harley twin cam 88 reliability

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. Twin cam 88, the 1450 cc Harley engine, was a breakthrough in the history of motorcycles. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Except maybe BMW's. 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. These problems can be costly and difficult to repair. It's definitely a problem in the 88s. So it makes sense to check out the engine before purchasing it. There's no doubt that cruise control would be nice to have, and opinions differ on ABS and linked brakes. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The first 30k+ miles are considered to be 100% reliable for most of its riders. 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. I can understand the concern of high mileage on any vehicle and the worry that comes up when you plan a long trip. Two camshafts for each one is one of its other good features. We . Feel the low-end torque released when you rev up the Twin Cam 88engine. 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. An exceptional high performance street port for 95" Twin Cam engines. We've ridden for years and won't stop. After upgrading to a hydraulic cam tensioner, upgrading to a higher quality oil will protect your investment and help eliminate future cam issues. Another factor in creating a new engine model was the popularity of the aftermarket industry. Though a modern one 96 is not even equal to 88 on some grounds. It employed two cams for driving the drivetrain. 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. Twin cam 88 is a good motor. The original problems with the 1999 Twin Cam 88" Fatheads were all known by Harley Davidson. $58.99 $ 58. The EVO had plenty for what it went into. One other trick you can apply is to use higher-quality oils for running your bike. Through a century of developmental engineering, Harley has improved their motorcycles year by year. If it is upgraded to stage 2, the rev limit will be increased to 6400 rpm which is for mid-range horsepower. The year 2006 was a transitory year in terms of complying with twin cam 88 specifications. There is a difference between the Twin Cam 88 and the Twin Cam 96. Who cares? The inclusion of a mechanical, plastic foot against the sharp cam chain was a mistake. It necessitates design and heat managementfor the expected (and projected) loads. 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. In stock. Are you just looking for an excuse to beef that baby up? And replaced it with a shitty compensator. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. It was covered under his seven year warrantee and they put in a newly remanufactured motor with a new one year, unlimited mileage warrantee. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The new models also offer bearingless bushing style cams which eliminated the chain tension problems created by worn cam-plate bearings. Since then he has been through countless bikes and continued his two-wheeled hobby passing it down to his 21-year-old son who rides with him on the weekends in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The engine can have different horsepower too depending on the motorcycles it is in. 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. A unique one that comes with a dual coil system and many other good features. 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. 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. Those ole 88's are tuff as nails . To increase fuel economy and maximum horsepower these engines use two camshafts, one for intake and the other for exhaust valves. The Harley Davidson Twin Cam 88reliabilityimplied a significant improvement in performance and refinementfor the company. Just maintainance work. Twin cam 88B But no one can deny the company has produced some legendary cruisers. It has taken bearing, brakes are better than earlier models, axles larger than 1, Delphi injection, and new style swing arm, and so on. The Twin Cam engine on the Dyna Wide Glide was finally mastered by 2014 after years of failure. 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. The combustion chamber has a unique shape that allows higher-level compression. related: These 10 Japanese Power Cruisers Will Put Any Harley Davidson To Shame. Although they've subsequently been replaced by a more modern version of the same read more It also arrives at a slower cruising speed, resulting in a smoother ride, reduced engine noise, and improved motorway fuel economy. The Twin Cam 96 was made public sometime in 2007 as the model for the year. Something breaks every 6 months like clockwork. It comes with a 200mm rear tire and a bobtail fender. 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. One way to combat the Harley Davidson twin cam 88 engine issues is a total overhauling of its gear drive. Without the Timken bearing to hold the flywheels steady in the left case it allows them to move around .030 - .050" of an inch. So it appears that with every new engine design comes a higher quality, more efficient, and more powerful engine model. Their 1920s single-cylinder models (the A, AA, BA, BB, and Peashooter) also used twin camshafts in the timing chest, and did their 1930s flathead engine models, like . Also Read: The Best Twin Cam 88 Performance Upgrades. It means 88 can be turned into 95 or 98 only by resizing cylinders. The Twin Cam motor would solve consistently producing the power demanded by contemporary riders of massive bikes. 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. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Twin cam 88 came in the 90s and twin cam 96 is a later version of it. FREE delivery on . 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It features several all-black parts including the frame, forks, triple clamps, and swingarm. The team installed a liquid-cooled, DOHC Revolution engine on the VRSCE2 V-Rod, an engine which has been continually improved throughout the years. Launching year & Model of Harley Davidson. 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. This is true Harley-Davidson flair throughout, with a meticulousness that no other bike brand can match. The bike was designed with a taste of the past and comes fan-friendly with leather saddles and chrome laced wheels. We can be reached at contact@throttlepack.com. Best Choice. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. ..lol. 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. According to Nada Guides, it costs $12,000. The cam chain was comprised of separate metal fins that could become quite sharp, so youd think that the actual foot used at the end of the tension lever to press against the metal chain would be made of something more durable than plastic. 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 . #1 by Superg88 Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:45 am. However, anytime there is a major transition in any business, its always wise to wait and see how that transition goes. Runner Up (for 88, 96, 103) - Feuling 525 or S&S Cycle 583. One other scary thing with these engines is that they can develop similar issues with the previous engines. Here's a look at the technical elements and developments that allowed the 88-cu.-in. 2010 2016: The Best Years for the Twin Cam 103. concerning the heat coming off this engine, most are completely satisfied. The cam drive is a silent chain. One of the most reliable ones from Harley Davidson is their twin cam 88 engines. for oil sumping, power efficiency, and noise reductions that revolutionized the motorcycle world. 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. Anything and everything related to Harley-Davidson motorcycles. related: 10 Rules For Joining The Most Badass Biker Clubs. I don't know about 40 year old Hondas, but there are a bunch of 300,000 mi ones on the road. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. They achieved their goal and then quite a few other goals plus its engine quality. It is bursting with force. 99. This engine comes with 80 horsepower at 5,200 pm. 10 years and 100,000 carefree miles. Harley sells a replacement cam chest with hydraulic oil pressure which not only preserves the longevity of the system but also provides variable pressure against the chain so that it eases off during idling. 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. 90S and Twin Cam motor would solve consistently producing the power demanded contemporary... 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Quite a few other goals plus its engine quality true Harley-Davidson flair throughout, with a dual coil and... Start taking part in conversations liquid-cooled, DOHC Revolution engine on the Dyna Wide Glide finally... Quality oil will protect your investment and help eliminate future Cam issues by rejecting non-essential cookies Reddit... But there are a bunch of 300,000 mi ones on the road to repair this engine, are. Not be cast Harley engine, most are completely satisfied chrome laced wheels for oil sumping, efficiency. Year in terms of complying with Twin Cam 88 came in the and. According to Nada Guides, it costs $ 12,000 80 horsepower at 5,200 pm Cam 103. the... Even equal to 88 on some grounds from Harley Davidson Twin Cam engines from...