Old Evo
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2005
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Old Evo
Some questions for the group. I'm seriously thinking of buying a 1986 Touring FLHTC with 50,000 miles on it. It has had new rings and top end gaskets, and a Mikuni carb, but aside from that nothing else. Looks to be well maintained, no rust or leaks that I can detect. What should I be on the look out for/problems with the old Evos, and if I buy it what should I have done to it, if anything, to avoid problems in the future. Thanks for any and all input.
TedMan
TedMan
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 12
From: Arizona
only thing would be the price. 86 id say 5-6 thousand. after all today you can pick 2002 and newer for $10,000.00 and for the four thousand more youd be getting much more bike, so thats why i figure the 5-6 for a 86.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,376
Likes: 2,573
From: NC USA
But a few of the complaints about Evos you may hear are; leaking cylinder base gaskets, bad lifters, swingarm bushings that can flex enough to cause less than perfect handling and electrical system deficiencies that can cause some minor problems (which can be said of any older machine). There are a few others, but they are year model specific regarding engine cases and cam bearings, none of which apply to the '86.
Enjoy your new ride and welcome to the Evo side...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,195
Likes: 3,085
From: NW AR
I don't consider 86 "old."
Anyway, by now and 50K miles, any minor BS problems it might have like the base gaskets has been taken care of. That one already has ditched the POS OEM carb. 50K might be getting near time for a clutch, and look at the belt condition. But these are normal wear items. The only really recurrent issue I've had has been the speedo cable and sender, and I'm doing OK with my genuine HD parts on there right now. Oh, and look at the crossover exhaust pipe coming off the rear cylinder. They shatter under the cover. You can't see it and it will give you problems. Ask me how I know. Also unobtainium now, so you have to swap the exhaust out to a new twinky system as shown in the above pic. I could post my full maintenance log for the past 24 years. It's mostly oil changes, tire changes, and a new battery every 2-3 years plus the speedo cable/sender as mentioned.
Anyway, by now and 50K miles, any minor BS problems it might have like the base gaskets has been taken care of. That one already has ditched the POS OEM carb. 50K might be getting near time for a clutch, and look at the belt condition. But these are normal wear items. The only really recurrent issue I've had has been the speedo cable and sender, and I'm doing OK with my genuine HD parts on there right now. Oh, and look at the crossover exhaust pipe coming off the rear cylinder. They shatter under the cover. You can't see it and it will give you problems. Ask me how I know. Also unobtainium now, so you have to swap the exhaust out to a new twinky system as shown in the above pic. I could post my full maintenance log for the past 24 years. It's mostly oil changes, tire changes, and a new battery every 2-3 years plus the speedo cable/sender as mentioned.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Pocatello
HR351 is correct about the pricing. Definitely not more than $6K.
The good: The early Evo engines ('84-'89) are considered the best Evo's made. Bear in mind, this is just an opinion! They essentially had a Shovel lower end with Evo jugs and heads. The crank breather is/was the same as a Shovel (vented through the lower end, not the heads via an umbrella valve like later models). The early Evo's also have a reinforcement for the crankshaft bearing set in the left side case. Later versions didn't have that. If the mileage stated is correct and it just had an upper end done, that engine will (should) last another 50K without missing a beat. Don't let "high mileage" scare you away. A low mileage Evo is getting as rare as a barn find Knucklehead.
The potentially bad: If it has the stock ignition, I'd ditch it. I had an '85 FXEF and had some drivability issues that all cleared up once I dumped the OEM ignition for an aftermarket one. I went with a Dyna S dual fire because of simplicity and cost but there are many more choices today.
I'd go over the wiring harness. With a bike that old the wiring will tend to get brittle, conductors will get corrosion creeping into them, contacts in switches get corroded; you get the idea. I'd just look it over carefully for those types of indicators.
One last thing....take a look through an aftermarket catalog for those parts that you may be changing and ensure that they still have what will fit on your bike. That's a good way to figure out 'what fits what'.
Good luck with it!!
The good: The early Evo engines ('84-'89) are considered the best Evo's made. Bear in mind, this is just an opinion! They essentially had a Shovel lower end with Evo jugs and heads. The crank breather is/was the same as a Shovel (vented through the lower end, not the heads via an umbrella valve like later models). The early Evo's also have a reinforcement for the crankshaft bearing set in the left side case. Later versions didn't have that. If the mileage stated is correct and it just had an upper end done, that engine will (should) last another 50K without missing a beat. Don't let "high mileage" scare you away. A low mileage Evo is getting as rare as a barn find Knucklehead.
The potentially bad: If it has the stock ignition, I'd ditch it. I had an '85 FXEF and had some drivability issues that all cleared up once I dumped the OEM ignition for an aftermarket one. I went with a Dyna S dual fire because of simplicity and cost but there are many more choices today.
I'd go over the wiring harness. With a bike that old the wiring will tend to get brittle, conductors will get corrosion creeping into them, contacts in switches get corroded; you get the idea. I'd just look it over carefully for those types of indicators.
One last thing....take a look through an aftermarket catalog for those parts that you may be changing and ensure that they still have what will fit on your bike. That's a good way to figure out 'what fits what'.
Good luck with it!!
Novice
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Coulterville IL
I don't consider 86 "old."
Anyway, by now and 50K miles, any minor BS problems it might have like the base gaskets has been taken care of. That one already has ditched the POS OEM carb. 50K might be getting near time for a clutch, and look at the belt condition. But these are normal wear items. The only really recurrent issue I've had has been the speedo cable and sender, and I'm doing OK with my genuine HD parts on there right now. Oh, and look at the crossover exhaust pipe coming off the rear cylinder. They shatter under the cover. You can't see it and it will give you problems. Ask me how I know. Also unobtainium now, so you have to swap the exhaust out to a new twinky system as shown in the above pic. I could post my full maintenance log for the past 24 years. It's mostly oil changes, tire changes, and a new battery every 2-3 years plus the speedo cable/sender as mentioned.
Anyway, by now and 50K miles, any minor BS problems it might have like the base gaskets has been taken care of. That one already has ditched the POS OEM carb. 50K might be getting near time for a clutch, and look at the belt condition. But these are normal wear items. The only really recurrent issue I've had has been the speedo cable and sender, and I'm doing OK with my genuine HD parts on there right now. Oh, and look at the crossover exhaust pipe coming off the rear cylinder. They shatter under the cover. You can't see it and it will give you problems. Ask me how I know. Also unobtainium now, so you have to swap the exhaust out to a new twinky system as shown in the above pic. I could post my full maintenance log for the past 24 years. It's mostly oil changes, tire changes, and a new battery every 2-3 years plus the speedo cable/sender as mentioned.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
I bought my 1990 FLHS new and had a few problems early on, but the replacements have all held up, I haven't had any repeat problems. Those sorts of thing should be done and dusted by now. I don't think there is anything we can't fix between us on your 'new' bike! Keep us up to date on developments and post pics.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,195
Likes: 3,085
From: NW AR
Lifters have probably been replaced too, but they go out by then on all Evos. I did mine at about 70K miles, and the cam was trashed then too so I put an EV1 in. 86 does not have the "bad" inner cam bearing.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 288
Wow, thanks all for replying so quickly. I very much appreciate your perspective and advice on pricing. I looked up Kelly Blu Book and you guys were right on, about 6,000. I'm going to give this serious consideration. Thanks again.
TedMan
TedMan