Help me. 99 Dyna Super Glide...Pig slow.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
Bone stock motor ... huh ...?
If you said it had a cam change recently, I would suggest maybe the motor was 'sumping' ... that is a huge power drag ....
Sumping occurs when there is a bad seal (an O-ring) between the crankcase and the scavenging side of the oil pump .... The Twin Cam motor is a 'dry sump' design (there should not be more than about a cup of oil in the crankcase) ... you can also test that theory by pulling the drain plug on the bottom of the crankcase and seeing how much oil drains out ....
One of the other symptoms of sumping besides loss of power is poor gas mileage ... the loss of power from sumping is because the crank is acting like a paddlewheel ... it is also likened to trying to run waist-deep in water ....
* * *
It may well be a problem with the fuel system/carb ...
While it is possible the cam chain tensioner shoes are worn out, I don't think the primary symptom would be a loss of power ... you'd also probably notice hearing excessive noise from the cam chest ....
Good luck and let us know what it turns out to be once you isolate the cause ....
R/
'Chop
If you said it had a cam change recently, I would suggest maybe the motor was 'sumping' ... that is a huge power drag ....
Sumping occurs when there is a bad seal (an O-ring) between the crankcase and the scavenging side of the oil pump .... The Twin Cam motor is a 'dry sump' design (there should not be more than about a cup of oil in the crankcase) ... you can also test that theory by pulling the drain plug on the bottom of the crankcase and seeing how much oil drains out ....
One of the other symptoms of sumping besides loss of power is poor gas mileage ... the loss of power from sumping is because the crank is acting like a paddlewheel ... it is also likened to trying to run waist-deep in water ....
* * *
It may well be a problem with the fuel system/carb ...
While it is possible the cam chain tensioner shoes are worn out, I don't think the primary symptom would be a loss of power ... you'd also probably notice hearing excessive noise from the cam chest ....
Good luck and let us know what it turns out to be once you isolate the cause ....
R/
'Chop
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 521
Likes: 3
From: Colorado Springs, Co.
Well, little update, I pulled the cam cover off, and although the shoes are a tad bit worn, they aren't causing any issues, everything is still in time and it doesn't make a bit of noise, so I'm gonna leave those alone for now. I only got a few tablespoons of oil out of the bottom end too, so no O-ring problem.
Im leaning towards a fuel issue. My buddy is gonna come over and let me borrow the carb of his bagger for a few to see if anything changes, and before I do that, I'm gonna pull the petcock apart and clean all that really good.
Thing is though, it doesn't sound to me like a fuel starvation issue. The engine isn't misfiring at all, no coughs or sputters, doesn't miss a beat, it's just super weak. Sort of like, it feels like driving with a locked up brake, which, of course there isn't, but you get the idea.
It seems to me like its as though the ignition timing isn't being advanced at RPM.
I had an old 72 Chevy truck with the same issue. If the vacuum advance lost vacuum somehow, it would run idle and run great, but have zero power past mid range.
Have any of you guys heard of problems with the ignition module not advancing the timing? I wish I had one lying around to test it out.
Im leaning towards a fuel issue. My buddy is gonna come over and let me borrow the carb of his bagger for a few to see if anything changes, and before I do that, I'm gonna pull the petcock apart and clean all that really good.
Thing is though, it doesn't sound to me like a fuel starvation issue. The engine isn't misfiring at all, no coughs or sputters, doesn't miss a beat, it's just super weak. Sort of like, it feels like driving with a locked up brake, which, of course there isn't, but you get the idea.
It seems to me like its as though the ignition timing isn't being advanced at RPM.
I had an old 72 Chevy truck with the same issue. If the vacuum advance lost vacuum somehow, it would run idle and run great, but have zero power past mid range.
Have any of you guys heard of problems with the ignition module not advancing the timing? I wish I had one lying around to test it out.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 521
Likes: 3
From: Colorado Springs, Co.
Way ahead of you. I have 130-135 in both cylinders. SHould be plenty, and pretty damn good for a bike of this mileage as well. Leakdown is less than 3%.
I think I"m gonna bring this thing down the street and have it dynoed. It will be much easier to eliminate some issues that way.
This is driving me insane. My little Evo 883 can almost do wheelies and I can barely move on this Dyna. Just shouldn't be.
On that note, my HD dealer is an *******. Just because I didn't buy a new CVO Road Glide from them, they don't want to give me the time of day, even when I want to spend money there.
Are all dealers like this? They have this BS sense of entitlement, like, if you're not spending $40K that minute, you're not worth talking to.
I think I"m gonna bring this thing down the street and have it dynoed. It will be much easier to eliminate some issues that way.
This is driving me insane. My little Evo 883 can almost do wheelies and I can barely move on this Dyna. Just shouldn't be.
On that note, my HD dealer is an *******. Just because I didn't buy a new CVO Road Glide from them, they don't want to give me the time of day, even when I want to spend money there.
Are all dealers like this? They have this BS sense of entitlement, like, if you're not spending $40K that minute, you're not worth talking to.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
'99 FXD should be solid state ignition ... no vacuum advance (or centrifugal) to go bad ... just electrons ... hahaha (I know, man ... not funny!) ....
A couple of vendors with ignition modules are S&S and Accel ... probably a couple more if you look around ....
You might look into them once you isolate and solve your issue ... although it would be pretty lame to have to drop a couple hundred (or whatever those go for) to 'goose' your bike just back to 'adequate' performance ....
Have no experience with Harley carbs; but, is there an 'accelerator pump' ...? I forget what it was my dad and I were working on when I was a kid ... had horrible throttle response and the diaphram on the accel pump had a tear in it ....
Good luck and be sure to follow up ... so, anyone with a similar issue will be able to benefit from your experience ....
R/
'Chop
A couple of vendors with ignition modules are S&S and Accel ... probably a couple more if you look around ....
You might look into them once you isolate and solve your issue ... although it would be pretty lame to have to drop a couple hundred (or whatever those go for) to 'goose' your bike just back to 'adequate' performance ....
Have no experience with Harley carbs; but, is there an 'accelerator pump' ...? I forget what it was my dad and I were working on when I was a kid ... had horrible throttle response and the diaphram on the accel pump had a tear in it ....
Good luck and be sure to follow up ... so, anyone with a similar issue will be able to benefit from your experience ....
R/
'Chop
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 24
From: Minden LA
I just got this 99 FXD, on trade for a 93 Electra Glide I had. Here's the short. Bone stock engine, never been into, I got it from the original owner, 32,000 Miles, has V&H long shots on it.
The bike starts and idles excellent, and has very good low end torque, but ZERO high RPM power. I figured maybe the PO didn't re jet with the new pipes, it had a 175 main in it, I tried going up to a 190, and even a 200, no difference. The bike falls flat on its face after 3000 RPM, and i'm getting passed by Mini vans.
Ok, so maybe the stock air intake system is too restictive right? Upgraded to a K&N filter, drilled a bunch of holes in the air cleaner backing plate for more airflow. Still no change. I've tried a million different jet changes, moving the needle up and down the notches, no difference. It runs like a car with a clogged converter. I have to upshift into the next highest gear to maintain any speed.
Harley Dealer says this is normal for a TC88, I call BS, My Evo bagger and even my 883 Sporty would destroy this thing. Are these twin cams seriously that effing weak? I mean, it feels like it has 20 horsepower!
Am I going to have to cam this thing and change out the ignition module to advance the timing a little, just so I can get to the performance of a stock Sportster? WTF?
This can't be normal. Is it possible that the cam chain shoes could be so worn, as to allow the timing chain to stretch and retard the cam timing? Because that's exactly how it feel like it's running, with retarded cam timing (which, Im guessing would also retard the ignition timing)
I should mention there is no noise whatsoever from the bottom end.
Do you guys see failures of the stock igntion module, where it wont advance the timing anymore?
Any help would be appreciated.
The bike starts and idles excellent, and has very good low end torque, but ZERO high RPM power. I figured maybe the PO didn't re jet with the new pipes, it had a 175 main in it, I tried going up to a 190, and even a 200, no difference. The bike falls flat on its face after 3000 RPM, and i'm getting passed by Mini vans.
Ok, so maybe the stock air intake system is too restictive right? Upgraded to a K&N filter, drilled a bunch of holes in the air cleaner backing plate for more airflow. Still no change. I've tried a million different jet changes, moving the needle up and down the notches, no difference. It runs like a car with a clogged converter. I have to upshift into the next highest gear to maintain any speed.
Harley Dealer says this is normal for a TC88, I call BS, My Evo bagger and even my 883 Sporty would destroy this thing. Are these twin cams seriously that effing weak? I mean, it feels like it has 20 horsepower!
Am I going to have to cam this thing and change out the ignition module to advance the timing a little, just so I can get to the performance of a stock Sportster? WTF?
This can't be normal. Is it possible that the cam chain shoes could be so worn, as to allow the timing chain to stretch and retard the cam timing? Because that's exactly how it feel like it's running, with retarded cam timing (which, Im guessing would also retard the ignition timing)
I should mention there is no noise whatsoever from the bottom end.
Do you guys see failures of the stock igntion module, where it wont advance the timing anymore?
Any help would be appreciated.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 98
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From: Oregon
Like someone said earlier, I would check the slide diaphram for a tiny hole. The slide will open enough at idle and lower RPM's, but not enough to pass enough air when the butterfly is opened further. Essentially you have a very rich condition at higher RPM's.