when is it time to worry
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Stage IV
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: kansas
when is it time to worry
been hanging around for awhile,thought I would finally post. My 1994 electraglide has 90k miles top end has been done. just wondering when major engine failure,or ignition, failure is likely? all my friends are riding twin cams,but I like the old glide,has character.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
been hanging around for awhile,thought I would finally post. My 1994 electraglide has 90k miles top end has been done. just wondering when major engine failure,or ignition, failure is likely? all my friends are riding twin cams,but I like the old glide,has character.
Two things will help you decide when Evogeddon is imminent.
- Excess oil consumption
- Metal filings in your oil filter (cut them open when you change the oil and look for lots of shiny particles)
Thread Starter
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Stage IV
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: kansas
spanner,thanks for the info.I am going to start cutting the filters now. I realize ignition type failures are hard to predict.I am from the old school,when shovels and iron heads broke down on most trips. I just thought if at 110k or ? coils seem to fail,or modules. I would replace it now.All the twin cams I ride with,I think the most miles has 15,000. Bertha just keeps going! cant afford a $25 thousand dollar bike!! not sure I want one.if it breaks,off to the dealer.I can still wrench on mine.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
spanner,thanks for the info.I am going to start cutting the filters now. I realize ignition type failures are hard to predict.I am from the old school,when shovels and iron heads broke down on most trips. I just thought if at 110k or ? coils seem to fail,or modules. I would replace it now.All the twin cams I ride with,I think the most miles has 15,000. Bertha just keeps going! cant afford a $25 thousand dollar bike!! not sure I want one.if it breaks,off to the dealer.I can still wrench on mine.
There is no pattern to electrical failure, I have seen modules and coils go 20+ years and I've seen them fail within weeks.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
been hanging around for awhile,thought I would finally post. My 1994 electraglide has 90k miles top end has been done. just wondering when major engine failure,or ignition, failure is likely? all my friends are riding twin cams,but I like the old glide,has character.
Look after it, service it well and enjoy the ride! Stop worrying about something that may never happen. We'll be here if it does.......
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 856
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
There is a guy here that put well over 400,000 miles on his EVO. He used Fram filers and non-HD oil. My indie guy said that the only time anyone had been in his engine was for a cam bearing. The story goes that the MoCo took his bike in trade for a brand new bike. Apparently they wanted to tear it down to see what was going on in there. His bike was stock or nearly so. It was an FLHTC. I wish I could remember the guys name. When I do I'll add a link to the web page for him. His bike was named "Charlie". I also seem to remember that it was a 1986 or 1987. My indie guy says that the less performance modification you do the farther it will go without breaking something.
For example, he says that if you want to go the maximum distance on your bike leave the stock cams alone. He says that the hotter cams create more stress on the entire drive train. That stress adds up over the years. Not that he is downing hot rodding your Harley. Not at all. He loves a hotrod like the next guy. But, he says a stock Harley (most of them) will go a long, long way with little repair. On mine I tossed the butterfly carb and added a Killer CV, SE air cleaner and mufflers. He said that that would give me more power without having much impact on the longivity of the drivetrain. Since I want to ride as many trouble free years as possible I'm stopping there.
My engine was refurbished at the MoCo in 2004-05 (winter). The refurb has about 30,000-ish on it and the rest of the bike is getting pretty close to 100,000 miles. I plan to ride it into the distant future. The only thing I'm not clear on is the drive belt. They replaced the swing arm bushings in 04-05 so I assume that they would replace the belt.
For example, he says that if you want to go the maximum distance on your bike leave the stock cams alone. He says that the hotter cams create more stress on the entire drive train. That stress adds up over the years. Not that he is downing hot rodding your Harley. Not at all. He loves a hotrod like the next guy. But, he says a stock Harley (most of them) will go a long, long way with little repair. On mine I tossed the butterfly carb and added a Killer CV, SE air cleaner and mufflers. He said that that would give me more power without having much impact on the longivity of the drivetrain. Since I want to ride as many trouble free years as possible I'm stopping there.
My engine was refurbished at the MoCo in 2004-05 (winter). The refurb has about 30,000-ish on it and the rest of the bike is getting pretty close to 100,000 miles. I plan to ride it into the distant future. The only thing I'm not clear on is the drive belt. They replaced the swing arm bushings in 04-05 so I assume that they would replace the belt.
Last edited by falconbrother; Mar 14, 2014 at 09:08 AM.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 306
Likes: 7
From: Somewhere, PA
All good advice above. Evos are a great, dependable motor. I would use winters to make sure your bearings are in good order, greased, and changed as necessary (wheel, neck, and swingarm). If you have never changed out the cam bearing, it would be a great project to do as you are replacing the lifters (if those lifters are stock, GREAT, but I would be swapping them to avoid a failure taking out any major parts). At that age and miles, the heat has started to harden up and melt away some of the electrical wires and connections. Keep an eye on all that you can visibly see and replace connectors, wires, etc. when necessary. It's not hard, and can save you from sitting on the side of the road on a hot summer day. Also might want to take a look at how much slack you have on the primary chain (I think most Evos usually like around 5/8") and adjust as necessary, and while you're in there take a look at the primary chain adjustment shoe. Sometimes they wear out (kinda like Twinkie cam tensioners, only not near as bad or near as quickly) and need replaced.
Other than things like above and others have mentioned, keep up with the regular maintenance and keep riding the old girl! Love to see Evos and Shovels still pounding the pavement!
Other than things like above and others have mentioned, keep up with the regular maintenance and keep riding the old girl! Love to see Evos and Shovels still pounding the pavement!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,324
Likes: 3,869
From: Upstate New York
I have about 91,000 miles on my current motor. All stock inside (Mikuni carb and modded exhaust). Bike still has good compression, no more oil consumption than it ever did. I do change the lifters and inner cam bearing at 40K intervals, because a failed lifter cost me the first motor.
I had and oil analysis done at the end of last season, and everything was in the nominal range for a much younger motor. How much longer will it run? I have no idea.
I had and oil analysis done at the end of last season, and everything was in the nominal range for a much younger motor. How much longer will it run? I have no idea.