Hello All,

I have a 98 Low Rider and long story short I thought I needed a new top end well after the guy I have working on it tore into it he found out the previous owner had a lot of people who did not know what they were doing and really did things wrong and we are completely rebuilding the engine. So that plus the supply chain issues have been a major bummer trying to get the motorcycle back. So I am thinking about getting a newer Dyna or Softail. So I am looking for some advice. I would like to get a 2004 - 2010 fuel injected Dyna or Softail Harley and am looking for advice from you guys on what to look for and if there is a better Twin Cam and what to ask the sellers about. I just like the FI of hopefully not being quite so cold blooded as my EVO.

I know the Twin Cams had the tensioner issue and that I have herd they need to be replaced anywhere from low end 15000 to high end 40000 miles, so is there anything else? With a service manual is replacing the shoes a relatively easy job? And how often would they need to be checked? I have watched a lot of YouTube videos on how so I am just looking for some more advice and answers.

Thanks for all the help past and present.

peace

 

This will likely be up to debate as so many people like so many different things. I have only had 3 harleys so far. An 08 Superglide with 96 and 6 speed. An 06 street glide with the 88 and 5 speed. Now I have a 2010 WG with the 96 and 6 speed. You really can't go wrong with a well cared for bike. If you have to get a loan on one you should probably go 2012 and up (better loan rates). The 103 and 6 speed is a great drivetrain as well.

 

The cam chain tensioner issue was solved on the '06 Dynas and '07 Softails/Touring. The '06 Dynas had a few unique well documented issues but probably have been addressed by this point by previous owners.

 

If you buy 07 and up you don't have to worry about the cam chain. If you like carving canyons do not buy a softail. They look fantastic and handle like crap. Although the new Softail is supposed to handle great but they are still pricey. I just purchased a 09 FXD with a 96" Twin Cam motor for 5 K. It has 27K miles and runs great. I saw another member a few weeks ago who bought a really nice 08 FXDC for about the same as mine but his had less miles. There are thousands of Super glide garage queens out there and they are great bikes. I personally love the Wide Glide also but with the 36 Degree rake they don't

handle as well. I personally had problems with the 103" motor. They run too hot. The 96" is my favorite twin cam. With the 6 speed trans they are the perfect cruiser.

 

Find a garage queen 2008 or later Dyna. 96", (103 is a drop-on), 6 speed , improved cam chain setup and the EFI is far better (actually totally different) than the pre-06. You've already found out what previous owners can do; I wouldn't touch an '06 for that reason, too many peculiarities and too many ways to address them. Wife and I have 2008's; many many happy miles. I last had a 2001 FXDXT; carbed. Nice bike but was getting too dated for extended touring.

 

Personally I wouldn’t buy a softail unless it was a 2018+. Twin cam softails are rather lame when it comes to actual spirited riding IMO.

like others have said 06+ dynas have hydraulic cam chain tensioners. But those tensioner shoes still wear too, and should still be monitored but needed in a less frequent schedule. Although when severely worn they don’t pose the catastrophic failure threat that the spring tensioners of the early TC’s do. But with aftermarket shoes the spring tensioners can be used without issue or there is always the upgrade to a hydraulic tensioner cam plate or gear drive cams. Which many older TC’s have already had done and some say the earlier TC’s are better built and have a better crank run out making it easier to run gear drive cams, eliminating the tensioner issue altogether.

 

I have Twin Cam softails and love them, I also have a Twin Cam Low rider .... As mentioned, the softails won't handle like your low rider... Different feeling motorcyles, but I like both..

I have two 88" with the cam tensioner issue. Once addressed they are great bikes, but some prefer the 6 speed in the 96"+ bikes

I also have two 103" twin cams post the cam tensioner issue and w/6-speeds..... I like them too..

I have: '01 Springer 88" Stage I w/carb / '03 Heritage 88" EFI w/big bore kit (95") & headwork / '16 Low Rider 103" w/ bolt-in cams / '16 Bagger w/124" crate engine making 135HP/151TQ

I also put 40K miles on an '89 Heritage w/ an EVO Stage I. That EVO was trouble free, but I am very comfortable with my twin cams also..

All the issues the twin cams had, now have solid fixes available, so I wouldn't let the various issues stop me from buying one. If they aren't addressed I'd use it as a price negotiating tool..

Off the top of my head...

'99 to '06 Dyna & '07 other bikes, had the spring cam tensioners... several ways to address the OEM tensioner pads, but IMHO, it will need to be done sooner than later as I believe age has caused several of the ones I replaced to pit badly, even with acceptable wear..

'06 to '14 compensator had compensator issues. They upgraded it in '06 and it was problematic and in a few cases a nightmare. The '14 update, while not perfect, is a solid, much less problematic performer to it's predecessors.

'07 to '10 auto primary chain tensioner was problematic. It could over tighten the primary chain and then cause collateral damage like to the inner primary/ trans shaft bearing. It was redesigned in 2010, and that version is much better than it's predecessor. It was updated again in 2020, but I don't know what improvements were made, if any.

There are few things I change if I am into the engine, but I wouldn't make a special trip into the engine just to change them, unless they were causing issues...

The Harley OEM inner cam bearings are INA brand cage bearings. The B-148 bearings in the 88" engines had some reported failures, that can be costly w/collateral damage. The 96" engines & up, B-168 bearings, seem to hold up better. There are formerly Torrington, now Koyo, brand captive needle bearings in both sizes, B-148 and B-168. They are considered by many to be a much better bearing, and straight across replacement for the OEM INA bearings. I switch to the Koyo bearings if I am ever in the cam chest for any reason.

The early 88" engines had breather assemblies that were either cast aluminum or plastic. They made an updated breather assembly that is stamped steel (#17025-03A) that is supposed to be superior to the previous two versions. Due to its lower profile and shorter bolts, it's also easier to get in and out of the rocker boxes when replacing them in frame. If I go into the rockers for any reason, I always put them back together with the newer breather assemblies. You can also get parts/gaskets to rebuild either the aluminum or stamped steel breathers, the plastic ones need to be cut open and glued back together... Since the new style are like $15 each, I opt for the new style, rather than rebuilding the old style.

The Harley lifters from '03 to '11 were the "B" lifters (#18538-99B) and considered to be a really good lifter. HD went to the "C" lifters (#18538-99C) around June of 2011. The "C" lifters are considered substandard by many, and total crap by more than a few. If you get an '11+ twin cam, and go into the cam chest, I always replace those lifters..

As you can tell, I'm a big fan of the Twin Cam. I have no need for an M8, as all my twin cams are well maintained and run very well..

 

Awesome guys thank you for all the information.

I greatly appreciate everyone on this forum helping out and giving good advice on the Twin Cam engine.

I think I will look more at the Dynas for a more spirited Harley ride as I prefer to do that a little more than the "Sunday" driver.

 

Awesome thank you and I am not going to get a loan. I prefer to pay cash for toys.

Thank you and the others for the advice.