This website or its third-party tools process personal data.In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link. Twin Cam Black Big Bore Kit for Harley Davidson 1999-2006 Twin Cam. No more parts to wear out, more accurate cam timing, and increased hp due to decreased friction vs the stock set-up. This engine comes with a dual coil system so that no spark gets wasted. Strict quality control standards to Build and test. This kit is available for 99-06 Twin cam 88" motors and delivers absolute top level performance. The cam chain was poorly designed and had sharp outer edges that quickly ate away at the plastic tensioner shoes. According to Top Speed, it has one of the fastest Harley Davidson cruisers of all time, with a top speed of 127 mph. It comes with two camshafts to maximize horsepower. 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. As a result, the new designwas created with upgradeability in mindwider cylinder stud gap, higher-capacity valves, and stress-tested and quality crankcases, to name a few. In fact, there are many Twin Cams nearing the 100k mile mark and they still run like new. 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. A deep grumble helps a lot when you are plunging up the road forward, and its an uncommon and remarkable trip when a motorbike replies in such a manner. Cams. Outside of work, youll find Jake restoring and riding rare street bikes and ATVs. 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. 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. And traveling at a slower speed couldnt have been more relaxing. 2003 2006: Improved But Suspect Years of the Twin Cam, 2007 2009: Good Years for the Twin Cam 96, Of course, not every engine is perfect, and the Twin Cam 96 had some piston recoil issues with smoke blowing out of the air filter. 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. 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. 2. A friend of mine has 99 wide glide with 175k on it. 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. Thus, the endless conflict between Harley Twin cam and Evo is always. One of the most serious issues was with the cam chain tensioners. There are 2 valves in each cylinder. 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. Other than that, it all depends on who did the 5,000 mile service interval. superb craftsmanship and durability. 2010 2016: The Best Years for the Twin Cam 103. concerning the heat coming off this engine, most are completely satisfied. 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. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. 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. So, after one has run 40k miles the cam tensioners have to be changed. TC88 SS2.11 port package 1999-2005 Twin Cam 88" and 95". It also arrives at a slower cruising speed, resulting in a smoother ride, reduced engine noise, and improved motorway fuel economy. related: 10 Rules For Joining The Most Badass Biker Clubs. The Heritage Softail Classic is perfect for cruising as it comes equipped with technology to easily operate hazard lights and cruise control. Required fields are marked *. If it is upgraded to stage 2, the rev limit will be increased to 6400 rpm which is for mid-range horsepower. It comes with so much good stuff that minor issues can be ignored. My only previous experience is with sportsters so I don't know much about twin cams. Its rugged looks, along with its customizations, make it a must-have for Harley riders. This is definitely a Harley worth investing in. 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. The Evo pushed out around 69-ftlbs at 3000-rpm, while the Twin Cam showed a significant increase of 84-ftlbs at 3500-rpm. Twenty-five thousand kilometers on a sports bike is a lot. More about that will be discussed in this post. The hydraulic tensioner on the later Twin Cam 96 improved the tensioner and cam chains life lifespanneeding fewer inspections and replacements. But it must get past 200k miles if it is taken care of well because it is designed for that. In case anyone suspects any kind of damage in the motor, a compression test must be done before disassembling. Has about 118k on it now! 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. Consumers generally love or hate Harley or even a little bit of both. For these, despite the availability of modern versions of this engine, a good number of riders still use twin cam 88. The edges of the new cam chain rub against the tension foot which is made of plastic. This surely increases the efficiency and makes it desirable. These, though, were small potatoes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. 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. Harley Davidson introduced the Twin Cam engine in 1999, and it quickly became their most popular engine. And replaced it with a shitty compensator. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The 96 switched to hydro tensioners, which are far more reliable. How could it not be worth it? In the same vein as the earlier postsask how many Fresca cans you can make out of that Hondaon a nicer noteask how many Honda museums there are? He said no, he couldnt fix it, only put it back to new. for oil sumping, power efficiency, and noise reductions that revolutionized the motorcycle world. Cornering a Motorcycle Confidently: Step by Step Guide. I've heard of issues with cam chain tensioners in the earlier 88" twin cams. The motor was initially offered in both fuel injected and carburetted versions with peak torque of 82-86 ft-lbs at 3,500 rpm . Companies creating engine modifications werent constrained by government regulations, and they were hurting Harleys bottom line by engineering faster and more powerful upgrades. At this point, avoiding those years would be advisable unless a modification has been made. This engine was launched in 1999, and it . The twin-cam engines have 4 stroke camshafts. If they havent had any issues or if the crank was replaced, then you should be fine to purchase the bike. Nothing beats the thrill of taking a tight corner on two wheels. The engine of the Twin Cam 88 can produce around 80 horsepower. 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. Here's a look at the technical elements and developments that allowed the 88-cu.-in. The 2002 version came with axles and Delphi. Most Harley riders are still looking for answers any way they can get them. Other than that, it all depends on who did the 5,000 mile service interval. I had a buddy that had a wide glide with 95k on the clock before he had any problems. This efficiency leads to a longer life of the cams. The combustion chamber has a unique shape that allows higher-level compression. In stock. The Harley Davidson Twin Cam engine is one of the most popular engines for the motorcycles made by this brand. So surely the best year. 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. Harley Davidson spent many hours sweating bullets, refining every cubic millimeter, and pushing technology and design ahead. It means 88 can be turned into 95 or 98 only by resizing cylinders. I'm approaching 75K on my 2004 TC88 (stock internals, no mods). However, it wasnt long before problems started to arise with some Twin Cam engines. It has a unique sense of style and therefore, it only comes in three colors. Cam tensioners can do worse if you dont check them by then. For that price, it's a high-quality motorcycle for a low-cost buy. However, no motorcycle manufacturer is free from issues, and Harley Davidson is no different. What happens is the whole crank assembly goes out of truth, and the crank becomes too unbalanced to run. I did a BB, ported & flowed the heads, TW6hg cams and 10.5/1 comp on my 00' Ultra at 20k and now I have over 100K on it and still no big problems (other than the valvetrain noise) I am anal about maint. The kit includes a high-flow oil pump which will increase the pressure when the temperature rises. Tools Bible 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 & linking to Amazon properties. The bathtub-shaped combustion chamber improves the efficiency of twin-cam 88 engines. Well, thats about it these are the most problematic Harley Twin Cam years to avoid! In addition to ownership problems, Harley has also faced several recalls, but although Harley has had its setbacks, it has still succeeded as a legend in the motorcycle world. This one is still a favorite to its riders. The cam drive is a silent chain. I can understand the concern of high mileage on any vehicle and the worry that comes up when you plan a long trip. 3. 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. Several companies have made an aftermarket cam gear kit to entirely replace the cam chest, chain, and levers. Types of Twin Cam Harley Davidson Engines. This causes the crank assembly to have high runout and effectively start wobbling, which destroys the oil pump, cams, and even parts of the engine block. I have 11K miles on it and heard a knocking noise. The following are just potential issues and they do not happen to every Twin Cam engine. 99. This motor was designed to run 100k miles. 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. All that he said. One was to use a mechanical tensioner that physically pushed against the chain versus a hydraulic tensioner that used oil pressure to dampen the cam chain. 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. How many miles can you get out of a twin cam 88? Just maintainance work. . 4.35 gm/s - 2001-2005 Twin Cam. Dec 2, 2014. The VRSCE2 V-Rod was named in the top-10 of all time for Harley-Davidsons by Money Inc. With a 1,584cc Twin Cam engine thats been reinvented and proven to last, the 2009 Night Train is a durable bike with style. High-Flow oil pump which will increase the pressure when the temperature rises up... Love or hate Harley or even a little bit of both mods.... For a low-cost buy potential issues and they do not happen harley twin cam 88 reliability every cam. But it must get past 200k miles if it is upgraded to stage 2, endless. 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