I'm looking at a1998 Road glide with a 96" kit. Is this a good set-up. Owner says was install by a HD dealership.

 

If it is stocked cased it can be good or can be bad, good is it has a S&S flywheel and if the cases held up it is good. Bad is cases crack because the cylinder spigot bore is thin, the 98 cases are good ones but wasn't intended for this set up but can live. If it is a 96" S&S cased engine then it is a good set up unless the engine was abused, if you trust the seller then it is good but sure would like to see some receipts.

 

How much? Price can dictate a lot when it comes to bikes like this. Often times the seller thinks the bike should sell for retail PLUS the dollar-for-dollar value of all mods added up, which is total bullshit. 25 cents on the dollar is lucky to get.

Also, I don't know of a single HD dealership that does case boring so I'm skeptical of his backstory.

 

I've had that exact setup with the cylinders and pistons. It's pretty solid. but you're limited to what the flat top piston can produce compression wise. I believe it was 9.5-6:1 static. with an 83 cc head. The biggest issue is, was it balanced?. Hopefully S&S did a good job with their kit... As for the cases, that shouldn't be an issue. If you want more compression then you'll have to go with smaller combustion chambers cause no one except Axtell makes hi comp pistons for that setup which are the 30* pistons and that requires a lot of work that I don't think is worth it... Been there done that.... Best used as a touring motor which the Road Glide is.. Depending on miles and condition could be a very good setup, if tuned properly... An 89"er is probably the most reliable build in the evo platform...Pic's and prices?

 

I've always heard that an 89" stroker should be the max for stock HD cases. But I really know nothing about it. It would be of interest to see what all was done, and by whom.

Off topic: With the cost of complete drop in engines versus building one, I'd probably just move on to that. But I'm perfectly pleased with the performance of my slightly warmed over 80" EVO. If it ever does 'blow up', I can see a new S&S engine being swapped in.

 

Spoke to Axtell on spigot bore and they said a late model Evo case can handle their big bore cylinders with the 4 5/8 flywheel making the 106" I'm not going to buy into it but they most likely see some of them.

 

Care to share what mods you did to yours?

 

EV27 cam, SE air cleaner, Dyna ignition, 'street ported' heads, Thunderheader, and a tuned CV carb.

 

It's true. You have to bore the case spigot hole out to 4.010" but it technically fits. That's what I did, although I used an S&S crankcase instead of that cheese-cast Harley crankcase.

Now keeping the pistons cool enough from scuffing the cylinder walls on highway cruising is another debacle all together...

 

Ya, don't see the Harley case holding up and the S&S or Delkron would be the ticket. Was looking into a 106" but John Sach's said it takes too much work to make a set of Harley heads work for a 106" and I won't question him.

Was the cylinders Axtell?