Help me. 99 Dyna Super Glide...Pig slow.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 521
Likes: 3
From: Colorado Springs, Co.
Help me. 99 Dyna Super Glide...Pig slow.
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.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: Where Uncle Sam tells me to live!
i think you could have hit the nail on the head on this one. it could in fact be the chain tensioner for the cams and/or the primary chain. what you have in there are the old spring tentioner. harley went to automatic hydraulic tensioner in... '07? either way i think that could in fact be the issue.
but to answer your initial question... hell NO that isnt the stock performance. you should be passing sportys and mini vans... not the other way around!
but to answer your initial question... hell NO that isnt the stock performance. you should be passing sportys and mini vans... not the other way around!
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 521
Likes: 3
From: Colorado Springs, Co.
Vance and Hines Long shots, no baffles, which yes, will affect low RPM torque, but should have no effect on high RPM power!
I actually tried temporarily installing some baffles, made it quiet, but didn't help the performance.
And THANK YOU!! I told my HD dealer to pound sand. I've ridden alot of Harleys and no way this is normal HP. I'm gonna pull the cam cover off to inspect everything.
I actually tried temporarily installing some baffles, made it quiet, but didn't help the performance.
And THANK YOU!! I told my HD dealer to pound sand. I've ridden alot of Harleys and no way this is normal HP. I'm gonna pull the cam cover off to inspect everything.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: Where Uncle Sam tells me to live!
Vance and Hines Long shots, no baffles, which yes, will affect low RPM torque, but should have no effect on high RPM power!
I actually tried temporarily installing some baffles, made it quiet, but didn't help the performance.
And THANK YOU!! I told my HD dealer to pound sand. I've ridden alot of Harleys and no way this is normal HP. I'm gonna pull the cam cover off to inspect everything.
I actually tried temporarily installing some baffles, made it quiet, but didn't help the performance.
And THANK YOU!! I told my HD dealer to pound sand. I've ridden alot of Harleys and no way this is normal HP. I'm gonna pull the cam cover off to inspect everything.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: Lancs, England
Given the age of the bike I'd check the rubber diaphragm in the carb hasn't perished and gotten itself a small hole in it. It would be the first port of call for me before I spent serious cash tearing anything else down if it was my bike
Derv
P.S - my 2002 88 twin cam pulls like a steam train, so no it's not normal to get the power you describe- just typical HD dealer bullsh*t
Derv
P.S - my 2002 88 twin cam pulls like a steam train, so no it's not normal to get the power you describe- just typical HD dealer bullsh*t
Last edited by Derv; Jan 8, 2011 at 06:46 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 52
From: Ottawa Canada
+1 on the carb diaghfram, could be the float is not set up right , therefore not getting enough fuel, just some thoughts
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Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
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From: along the shore of Mishigami
While you are working the carb, check the fuel petcock strainer/filter see if its not clogged. Then check the vent hole in the fuel cap, this enables fuel to flow freely. If the vent vent dirty /clogged it causes a vacuum in the tank hampering fuel flow.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 1
From: A house.
You can spend a lot of time checkin' a lot of things and still come up with nothing. Why not take it to a tuner and put it on a dyno? If he's worth a damn, he'll know in minutes what's normal, what's not and where the issue is. Then take it home and fix what's wrong. You'll get the seat of your pants improvement a lot quicker.