The bike is designed with customizable features and has the captivating looks of a true cruiser. And replaced it with a shitty compensator. Sure, these issues are very serious and they can easily destroy the engine if ignored, but apart from them, the Twin Cam is a very reliable engine overall. There are enough possible issues to make you nervous and have you reconsider purchasing one. A. as found in the Sportster models is an easy fix. A compensator eliminator as found in the Sportster models is an easy fix. Other than that, it all depends on who did the 5,000 mile service interval. For all the good reasons this one is good. The early 88 Twin Cams had their problems as well with cam bearings, but that was fixed early on. The bike could be customized to ride in two-up cruising, all-day touring, or solo cruising. There is a difference between the Twin Cam 88 and the Twin Cam 96. Consumers generally love or hate Harley or even a little bit of both. When I chose a Harley-Davidson, it was because of their high standards of quality and precision in every aspect of the bike, so it was disappointing to see this unforced error in the 1999-2006 Twin Cam 88s that could have been such a shining moment for this iconic American motorcycle company. For example, you can cool your twin cam 88s engine with Harley Cooling. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The most concerning aspect was that it could fail at fifteen thousandmiles, with the novelhydraulic system failing at fortythousandmiles or lower. I have a '99 Ultra with 71,000 on it and just did the roller chain conversion. How To Determine Head Shape For Motorcycle Helmet. Your email address will not be published. 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. JavaScript is disabled. Best Value For Money. 3. Eighty-eight as in cubic inches . The gear-driven, central, single-cam was supplanted by two chain-driven cams, one positioned at the base of each of the cylinders, to make things appreciably quiet and augment the geometry of the pushrod. 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 bathtub-shaped combustion chamber improves the efficiency of twin-cam 88 engines. The engine of the Twin Cam 88 can produce around 80 horsepower. Now, this does not happen to every engine made between 03 and 06, but it is a well-known problem. The Harley Twin Cam was the second type of engine that came out of the staples of the Harley Davison. The Harley Davidson Twin Cam 88reliabilityimplied a significant improvement in performance and refinementfor the company. It is a metal gem crafted by hand. 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. Twin Cam Black Big Bore Kit for Harley Davidson 1999-2006 Twin Cam. Twin cam 88. TCs are plenty reliable as long as they're maintained. After the first 1000 miles, an upgrade in intake or exhaust will give it a nice boost. If you're getting an 88" TC then go for the 99-02 cause they have the timken bearing in the crank. 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. Learn more here. Another specialty of this engine is that it comes with one cam for the cylinders each. This kit is available for 99-06 Twin cam 88" motors and delivers absolute top level performance. 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. Harley twin cam 88 comes with two camshafts for operating intake and exhaust valves. This was accomplished through a catalytic converter and electronic fuel injectors. Never had the tranny apart or the motor, just did the things you already mentioned and still going strong. Harley-Davidson was changing directions completely. So, to help steer motorcycle fans in the right direction, here's a list of 14 used Harleys worth every penny and 3 to avoid at all costs. The 1584cc Twin Cam engine that was in its second year of reinvention. This legend is built to be customized by riders, which makes it coveted by every motorcycle enthusiast. I also replaced the cams and bearings, I now have over 145,000 miles and still running strong. Most bikes after 2007 are fairly reliable. Simply as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Twin cam 88 comes with some special qualities. Aside from bikes, Harley Davidson offers other products to assist you in your bike needs. Outside of work, youll find Jake restoring and riding rare street bikes and ATVs. 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. At this point, avoiding those years would be advisable unless a modification has been made. 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. Actually, I don't think there is a "life expectancy" considering the engine can be rebuilt numerous times and the cost is reasonable. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. All that he said. This engine comes with a dual coil system so that no spark gets wasted. 5. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 14 How many miles can you get out of a twin cam 88? Seen & heard of many well over 100,000 miles . It only makes the problems come at a later time than they would have. 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 combustion chamber has a unique shape that allows higher-level compression. The inclusion of a mechanical, plastic foot against the sharp cam chain was a mistake. Just be sure to do your due diligence when buying a used Harley, and you should be fine. The first 30k+ miles are considered to be 100% reliable for most of its riders. 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. Machined conditioning fin ends and finished rocker plates complement the black powder-coated cylinders andheads. Larger cubic inches from the factory. 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. V-Twin Harley Davidson forum. The novel engine was also expected to comply with federal requirements regarding emissions and noise. Something breaks every 6 months like clockwork. 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. Dec 2, 2014. This model was named for the two chain-driven cams it contains. Has about 118k on it now! I'm beginning to wonder if I'm entering an area of concern. Twin Cam has two cams, one in each cylinder. 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. 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. More about that will be discussed in this post. 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. That's what I was hoping to hear. Launching year & Model of Harley Davidson. engine the increase power and reliability. Sources: Top Speed, USA Today, Motorcyclist Online, Harley-Davidson, and NADA Guides. Fuel filter inside the tank needs replacing at 25k and 50k miles. Although they've subsequently been replaced by a more modern version of the same read more When we will compare the reliability between Harley 103 and 107, it will always be Harley 107 which will prevail every time. 2023 ThrottlePack. Twin cam 88 came in the 90s and twin cam 96 is a later version of it. According to Top Speed, the 2006 FXSTS Springer cements itself as a true Softail, as it comes with a 200mm rear tire covered by a bobtail fender. 99. The Twin Cam is a great engine that is loved by many and will give you years of trouble-free riding the same way it does to millions of riders every year. This engine produces up to 100 ft lbs. There are 88-ci (1450 cc), 96-ci (1584 cc), 103-ci (1690cc) and 110-ci (1801 cc) versions available in the current market. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Our team is made up of industry experts and enthusiasts. Our writers &fact checkers independently research, test, analyze, and recommend the best motorcycle products. The cam chain was poorly designed and had sharp outer edges that quickly ate away at the plastic tensioner shoes. 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. Also Read: The Best Twin Cam 88 Performance Upgrades. 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. 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 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. The year 2006 was a transitory year in terms of complying with twin cam 88 specifications. Overall, this engine is surely a reliable one. The twin-cam 88 engine produces about 80 horsepower. In case anyone suspects any kind of damage in the motor, a compression test must be done before disassembling. This motor was designed to run 100k miles. Ask him how many 40 year old hondas are still on the road. The 1981 Harley-Davidson Sportster was not only one of the worst Harleys ever made, but one of the worst handling bikes ever made by any company. I've done this to my bike. But no one can deny the company has produced some legendary cruisers. Regular maintenance is minimal. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The design of Harley-Davidsons Twin Cam engines has been industry-transforming, but not perfect. 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. 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. Between the Twin cam 96 running strong the early 88 Twin cams had problems. Difference between the Twin cam 88 can produce around 80 horsepower but not perfect conditioning! I have a & # x27 ; 99 Ultra with 71,000 on it and just did things... Performance and refinementfor the company that allows higher-level compression camshafts for operating intake and valves. And website in this browser for the cylinders each it coveted by every motorcycle enthusiast of Harley Davidson cam... 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