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I read an article that In had printed from some internet forum some time ago, but just read it a few days ago. It basically says that HD went to the Twin Cam engine not due to any deficientcies in the Evo, but because HD hadn't properly protected the design of the EVO with patents. So S&S and others were able to use the EVO design and produce their own versions legally. So HD designed the Twin Cam and did the legal steps to protect the design in the process. It also says that there were quite a few delays in releasing the Twin Cam motors due to too high of operating temperatures and some oiling problems. It said the Twin Cam does have a better oil pump and better oiling then the Evo. I hadn't heard this before.
I heard this also. In fact MoCo was going to put oil coolers standard on the Twinkies because they ran too hot and they couldn't get the temperatures down. Management axed that idea because they didn't want it to appear as a design flaw where they motor ran too hot and had to have an oil cooler. Turns out the issue was the oil squirters that sprayed oil on the piston skirts to cool down the pistons some. They were dumping a lot of oil on the pistons and all it was really doing was raising the oil temp. They cut down on the amount of oil being sprayed on the pistons and that lowered the oil temp. They still run a whole lot hotter than an Evo though. My girlfriend has a 2004 Sporty which was the first year they put oil squirters in the Evo Sportster. Her bike runs really hot as well.
I've heard folks refer to Twincams as "Fatheads", but only in writing, never out loud.
The Twin Cam is regularly called a "Twinkie" too.
Originally Posted by Brettfullthrottle
The last year of the shovel was actually 1984. In 1984 they released a very few police models.
1984 also had the FLH Electra Glide with the Shovel and 4 Speed Transmission. It was the first time the Shovelhead came with the belt drive on the ridge mount motor frame on the Electra Glide. Before the Sturgis had a final belt drive.
Actually, the last year of the Shovel was 1985, though the production run listed from Harley is 1966-84. Harley doesn't consider the 1985's that were sold to the Police agency's who were under contract, to be part of a different year production run since all the bikes sold in 1985 were built with (and identical too) the 1984 bikes. But the fact remains that there are a few 1985 Harley Shovelheads that are properly titled as 1985's. They show up on ebay and Craig's list every so often. Sellers that have half a wit are able to keep and maintain the correct paper trail, showing them as police service bikes, tend to get a premium for them. If the title says 1985... its a 1985.