The pollution-reducing catalytic convertor makes this a hotter engine, which is why the air venting and oil cooling systems were upgraded from the TC 96. How To Determine Head Shape For Motorcycle Helmet. This motor can run to their expectation of longevity. There are 2 valves in each cylinder. It means 88 can be turned into 95 or 98 only by resizing cylinders. Between the years 1998-2001, Harley-Davidson acquired six patents for oil sumping, power efficiency, and noise reductions that revolutionized the motorcycle world. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. JavaScript is disabled. Has about 118k on it now! It only makes the problems come at a later time than they would have. 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. The Harley Twin Cam was the second type of engine that came out of the staples of the Harley Davison. A Harley twin cam 88 is expected to last 20+ years and 150k+ miles. When you check out the Harley forums 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. To be fair, 1981 was a bad year for Harley due to their awful business deal with AMF, a company that briefly owned them. Too many people treat it as an oil and filter change. . and that of the owners of the vehicles, and we make no warranty or representation regarding the accuracy, truth, or reliability of such information. The electric Livewire by Harley Davidson was supposed to be a well-functioning electric bike. A. as found in the Sportster models is an easy fix. This decision greatly increased assembly speed and drastically lowered cost, but it led to a lot of problems down the road for riders that mod their Twin Cam engines for more power. It is a metal gem crafted by hand. This is recommended since it directly tackles the problem head-on. Several companies have made an aftermarket cam gear kit to entirely replace the cam chest, chain, and levers. More on the 98" Big Bore Kit . The motorcycle is ranked higher than the average touring bike in every category, according to Bikez. Theyre stylish, they sound amazing, and they are very fun to ride. 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. In addition, the Isolated Drive Process provides that acceleration flows smoothly and steadily to the pavement from your wrist. The air-cooled Twin Cam 88 Harley-Davidson motor produces greater stump-pulling power, and its Electronic Port Fuel Injection design provides a crisp, energetic throttle response. The Harley-Davidson Twin-Cam V-twin was introduced in 1998. The architecture of the actual product is shoddy. Your email address will not be published. The bike could be customized to ride in two-up cruising, all-day touring, or solo cruising. The Road King has always been one of the best Harleys, as it received 4 out of 5-star rating on Motorcycle News. If youre going for a twin-cam motor, therere some chances that itll feature the problems that we just highlighted. That's what I was hoping to hear. The VRSCE2 V-Rod is a limited edition Harley motorcycle that comes with additional modifications and features. Harley Davidson introduced the Twin Cam engine in 1999, and it quickly became their most popular engine. Moreover, this comes with an engine system that reduces noise. It employed two cams for driving the drivetrain. Though 88 has a bearing or tensioner problem, 96 lacks stock power in its engine. The following are just potential issues and they do not happen to every Twin Cam engine. Actually, I don't think there is a "life expectancy" considering the engine can be rebuilt numerous times and the cost is reasonable. The new cam placement was much more ideal for the piston levers creating efficiency that the Evo didnt have. . 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. When you rest on the bike a bit, you want to have a drive that roars, not cries for pity. Pistons here are cast aluminum. 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. TCs are plenty reliable as long as they're maintained. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Best Cam for 96 Cubic Inch Harley - Feuling Reaper. $283.99 $315.54. However, it wasnt long before problems started to arise with some Twin Cam engines. 50k miles and more is considered to be high mileage for larger bikes. The new models also offer bearingless bushing style cams which eliminated the chain tension problems created by worn cam-plate bearings. After-market heat deflectors can make a difference when its over 80 degrees outside and youre stuck in bumper-to-wheel traffic. We . Twin Cam 88; Engine Disp. The idea for a Sportster XR was sat upon for a while. One of the best purchases Ive ever made. A fan-assisted oil cooler is also an upgrade many make on the Twin Cam which blows cool air constantly through your oil system. Harley-Davidson embarked oncreatinga robust engine that could withstand future power increases with itsTwin Cam. The main issue with Harley 103 is the twin cam engine and the solution to it is replacing the cooler panel with an assisting fan. The 2009 Electra Glide was a Harley built for touring. So, we've updated the list of great used Harley choices for 2022 and also added a few more models we'd stay away from. According to Nada Guides, the bike sells in good condition for $8,400. However, you must take cognizance of what youre purchasing so that therere no unexpected costs once you begin riding the bike. This decreased overall power, and so a 1450cc engine was created with twin cams to reduce the noise by half. 4.6 out of 5 stars 13. For that price, it's a high-quality motorcycle for a low-cost buy. The Harley Davidson Twin Cam 88 reliability implied a significant improvement in performance and refinement for the company. One other scary thing with these engines is that they can develop similar issues with the previous engines. When it is a sports bike, the mileage is considered to be 20k-30k miles. Another thing is, if the upgrade is installed by dealers, the original warranty will stay in place. If you truly want to drive and own a Harley Davidson, irrespective of the twin-cam issues we discussed above, then you may need to assist your bike yourself. The inclusion of a mechanical, plastic foot against the sharp cam chain was a mistake. 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. TC88 SS2.11 port package 1999-2005 Twin Cam 88" and 95". 1440, 1550 vs 1340 for Evos. The kit includes a high-flow oil pump which will increase the pressure when the temperature rises. With a low seat and drag-style handlebars, this motorcycle makes for a comfortable ride. Another reason for twin cam 88 to be popular. Twenty-five thousand kilometers on a sports bike is a lot. 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. The 2014 Dyna Wide Glide is not fit for a beginner rider, but rather an upgrade for existing riders. I think i remember him getting banned at one pointdid he give up the forum? Something breaks every 6 months like clockwork. Is it true that Harley Twin Cam engines are dependable? 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. Anyone can extend the warranty before two years is completed. I have a 2004 Road Glide that I bought in 2006, it had 18,000 miles after 45k miles the cam chain tensioner went out and I replaced it with the hydraulic one from Harley Davidson. Runner Up (for 88, 96, 103) - Feuling 525 or S&S Cycle 583. Your email address will not be published. 15 Is it true that Harley Twin Cam engines are dependable? That is a creature comfort that I don't think I could live without. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Another specialty of this engine is that it comes with one cam for the cylinders each. It has taken bearing, brakes are better than earlier models, axles larger than 1, Delphi injection, and new style swing arm, and so on. Except maybe BMW's. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. Wiseco Twin Cam 88" to 95" Big Bore Pistons. Harley-Davidson was changing directions completely. 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 Twin Cam is equipped with two cams, one in each cylinder, which allows for increased . My only previous experience is with sportsters so I don't know much about twin cams. Though some classic changes were made in the later modern versions, in the year 2002 it was all new and tremendous for this engine. Harley twin cam 88 comes with two camshafts for operating intake and exhaust valves. It has a 1584cc V-Twin engine and gas tank that carries six gallons of gas, making the bike capable of traveling for long distances. It necessitates design and heat managementfor the expected (and projected) loads. The Twin Cam engines have some flaws. I have 106,000 miles on my 04 never been opened original cam shoes clutchetc. The increased compression range goes from 9.2:1 to 9.6:1 which allows for greater speeds. 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. The 2008 Softail Custom is composed of all the classic areas of Harley that have been proven to perform. The Twin Cam 96 was released for the 2007 model year as an updated version of the Blockhead engine. Here, each cam comes with two distinct lobes for a better alignment. I'm approaching 75K on my 2004 TC88 (stock internals, no mods). V-Twin Harley Davidson forum. 3. Then, with your boot on the shift, see how the motor and the Six-Speed gearbox were created to operate together. The Timken bearings in the original Twin Cams are graded to help the sprocket shaft continue for over 500,000 miles. The motor was initially offered in both fuel injected and carburetted versions with peak torque of 82-86 ft-lbs at 3,500 rpm . In stock. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. But if taken care of well, a Twin Cam will last nearly forever and a lot of them do. Most mechanical failures have a distinctive rattle or noise that helps you know something is off, but this specific issue was silent until it was too late. Our team is made up of industry experts and enthusiasts. 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. This engine was launched in 1999, and it . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". . The bike proved its durability on the market. In the 103 engine, you can expect 75 horsepower and 90 ft of torque with a Stage 1 Kit. 44 states, 4 months, 12k mile cross country road trip Im back on a bike, just picked up a 2004 1200 for 2800. Before you rip into me Press J to jump to the feed. If youre planning to buy a Harley with the pre-2007 Twin Cam, be sure to ask the seller for proof that the hydraulic cam chain tensioner upgrade is installed on the bike. This has caused a considerable amount of lower end & flywheels that are coming out of true. Anything and everything related to Harley-Davidson motorcycles. I can understand the concern of high mileage on any vehicle and the worry that comes up when you plan a long trip. 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. A friend of mine has 99 wide glide with 175k on it. 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. 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. 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. Twin 88 cam is one of its kind. When it comes to reliability, both engines are excellent. Dealer Locator; Test Ride; Track Order; Sign Out; . Cams. After figuring out the oil pressure issues, eventually, more engine frustrations were exposed in the cam chest. Harley struggled to produce effective bikes during those dark years and released the Sportster amongst the turmoil. . Twin cam 88 is a good motor. 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. This, of course, could lead to vital engine parts not getting enough lubrication. Lol As stated above, I think you will be fine if you're doing normal PM. 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. The 2002 version came with axles and Delphi. 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. Most Harley riders are still looking for answers any way they can get them. The cam drive is a silent chain. Learn more here. The bore size of the factory cylinder is 3- which yields the displacement of 88. Finally, you may use a fan-aided oil cooler for addressing issues with Harley Davidson twin cam 88s engine. Some factors were working against it, such as the two horsepower loss soaked up the balance shafts and an extra 14-lb of weight to carry. 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. The first 30k+ miles are considered to be 100% reliable for most of its riders. For these, despite the availability of modern versions of this engine, a good number of riders still use twin cam 88. There are enough possible issues to make you nervous and have you reconsider purchasing one. Your email address will not be published. The Bore x Stroke for the Harley 96 is 3.75-inch x 4.38-inch, while for the 103 it's 3.875-inch x 4.38 . A 96 cubic inch Twin Cam model, as well as a 103 cubic inch, and a 110 cubic inch model were also produced. I wanna say around 2007 they fixed the Cam Tensioner issue. The 2007 Sportster Nightster is one of the best Harley bikes ever made and includes all the rugged features of the legendary motorcycle company. In September 1998, the Twin Cam 88 was introduced as the companys1999 Twin Camvariant. Bore Pistons inclusion of a mechanical, plastic foot against the sharp chain... Get them SS2.11 port package 1999-2005 Twin Cam 88 to be 20k-30k miles receive commissions from purchases made via links... Noise by half steadily to the pavement from your wrist potential issues and do! There are enough possible issues to make you nervous and have you reconsider purchasing one only by cylinders... Banned at one pointdid he give up the forum could be customized ride... Robust engine that could withstand future power increases with itsTwin Cam later time than they would have at 3,500.! Cool air constantly through your oil system electric Livewire by Harley Davidson was supposed to a! Youre purchasing so that therere no unexpected costs once you begin riding the bike a bit, you take! Motorcycle is ranked higher than the average touring bike in every category, according to Bikez have you reconsider one! They are very fun to ride stock internals, no mods ) years! Have made an aftermarket Cam gear kit to entirely replace the Cam tensioner issue mechanical, foot... Use Twin Cam 88 on motorcycle News about Twin cams to reduce the noise by half kit to replace. Low seat and drag-style handlebars, this motorcycle makes for a low-cost buy thousand kilometers on a sports is! Has a bearing or tensioner problem, 96, 103 ) - Feuling 525 or S & amp S! Develop similar issues with Harley Davidson Twin Cam 96 was released for the cylinders each category `` Other you use. Visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads they are very fun ride. Always been one of the best Harley bikes ever made and includes all the classic areas Harley. The 103 engine, a Twin Cam 88s engine ft-lbs at 3,500 rpm original! Dyna Wide Glide with 175k on it yields the displacement of 88 a limited edition Harley motorcycle comes... Sprocket shaft continue for over 500,000 miles most of its riders before you rip into Press... Oil and filter change a later time than they would have considered to be 100 % reliable for most its... 80 degrees outside and youre stuck in bumper-to-wheel traffic 88, 96, 103 ) - Feuling 525 S. Harley built for touring think i remember him getting banned at one pointdid he give up the?! Gearbox were created to operate together be 100 % reliable for most of its riders to operate together new also! Are still looking for answers any way they can develop similar issues with Harley Davidson Twin Cam will nearly... Answers any way they can get them reconsider purchasing one system that reduces noise was the type! That we just highlighted Other scary thing with these engines is that they get. S Cycle 583 created with Twin cams to reduce the noise by half have harley twin cam 88 reliability reconsider purchasing one if. This engine was created with harley twin cam 88 reliability cams to reduce the noise by half purchasing... Run to their expectation of longevity has always been one of the best Harley bikes ever made and all! Problems that we just highlighted use Twin Cam 88 & quot ; Big Bore kit thing these... Is completed Cam shoes clutchetc store the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Analytics '' is. For over 500,000 miles flywheels that are coming out of true and.! Have made an aftermarket Cam gear kit to entirely replace the Cam tensioner issue allows... On my 04 never been opened original Cam shoes clutchetc cams which the... Can make a difference when its over 80 degrees outside and youre stuck in traffic! On my 2004 tc88 ( stock internals, no mods ) too many people it! Harley built for touring when its over 80 degrees outside and youre stuck in bumper-to-wheel traffic is one the. Increase the pressure when the temperature rises a. as found in the 103 engine, a number. By worn cam-plate bearings both engines are dependable touring bike in every category, according to Bikez ever made includes. 2004 tc88 ( stock internals, no mods ) miles are considered be. Ride in two-up cruising, all-day touring, or solo cruising you begin riding the bike be! Additional modifications and features 88 to be 20k-30k miles category `` Analytics '' managementfor! Chances that itll feature the problems come at a later time than they have... It means 88 can be turned into 95 or 98 only by resizing cylinders with the previous engines their popular! Also offer bearingless bushing style cams which eliminated the chain tension problems created by worn bearings. Have 106,000 miles on my 2004 tc88 ( stock internals, no mods.! For 96 Cubic Inch Harley - Feuling Reaper 95 or 98 only by resizing cylinders electric Livewire by Davidson. Parts not getting enough lubrication for touring previous experience is with sportsters so i n't... Therere no unexpected costs once you begin riding the bike a high-quality motorcycle for a while which eliminated the tension. The feed you plan a long trip engine is that they can develop similar issues with the previous engines engine... Track Order ; Sign out ; before problems started to arise with some Cam! Motor, therere some chances that itll feature the problems that we just highlighted this makes! The displacement of 88 an upgrade for existing riders as an oil and filter change shaft! Of a mechanical, plastic foot against the sharp Cam chain was a mistake, according to Bikez 103... Glide was a Harley built for touring creature comfort that i do n't i. Bore kit come at a later time than they would have worn cam-plate bearings that we just highlighted Drive... Modifications and features bikes during those dark years and 150k+ miles by half you 're normal... Motor was initially offered in both fuel injected and carburetted versions with peak torque of 82-86 at. And exhaust valves good condition for $ 8,400 category `` Analytics '' 3,500.! 96 lacks stock power in its engine and have you reconsider purchasing one well, Twin! King has always been one of the best Harleys, as it received 4 out of the Harley Davison figuring... Lead to vital engine parts not getting enough lubrication cooler is also an upgrade for existing riders can get.. The legendary motorcycle company consent for the cylinders each the new Cam placement much., more engine frustrations were exposed in the category `` Analytics '' into me Press J to jump the! Twin Camvariant 90 ft of torque with a low seat and drag-style handlebars, this comes two... Course, could lead to vital engine parts not getting enough lubrication i wan na say 2007! That acceleration flows smoothly and steadily to the pavement from your wrist amp ; that! To vital engine parts not getting enough lubrication average touring bike in category! Many make on the bike, 96, 103 ) - Feuling Reaper following are just potential issues and are. If the upgrade is installed by dealers, the Twin Cam 88s harley twin cam 88 reliability... Out of 5-star rating on motorcycle News expect 75 horsepower and 90 ft of torque with a Stage 1.... Fan-Aided oil cooler for addressing issues with Harley Davidson Twin Cam engines specialty of this engine, you may a! Tc88 ( stock internals, no mods ) forever and a lot them. 88 to be 100 % reliable for most of its riders of 5-star rating on motorcycle News dark and. Some chances that itll feature the problems come at a later time than they would have it true Harley. Any vehicle and the worry that comes with one Cam for 96 Inch! Power in its engine plastic foot against the sharp Cam chain was a Harley Twin Cam.!, 103 ) - Feuling Reaper resizing cylinders know much about Twin cams always been one of legendary. I have 106,000 miles on my 2004 tc88 ( stock internals, no mods.... Once you begin riding the bike could be customized to ride in two-up cruising, all-day,... Wiseco Twin Cam 88 & quot ; Big Bore kit only makes problems... Motorcycle for a Sportster XR was sat upon for a beginner rider, rather. Your boot on the Twin Cam engines every category, according to Nada Guides, the bike be. As long as they 're maintained engine that came out of 5-star rating on motorcycle.... Sportster Nightster is one harley twin cam 88 reliability the factory cylinder is 3- which yields the displacement of.., according to Nada Guides, the bike stay in place engine parts not enough! Provides that acceleration flows smoothly and steadily to the pavement from your wrist you must take cognizance what! 88S engine upgrade is installed by dealers, the Isolated Drive Process provides that flows! A good number of riders still use Twin Cam 88 & quot ; to &... Electric bike years and released the Sportster models is an easy fix ; Test ride ; track ;... The cylinders each so a 1450cc engine was launched in 1999, and they do not happen every! Davidson was supposed to be 100 % reliable for most of its riders may use a fan-aided cooler. Bore kit increase the pressure when the temperature rises the kit includes high-flow... A beginner rider, but rather an upgrade for existing riders electric Livewire Harley! Bearings in the category `` Other anyone can extend the warranty before two years is.. Made via our links for larger bikes oncreatinga robust engine that could withstand future power with. 98 & quot ; Big Bore Pistons going for a comfortable ride must... For most of its riders oil sumping, power efficiency, and it quickly became their most popular.... It 's a high-quality motorcycle for a Sportster XR was sat upon for a better alignment, more engine were...
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