Not in my experience - makes it a real b1tch to ride! Would probably need an ignition system that doesn't need a VOES, so that it can run right. Having owned a new shovel, what made it run in that destinctive way was the poor carb! Mine would 4-stroke on the front cylinder, but 8-stroke on the rear. I could, with a lot of effort, get it to run just right, but it wouldn't stay like that for long.

 

So if i put a VOES on my shovel, will it sound like an Evo?

 

They used to make a kit to put a micro switch on the carb...to turn off the VOES at idle...worked normally as soon as you gave it throttle.

 

All a VOES is gonna do is move the spark timing at idle. Disconnect the switch and your timing will fire closer to TDC, which would in turn lower your idle speed.

Also, not sure you can just "add a VOES" without making sure your ignition is capable of receiving that input to make timing adjustments based on engine vacuum.

 

Matt, If your referring to me i was only being a little sarcastic.... I have a complete late 90's Screaming eagle ignition module with a Standard Motor Product hall effect pickup in my 77 shovel... I didn't want to add the actual VOES because I don't want an actual vacuum operated switch or my ignition timing to advance at idle.. Just wanted it selectable for when on the road....

 

Fair enough. I was mostly just thinking out loud. With all the talk about Shovelheads, I wasn't sure if the VOES went back that far.

 

Is your 99 fuel injected? I've always thought that the carb bikes sound better than the fuel injected bikes. More like a Harley!

 

It's in the cam.. Fuel injected bike use a different cam than the carbed bikes...

 

If an engine is on the verge of stall at an idle, the idle needs to come up.
The gear-driven pumps, move oil in direct relation to engine rpm.
Scott

 

In fact some of the carb bikes had different cams for the same reasons as the EFI bikes, namely the imposition of different standards of environmental regulations. Our carb Evos had a new cam in 1990 and again in 1993 I believe.