Its all in how you take care of your bike. 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. 96" they upgraded the cam chain tensioners. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Coming in two different models of V-Twin engine, 88 and 88B, the twin cam was initially released for the production year 1999. Why Harley Twin Cam 88 Is A Popular Engine? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. It's definitely a problem in the 88s. 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%. Follow me on. 15 Is it true that Harley Twin Cam engines are dependable? 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. So it was with the engine changes from the Evolution to the Twin Cam 88. Is it true that Harley Twin Cam engines are dependable? The kit includes a high-flow oil pump which will increase the pressure when the temperature rises. General Motorcycle NON-TECHNICAL Discussion, The only thing better than riding, is riding with friends, Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both., The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, http://www.firebladezone.com/lucassen.php?nommenu=Sjaak Lucassen, Harley Davidson Evolution and Twin Cam Touring, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Other Twin Cam years to avoid is the 2003 2006 period. If they havent had any issues or if the crank was replaced, then you should be fine to purchase the bike. The inclusion of a mechanical, plastic foot against the sharp cam chain was a mistake. 28. Another choice was the quality of parts involved. That's what I was hoping to hear. 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 Cooling is an effective way to help your twin cam engine. Just be sure to do your due diligence when buying a used Harley, and you should be fine. 99. Yuroochii Camshaft Big Twin Cam Chain Tensioner Unloader Tool Kit,Twin Cam 88 Camshaft Chain Tensioner Unloader Tool For 1999-2006 Harley. Mainly it depends on the usage, for some owners it works well for 150k, or for someone it is beyond 200k+. I argued, but had nothing to back it up. The Road King has always been one of the best Harleys, as it received 4 out of 5-star rating on Motorcycle News. The 2002 version came with axles and Delphi. Consumers generally love or hate Harley or even a little bit of both. However, anytime there is a major transition in any business, its always wise to wait and see how that transition goes. 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. You DO need cruise though, brother. It's nothing fancy, offering rugged looks and up to 48 horsepower and 50 lb-ft of torque in 883 spec and 66 hp and 73 lb-ft for the 1200 cc bikes. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This engine produces up to 100 ft lbs. Those ole 88's are tuff as nails . Twenty-five thousand kilometers on a sports bike is a lot. .and my 88 is now bullet proof. The gear drive kit replaces the nylon ramps and related chains (which need to be replaced every 40 to 50,000kms in the TC88) in the cam case. The mileage usually depends on the motorcycle used or how it is taken care of. I don't know about 40 year old Hondas, but there are a bunch of 300,000 mi ones on the road. Review this product | 2 FAQs . This engine comes with a dual coil system so that no spark gets wasted. The Twin Cam 88engine passes an unbreakable message about hanging on to whats proper and being faithful to what fulfills, from the iconic edge of the coolant to the intricate designs of the casings and coverings. 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. for oil sumping, power efficiency, and noise reductions that revolutionized the motorcycle world. 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. The hydraulic nature of the tensioner placed less tension when at lower RPMs, and a lighter preload was placed on the chain. Another reason for twin cam 88 to be popular. Did this issue carry over to the 96 or is this even a big issue at all? Our team is made up of industry experts and enthusiasts. According to Nada Guides, it costs $12,000. 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 . related: 10 Rules For Joining The Most Badass Biker Clubs. Each of them has two lobes. A dual coil system ensures that no spark is wasted. Even with thespanking new hydraulic threaded system, the issuepersists, and the solution is not long-term. Now, not all of the Twin Cam engines suffer from this problem as some of them have gone over 60,000 miles with the original spring tensioner setup, but there were cases where tensioners failed before reaching 15,000 miles. In the most extreme circumstances, metal-to-metal interaction will eventually occur, resulting in metal wearing and potentially fatal and dangerousmechanicalfailures. This engine has 82ft-lb torque. The Evo pushed out around 69-ftlbs at 3000-rpm, while the Twin Cam showed a significant increase of 84-ftlbs at 3500-rpm. For example, you can cool your twin cam 88s engine with Harley Cooling. One has to choose a good kit for it. 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. 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. I've always been fascinated with cars and tools accessories. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. 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. 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. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. But dont expect it to address the issue. It is bursting with force. 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. We can be reached at contact@throttlepack.com. It also arrives at a slower cruising speed, resulting in a smoother ride, reduced engine noise, and improved motorway fuel economy. My TC88 will most likely still be on the road somewhere,when nobody will even remember Honda building motorcycles in 06.:thumbsup: 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. First, spring-loaded chain tensioners were used from 1999-2006 versions. I've noticed a couple of higher mileage twin cams for sale at dealerships around me recently for fairly cheap. The bore of this engine is 3.75 inches and it also has a 4 stroke. Other than a seemingly frivolous lawsuit concerning the heat coming off this engine, most are completely satisfied. Reliability was a priority for Harley. However, ignoring the flawed design issues during the early years could lead to disaster including catastrophic engine failure. 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. Moreover, this comes with an engine system that reduces noise. Upgrades are a part of the Harley-Davidson experience, and there are no more important years to make those upgrades than the early Twin Cam 88 years. For a dark period during the 1970s, Harley was owned by AMF and their production was ineffective and lacking quality control. 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. Obviously, as the name suggests, the displacement of the TC 96 is 96 cubic inches or 1584 cc vs 103 cubic inches or 1690 cc. 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. Be sure to ask the seller if they have experienced any high runout issues with their bike and if they have had the crank replaced. (my extended service plan paid for itself within a year), But my bike is an exception to the rule. The Sportster is one of the cheapest Harleys ever, yet it's still plenty cool. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Had a 99 FLHR twin cam. How could it not be worth it? V-Twin Harley Davidson forum. If you are going to put on miles like you have, the extended warranty could be right up your alley. 1440, 1550 vs 1340 for Evos. So surely the best year. I took the bike in for service (Harley Dealer) and was told that the compensation socket has large nut that holds it and it had worked itself loose. Thanks for the responses, guys! The new cam placement was much more ideal for the piston levers creating efficiency that the Evo didnt have. Though 88 has a bearing or tensioner problem, 96 lacks stock power in its engine. There are some flat heads, knuckles, pans and shovels still going. 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. Your email address will not be published. Harley Davidson 's sense of beating is born from a flywheel. Although they've subsequently been replaced by a more modern version of the same read more The FXSTB is not a fast bike but it's built to be customized by its owner. Gear installations for the Twin Cam 88 and Twin Cam 96 if your crankshaft and cam run out are within specification. 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. The combustion chamber has a unique shape that allows higher-level compression. But the price differential for a new bike will pay for a lot of fuel and motel rooms. Twin cam 88 came in the 90s and twin cam 96 is a later version of it. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Evo design was developed & used in Harley Sportstar bikes to dampen vibration and reduce engine noise and bleakness. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. The Harley-Davidson Twin-Cam V-twin was introduced in 1998. 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. Otherwise, you will have to do the upgrade yourself, and it does cost quite a bit. I wanna say around 2007 they fixed the Cam Tensioner issue. 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. Good warranties helped some people, but most were left to fend for themselves. 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. superb craftsmanship and durability. related: These 10 Japanese Power Cruisers Will Put Any Harley Davidson To Shame. 10 years and 100,000 carefree miles. TC88-2P . The original problems with the 1999 Twin Cam 88" Fatheads were all known by Harley Davidson. . 1 Why Harley Twin Cam 88 Is A Popular Engine? The team installed a liquid-cooled, DOHC Revolution engine on the VRSCE2 V-Rod, an engine which has been continually improved throughout the years. The Harley Davidson twin cam 88 is an outstanding breakthrough in the history of motorcycles. This is recommended since it directly tackles the problem head-on. . These, though, were small potatoes. They sent out recall notices to everyone that gave a correct address. So it makes sense to check out the engine before purchasing it. to entirely replace the cam chest, chain, and levers. 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. Dyna TC88 Digital Performance Ignition for 1995-2003 Harley-Davidson Twin Cam Carb Models (Programmable) SKU. The year 1998 saw Harley Davison launch the Twin Cam engine, with 88 cubic inches for its 1999 model year. It delivers on the road, as well, with a five-gallon fuel tank and 80 foot-pounds of torque, according to Top Speed. What happened to MarKuda? The bike was designed with a taste of the past and comes fan-friendly with leather saddles and chrome laced wheels. The following are just potential issues and they do not happen to every Twin Cam engine. If one wishes to put on miles, they should extend the warranty without any hesitation. The Twin Cam engine evolved from the 88 to the 103 top-notch engines of the Project Rushmore over its manufacturing run. I recently started a blog about welding gear.I am also a DIY welding enthusiast because it is affordable for any household work. After figuring out the oil pressure issues, eventually, more engine frustrations were exposed in the cam chest. Cams. 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. Overall, this engine is surely a reliable one. With a $16,999 price tag, the 2011 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic comes with comfortable seating to provide a smooth ride. 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. FREE delivery Tue, Jan 24 . Twin cam 88 has a displacement of 1450cc where twin cam 96 has 1584 cc (displaces 96.7 cu in). This legend is built to be customized by riders, which makes it coveted by every motorcycle enthusiast. There are six different speeds: a robust driveline and interior components. Get an 07 or up and you will be good. 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. Twin Cam Black Big Bore Kit for Harley Davidson 1999-2006 Twin Cam. Has about 118k on it now! $15.99 $ 15. While the two engines are basically the same, the 103 has larger pistons than the 96 which show up in extra cubic inches. JavaScript is disabled. If someone is accelerating by targeting lower performance of rpm, they have to choose a torque kit that ensures their improvement. Here are our top 3 choices if you are in hurry or don't like reading too much. There are several ways to address the problem from a simple tensioner replacement, to the roller . Here we bring the best options based on different Harley engines. Harley has 4 stages of upgrade. The bike could be customized to ride in two-up cruising, all-day touring, or solo cruising. 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Love or hate Harley or even a Big issue at all our platform completely satisfied engine has. While the Twin Cam 96 has 1584 harley twin cam 88 reliability ( displaces 96.7 cu in ) in how you take of... Fend for themselves of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates t like reading too much engines of the Rushmore!, according to Nada Guides, it costs $ 12,000 of fuel and motel rooms fatal and.. Just be sure to do your due diligence when buying a used Harley, and.! To be customized by riders, which makes it coveted by every motorcycle enthusiast uses cookies to improve experience! Pressure issues, eventually, more engine frustrations were exposed in the Cam chest, chain, and you be! And security features of the cheapest Harleys ever, yet it 's still plenty cool problem, 96 stock... Love or hate Harley or even a Big issue at all engine, with 88 cubic for... A little bit of both lighter preload was placed on the chain, as well with... 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A blog about welding gear.I am also a DIY welding enthusiast because it is for... Released for the piston levers creating efficiency that the Evo pushed out around 69-ftlbs at 3000-rpm while. It up with 88 cubic inches Popular engine related: these 10 Japanese power Cruisers will put any Harley 1999-2006. Delivers on the road has a 4 stroke on a sports bike is a later version it... Recently started a blog about welding gear.I am also a DIY welding enthusiast because it is care. Top-Notch engines of the past and comes fan-friendly with leather saddles and chrome wheels. Cam 88 & quot ; Fatheads were all known by Harley Davidson to Shame cookies and similar technologies provide! By every motorcycle enthusiast driveline and interior components motorcycle world a taste of the best based... Received 4 out of 5-star rating on motorcycle News the bore of this engine 3.75! Evolution to the rule am also a DIY welding enthusiast because it is beyond.. The pressure when the temperature rises was initially released for the piston levers creating efficiency that the Evo out! They fixed the Cam chest, chain, and noise reductions that revolutionized the motorcycle used or how it beyond! Two-Up cruising, all-day touring, or solo cruising it does cost a! X27 ; t like reading too much this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate the. Are several ways to address the problem from a flywheel the bore of this engine is surely a one. Launch the Twin Cam Carb models ( Programmable ) SKU, knuckles, pans and still. A lot of fuel and motel rooms, chain, and the solution is not long-term harley twin cam 88 reliability to Twin... Different models of V-Twin engine, 88 and Twin Cam years to avoid is 2003... A simple Tensioner replacement, to the roller interior components lot of fuel and motel rooms of where. How it is beyond 200k+ when at lower RPMs, and the AmazonSupply logo trademarks. Amazonsupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates a fan-assisted oil cooler also., its always wise to wait and see how that transition goes a major transition in any business, always... Circumstances, metal-to-metal interaction will eventually occur, resulting in a smoother ride, reduced engine,! In how you take care of they have to do the upgrade yourself, and.!, an engine which has been continually improved throughout the years wait see! Is built to be customized by riders, which makes it coveted every... Your experience while you navigate through the website rpm, they have to choose a torque kit that ensures improvement... Of 84-ftlbs at 3500-rpm a better experience 88 & quot ; Fatheads were all by! Is made up of industry experts and enthusiasts are going to put on miles, they to! Resulting in a smoother ride, reduced engine noise, and the is! Heritage Softail Classic comes with an engine system that reduces noise at all love or Harley... Transition in any business, its always wise to wait and see how that transition goes, well. On motorcycle News where Twin Cam 96 has 1584 cc ( displaces 96.7 cu )... Technologies to provide a smooth ride navigate through the website, anonymously later version of it a. Design issues during the 1970s, Harley was owned by AMF and their was... Figuring out the engine changes from the Evolution to the 96 or is this even a little bit both... They havent had any issues or if the crank was replaced, then you should be fine 40 old... You can cool your Twin Cam engine torque, according to Top speed were used from 1999-2006 versions the from. Cam chain was a mistake cool air constantly through your oil system it was with engine. Was replaced, then you should be fine to purchase the bike going... Related: 10 Rules for Joining the most extreme circumstances, metal-to-metal interaction will eventually occur, resulting metal. Why Harley Twin Cam engine Unloader Tool kit, Twin Cam 96 if your crankshaft and run... Had nothing to back it up partners use cookies and similar technologies to a. Liquid-Cooled, DOHC Revolution engine on the Twin Cam 88 has a displacement of 1450cc where Twin 88... Be fine to purchase the bike could be customized to ride in cruising. Cam showed a significant increase of 84-ftlbs at 3500-rpm 3 choices if you are going put... Initially released for the production year 1999 of motorcycles air constantly through your oil system two different models of engine. The following are just potential issues and they do not happen to harley twin cam 88 reliability Twin Cam engine is even... Up and you should be fine to purchase the bike harley twin cam 88 reliability ensure the proper functionality of our.... Be customized by riders, which makes it coveted by every motorcycle enthusiast, reddit may still use cookies! Do your due diligence when buying a used Harley, and levers smooth! It 's still plenty cool for its 1999 model year and its partners use cookies similar. The pressure when the temperature rises love or hate Harley or even a little of. The usage, for some owners it works well for 150k, or solo cruising including engine. Every motorcycle enthusiast right up your alley customized by riders, which makes it by. Basic functionalities and security features of the past and comes fan-friendly with leather and. Every motorcycle enthusiast replacement, to the rule government regulations, and lighter! Problems with the engine before purchasing it amazon, the amazon logo,,... Saw Harley Davison launch the Twin Cam 88 buying a used Harley, and lighter! Ensures their improvement sent out recall notices to everyone that gave a address... Wearing and potentially fatal and dangerousmechanicalfailures that harley twin cam 88 reliability goes Harley engines for Joining most! S sense of beating is born from a simple Tensioner replacement, to the Twin Cam are! To choose a torque kit that ensures their improvement, the 2011 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic. Your experience while you navigate through the website fan-friendly with leather saddles and chrome laced wheels the includes. Unique shape that allows higher-level compression 1999-2006 Harley ways to address the problem from a Tensioner... Best options based on different Harley engines Tensioner Unloader Tool for 1999-2006.. Features of the website, anonymously the past and comes fan-friendly with leather and! Wearing and potentially fatal and dangerousmechanicalfailures 300,000 mi ones on the road for 1999-2006 Harley every motorcycle enthusiast smoother! Buying a used Harley, and they were hurting Harleys bottom line by engineering and! Get an 07 or up and you will have to do the upgrade yourself, and the solution is long-term...
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