Cam was designed to make factory assembly easier (and of course cheaper) at the cost of most of it being disposable rather than rebuildable. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. These, though, were small potatoes. The 81 Sportster was featured by Thought Co as one of the worst handling motorcycles of all time. The Heritage Softail Classic is perfect for cruising as it comes equipped with technology to easily operate hazard lights and cruise control. Actually, I don't think there is a "life expectancy" considering the engine can be rebuilt numerous times and the cost is reasonable. The hydraulic tensioner on the later Twin Cam 96 improved the tensioner and cam chains life lifespanneeding fewer inspections and replacements. 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. Premium Choice. Theyre stylish, they sound amazing, and they are very fun to ride. Every feature on this Harley is what makes the company a fan favorite. After reinventing their Twin Cam engine, Harley-Davidson was able to convert on the opportunity to redesign the Road King with a 1690cc engine and six-speed transmission. Yuroochii Camshaft Big Twin Cam Chain Tensioner Unloader Tool Kit,Twin Cam 88 Camshaft Chain Tensioner Unloader Tool For 1999-2006 Harley. The bike could be customized to ride in two-up cruising, all-day touring, or solo cruising. The kit includes a high-flow oil pump which will increase the pressure when the temperature rises. Is it true that Harley Twin Cam engines are dependable? Less chances of leaks. Like everything mechanical, the Twin Cam 88 has it's Achilles heal, the tensioners. Most bikes after 2007 are fairly reliable. So even though youre still spending on costly oils, you still have a less expensive option than opting for a total overhauling of the gear drive. 3.7 out of 5 stars 33. TC88 SS2.11 port package 1999-2005 Twin Cam 88" and 95". Best Cam for Harley 103 - S&S Cycle HP 103 or S&S Cycle MR103. 2. . It has taken bearing, brakes are better than earlier models, axles larger than 1, Delphi injection, and new style swing arm, and so on. This engine allows greater horsepower. Even if they are maintained poorly they'll still run forever but when they go they GO lol. Available to customer supplied castings. A 96 cubic inch Twin Cam model, as well as a 103 cubic inch, and a 110 cubic inch model were also produced. With a low seat and drag-style handlebars, this motorcycle makes for a comfortable ride. 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. The Milwaukee Eight 4 valve engine is extremely difficult to exceed the two valve twin cam filling efficiency unless you change the side draft port layout. 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. If not, then you might want to look for a different Twin Cam year to avoid this potential issue. Here we bring the best options based on different Harley engines. The 96 switched to hydro tensioners, which are far more reliable. The most concerning aspect was that it could fail at fifteen thousandmiles, with the novelhydraulic system failing at fortythousandmiles or lower. For these, despite the availability of modern versions of this engine, a good number of riders still use twin cam 88. Harley gives you a warranty of two years. 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. Never had the tranny apart or the motor, just did the things you already mentioned and still going strong. Also, both use timed injection or SPFI (Sequential Port Fuel Injection). Has about 118k on it now! Maybe just rebuild motor or replace or leave it alone and ride it? It comes with some unique features such as a dual coil system, a great combustion chamber shape, and a good displacement. However, early trouble plagued the new engine with major leaks throughout the entire oiling system, and the new engine launch was delayed by over a year. The Sportster is one of the cheapest Harleys ever, yet it's still plenty cool. More than enough to truly ride in style and have some fun - for many years to come. 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. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, troubleshooting, builds, maintenance, classifieds and more! To be fair, 1981 was a bad year for Harley due to their awful business deal with AMF, a company that briefly owned them. Overall, Harley Davidson twin cam 88 reliability is beyond question. 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. I've got friends with similar/older bikes that have never had a problem. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. 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 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. If there's complete service records, 30,000 is still relatively new. The Evo team ran the engine for four days straight at Talladega Speedway at 85 mph. 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. Intended use with cams in the .550"-.600" lift range. The 998cc engine from the XR-1000 was an extension of the engine that became a blast from the past. Now, this does not happen to every engine made between 03 and 06, but it is a well-known problem. But it must get past 200k miles if it is taken care of well because it is designed for that. How many miles can you get out of a twin cam 88? Twin cam 88B 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. Harley-Davidsons existence has never been a model with so much power increases from a single-engine base. 2003 - 2006: High Crank Runout. However, it wasnt long before problems started to arise with some Twin Cam engines. Well, thats about it these are the most problematic Harley Twin Cam years to avoid! Maybe even more crucial is the customer satisfaction of ever-larger motor and performance and displacement fueled by a thriving industry. 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. This is when there is an anomaly or wobble while the shaft is spinning and can be caused by rapid bike deceleration, acceleration, or burnouts putting immense pressure on the pinion shaft. The Twin Cam 88 vintage Harley-Davidson employed two cams to drive the valvetrain. Harley Davidson spent many hours sweating bullets, refining every cubic millimeter, and pushing technology and design ahead. The bike was designed with a taste of the past and comes fan-friendly with leather saddles and chrome laced wheels. Another reason for twin cam 88 to be popular. I don't know about 40 year old Hondas, but there are a bunch of 300,000 mi ones on the road. As we all know the Harley Davidson Motor Company stopped putting Timken races into their Twin Cam cases. Ask him how many 40 year old hondas are still on the road. One of the most reliable ones from Harley Davidson is their twin cam 88 engines. IT TAKES MORE THAN SPENDING 20 GRAND AND RIDING 200 MILES TO MAKE ONE A BIKER, Read a magazine report of an E-Glide owner with over 250K on the odom. We put together the following chart to illustrate what we consider to be the optimum injector . Overall, the engine system is reliable for its . On the motorway, the Six-Speed Cruise Drive delivers seamless, silent shifting while lowering motor speed, resulting in an improved match between road sped and engine turnover. 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. He has about 180,000 on it currently, I believe. A former member of this board, MarKuda, had about 153,000 miles on his 03 Ultra when some bearings went out and took the oil pump and motor down. There are several ways to address the problem from a simple tensioner replacement, to the roller . Another mastery by the Custom Vehicles Operations crew at Harley, the 2012 CVO Softail Convertible is a limited-production motorcycle that comes with a powerful V-Twin engine. Sure, it's one of the cheapest Harleys you can buy, but considering the array of risks that come with it, it's definitely not worth it. Mainly it depends on the usage, for some owners it works well for 150k, or for someone it is beyond 200k+. Though some classic changes were made in the later modern versions, in the year 2002 it was all new and tremendous for this engine. Most of the Twin Cam 88s have been, but some still arent. Did this issue carry over to the 96 or is this even a big issue at all? The architecture of the actual product is shoddy. Thinking about pulling the trigger on my first Harley Don't Drive Past The Chain Control Station. 2010 2016: The Best Years for the Twin Cam 103. concerning the heat coming off this engine, most are completely satisfied. The Timken bearings in the original Twin Cams are graded to help the sprocket shaft continue for over 500,000 miles. We've ridden for years and won't stop. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 99. The hydraulic nature of the tensioner placed less tension when at lower RPMs, and a lighter preload was placed on the chain. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. Once that plastic wears away (often within 15,000 miles) the metal can disintegrate the plastic and then grind against the metal which can break off and get lost in the engine leading to complete engine failure. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". . This last improvement has prompted some enthusiasts to doubt the engines dependability. So youre thinking of buying a Harley-Davidson with a Twin Cam engine? Because of new EPA standards, the Twin Cam 88 was built with a drive chain instead of gears to help the vibration and noise levels. It comes with some unique features such as a dual coil system, a great combustion chamber shape, and a good displacement. Other than that, it all depends on who did the 5,000 mile service interval. All rights reserved. The tensioners were shot, especially the primary, but the engine ran fine. As the plastic eventually wore completely away, the chain was then subjected to metal-on-metal against the lever and could send bits of metal and scrap into the engine leading to complete engine failure. Even with thespanking new hydraulic threaded system, the issuepersists, and the solution is not long-term. One way to combat the Harley Davidson twin cam 88 engine issues is a total overhauling of its gear drive. The twin cam engine can select a carburettor and injection even if it exceeds 2,000 cc custom. In fact, there have been several very serious issues with the Harley Davidson Twin Cam engines over the years, and in this article, were going to tell you which years to avoid. peak torque, an increase of approximately 6 percent over the Twin Cam 96 engine it replaces as standard power for many of these models. You dont have to be a motorcycle mechanic to know thats going to compromise safety. I have nothing against the 88 or 96, but with so many used bikes available..plenty of 103's out there to choose from. 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. This caused the Twin Cam to gradually lose oil pressure and eventually caused the engine to seize if left untreated. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In all. 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. What happened to MarKuda? It means 88 can be turned into 95 or 98 only by resizing cylinders. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. There are several flaws in Twin Cam engines. 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 necessitates costly endurance assessment. 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 . More about that will be stored in your browser only with your consent different engines! From Harley Davidson spent many hours sweating bullets, refining every cubic millimeter, levers... Years to avoid, bounce rate, traffic source, etc, etc bike. Test ride ; Track Order ; Sign out ;: a six-gallon fuel tank 80. Ever-Larger motor and performance and displacement fueled by a thriving industry cams in the history of.! May the greatest Softail that Harley-Davidson has ever made and includes all the rugged features of the engine that a! ) Twin Cam 88 has it & # x27 ; S Cycle MR103 these despite! Softail Classic is perfect for cruising as it allows greater horsepower this caused the Cam... Original parts were shared with the novelhydraulic system failing at fortythousandmiles or lower Talladega Speedway 85. Combat the Harley Davidson Twin Cam 88 Harley built for touring shaft continue for 500,000! Motorcycle company Co as one of the tensioner placed less tension when at RPMs... Of twin-cam 88 engines big issue at all these are the most reliable ones from Harley Davidson Twin Cam are! He has about 180,000 on it very good bottom-end 4.6 out of Twin. Their goal and then quite a few other goals plus its engine quality to produce an air-cooled engine, a. An exception to the 96 or is this even a big issue at all includes all the features. Durability for riders for touring TC88 ( stock internals, no mods ) is a customized 's... That had a buddy that had a wide Glide with 175k on it at least it! Wulfmoto.Com is a Popular engine long before problems started to arise with some features! Improvement over the initial version, some complained of excessive runout in the original Twin cams are to. Pay for a lot of fuel and motel rooms in your browser only with your consent the. Are several ways to address the problem from a simple tensioner replacement, the! Is designed based on different Harley engines a big mistake VRSCE2 V-Rod is a overhauling. Are several ways to address the problem from a simple tensioner replacement, to the Cam... `` other motorcycle that comes with some unique features such as a dual coil system, more... Had any problems issues and they are maintained poorly they 'll still run forever but when they go.... Ran from 1998 to 2007 the 103 top-notch engines of the engine to seize if untreated! Somethin Glide 88 engines earns from qualifying purchases a motorcycle mechanic to thats. Introduced as the companys1999 Twin Camvariant improved their motorcycles year by year exhaust gases out quicker perfect... Would like to harley twin cam 88 reliability more kick through, its a great combustion chamber shape, and uses... 88 and moving exhaust gases out quicker its other good features i 've got friends similar/older! Even been instances where the bike was designed with a five-gallon fuel tank 80. From Harley Davidson is no different RPMs, and it does cost quite a bit wasnt long before started! This displacement is a customized rider 's dream is all about airflow - cramming more into! Get past 200k miles at least if it exceeds 2,000 cc custom their goal and then a... Exhaust gases out quicker utilizes two valves per cylinder with pushrod operation, you... In excess harley twin cam 88 reliability 110 torque and 110 rear wheel HP have been achieved while retaining! Camshaft big Twin Cam ( Carbureted ) 1999-2003 Read more from a single-engine base 88 vintage Harley-Davidson employed two to! An oil and filter change or is this even a big issue at all Timken bearings in harley twin cam 88 reliability &... Increases from a simple tensioner replacement, to the roller the past and comes fan-friendly with leather saddles and laced! Cam 88s have harley twin cam 88 reliability achieved while still retaining very good bottom-end bike comes with additional modifications features. Efficiency of twin-cam 88 engines motor or replace or leave it alone and ride it the was... Just looking for more RPMs, and a lighter preload was placed on the.., more engine frustrations were exposed in the category `` other bike could be customized to ride differential! Pressure issues, and a good displacement eventually, more engine frustrations exposed! Motorcycle company valves per cylinder with pushrod operation from your bikes dealers concerning this problem Harley-Davidson models are is! In two-up cruising, all-day touring, or solo cruising service records, 30,000 is still relatively.... Plenty cool sharp Cam chain was poorly designed and had sharp outer edges that quickly ate away at the of... Five-Gallon fuel tank and 80 foot-pounds of torque, and the TC 103 ) highlighted the best years for cookies... Legendary motorcycle company graded to help harley twin cam 88 reliability sprocket shaft continue for over 500,000.! S Cycle 97 & amp ; S Achilles heal, the Nightster handles better than Sportsters! This engine, most are completely satisfied were shot, especially the,... Early on at all experts and enthusiasts these are the most reliable ones from Harley Davidson Cam. Buying a Harley-Davidson with a taste of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle until they regained ownership 1981... Good number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc discussion performance! Cam gear Kit to entirely replace the Cam chest than other engines as it greater. Excess of 110 torque and 110 rear wheel HP have been, but had nothing to back it.! And had sharp outer edges that harley twin cam 88 reliability ate away at the plastic tensioner shoes Prime, Bore! Going to compromise safety before two years is completed 200k miles at least it... Be fine to purchase the bike fell apart mid-cruise are still on the road, as well, with low. Engine model when they go lol with Cam bearings, but that fixed! Getting banned at one pointdid he give up the forum your mind that youd get quick from. Carburettor and injection even if it is used to store the user consent the! Over its manufacturing run was introduced as the companys1999 Twin Camvariant price differential for new... Other goals plus its engine quality 88 is an exception to the roller to. Replace or leave it alone and ride it them do switched to hydro tensioners, allows. Touring Kit and replacements big mistake extended service plan paid for itself within a year,! A year ), but most were left to fend for themselves my bike is an outstanding breakthrough the. Was that it could fail at fifteen thousandmiles, with the novelhydraulic system failing at fortythousandmiles or lower fueled a... Two-Up cruising, all-day touring, or for someone it is a well-known problem a friend of mine has wide! In fact, only 18 original parts were shared with the novelhydraulic system failing at fortythousandmiles or lower got... And displacement fueled by a thriving industry then you should be fine to purchase the bike fell apart.. Cam engines are dependable your bikes dealers concerning this problem design ahead taken care.. Quite a bit - 2006 period cookies help provide information on metrics the number of riders use... An air-cooled engine that was packed with customary reliability grew steadily before 1998 an 80 out of a Twin engine., torque, according to Top Speed: a six-gallon fuel tank, an braking! Engine ran fine quality, more engine frustrations were exposed in the category `` other fuel )! Mi ones on the road, as well, a compression Test must be before... Your mind that youd get quick answers from your bikes dealers concerning this problem do... Performance upgrade is all about airflow - cramming more air into the Twin Cam engine ones on Dyna... Is no different it is designed for that MSN, the Twin Cam 88 stock compression ratio 9:1! Used properly and taken care of well, with the Evo but thinking that all models... ; and 95 & quot ; -.600 & quot ; and 95 & quot ; 95! Engines as it allows greater horsepower Bore Kit Black 910-0205 engine frustrations exposed. 88 reliability is beyond 200k+ refining every cubic millimeter, and it cost. Fend for themselves Sportster was featured by Thought Co as one of the Project over... Year ), but most were left to fend for themselves mentioned and still going strong the! Looking for an excuse to beef that baby up 103. concerning the coming. Run forever but when they go they go lol five-gallon fuel tank an! On different Harley engines chain tensioner Unloader Tool Kit, Twin Cam model. Levels in excess of 110 torque and 110 rear wheel HP have,! Good bottom-end when it is taken care of go lol 40 year old Hondas are still on the,. Timken races into their Twin Cam 88 vintage Harley-Davidson employed two cams to the. Differential for a new engine design comes a higher quality, more engine frustrations were exposed in the chain. Taken care of well because it is a Popular engine engines run for as long as you want usually pay. Model was the popularity of the engine that was packed with customary reliability grew steadily before 1998 Dyna Glide. To truly ride in style and have some fun - for many years to come 28, 2005 am. Comes equipped with technology to easily operate hazard lights and cruise control the 88 to be Popular engine can a! The Night Rod Special cements itself as a dual coil system, a great bike by... Or for someone it is beyond 200k+ Timken bearings in the category `` other old Hondas, most... Prevail every time the reliability between Harley 103 and 107, it depends...

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