.....wrenching on this bike myself. I don't like forking out hard earned $$$ to the dealer for maintenance. Yeah there are things that I can't do, like internal motor work, but that's mainly because I don't have the tools. Basic maintenance including tire replacements is pretty simple and saves me cash. I've read most of the EFI posts and they are great, but I can take my carb. off, put it back on again, and ride. Don't know if I could say the same for the FI bikes. I just know this bike, taught myself how to wrench on it (and a Evo. Sportster), and I'm comfortable around it. That's one thing I like about it, and myself, over a lot of the "new bikers".

 

Same here,I stick with the simple stuff though.Clutches,carbs,etc.

 

Yep, do all the routine maintenance myself. Some things I don't want to do, but...I've had independent shops do motor work and I have not been pleased with the outcome. Next time....I'll tear it apart and rebuild it myself.

 

I just bought a new Sportster and will be doing the work myself. $90 per hour? No way. Plus, I like getting to know my bike. One trip to the dealer for a 1000 mile service costs more than all of the "special" tools I need to do full servicing. Just my 2 cents, but wanted to let the Classic folks know that not all of the "new guys" can't tell the open end from the closed end of a wrench.

 

Yeah, that's why I said, "OVER A LOT OF THE NEW BIKERS."

 

Cosmo, I agree completely... I LOVE my old '95 Evo FLHTP! The Evo is a partically bulletproof engine - very forgiving and reliable. Frankly, I didn't know much about Harleys before I got it, but I've read tons of stuff since then. I bought a great book on Evo bikes, and I'm very glad I ended up with an Evo and not a TC. I do a lot of stuff on it myself because I've had bikes for a long time and I am fortunate to be "mechanically inclined"... or maybe just INTERESTED in things mechanical. I like to work on my bike as much as I like to ride it. The old Evos are quite amenable to that - much more so than TCs probably are.

I've replaced the pipes, etc, and rejetted and tuned my carb. I'm glad I have a carb and not EFI. It's just simpler, and I'm not trying to build the ultimate torque monster anyway. I just want a peppy ride!

I am also fortunate to have a good Harley shop near me that I've taken the bike to for tire changes, etc. It's never been to the "stealer"! Most stealers don't have many people who even know much about Evos anymore anyway, and the old guys I take my bike to have been around for 40 years and know the old bikes really well. They also charge only $30/hour shop time!

This winter I'm planning to put in an EV-27 cam myself. I've been doing a lot of research about cams lately, and from what I've read here and elsewhere on the net, it seems to best one of the best choice for improving the low-end to midrange torque on a heavy bagger like mine, for a nominal investment of time and money. I will probably just cut the stock pushrods out and put in a chrome moly adjustable set.

I'm also *thinking* about a set of SE heads as well. From what I've read, they are quite good vs. spending the bucks to mill and possibly port my stockers, but I have the black engine and black SE head cost more than the silver ones. Decision, decisions! There's so much info about heads out there that it gets confusing! I would like to know what others think about them. Probably should go do some searches here!

 

NGH, talk about digging an old thread up, LOL.

Thanks for the comments and there's a ton of good info in this section on evo's to help with about anything you want to do. Got back a little bit ago from a test run after repacking bearings and replacing tires on mine. Did the oil in the plastic sandwich bag trick to lubricate the clutch cable too, and it feels smoother than before. The longer I ride this bike the more I love it.

Thanks to all the old wrenchers that post here. Your knowledge does not go unnoticed.

Good luck with your cam change, etc. NorthGeorgiaHawg.

 

Wrenching is great. Love to do that and have done it since I was 12 or 13 and I am now 66 years old. I still love to screw on the bike. That is useing the screwdriver!!!

 

Thanks, Cosmo! From everything I've read about changing cams, it's no big deal. The EV-27 seems to be a good choice for my bike and riding style. I like to get ON it! I really want to see how much the cam plus the SE heads will help.

I was on the bike for FIVE HOURS today, with my 15-year-old daughter on the back! She LOVES riding! We had a BLAST riding in the mountains, and stopped a good friend's house for a bit along the way. Got pretty chilly coming back at dusk, tho... just got back and we're warming up now. I told her that if she's gonna be a biker babe, she's gonna have to learn to put up with a little discomfort! She did pretty good tho... didn't complain!

 

From what I've read on here the EV-27 is a very good cam, especially for the heavier touring bikes. There's one in my bike (I personally make up the weight differential of a tourer, hehehe) and can vouch for it. It's a pretty good stump puller and above 2500 rpm it comes on real good. Others on here are way more knowledgable than me but I'd suggest changing lifters, and for sure changing the inner cam bearing to the torrington. Guy I know has the SE heads on his evo. and they rock.

Should be a bit warmer and better riding tomorrow.