I haven't been riding for some years but have owned 4 Harleys in the past. My sleeping passion forthemhas now been awakened and I'm looking for some wheels. I'm looking to find a RK from around late 90's to early 2000s. I really like the Evo's but have also been finding some reallynice and intact original Shovelhead FLs. The evo engines look to be so pristine. When I'm looking at early EvosI don't even see any oil stains or leaks at all and I'd prefer owning 1 of them. My concern however, is that I've heard some comments from some posters in this forum who have mentioned cam bearing failures in models from 1999 to 2003? I'm notsure if that is correct or which yearsmay have had those problems but it has me concerned. I don't have a lot of cash (and likely won't ever haveany excess) anda major engine failure could wipe me out as I'll be maxed out making payments and paying high insurance premiums etc. It would also break my heart and take me off the road for the summer. Can anyone confirm any bearing problems? I would really appreciate some comments or links to info about it.

 

i'd have to say if the bearing hasn't gone by now it won't in the near future. Most all of the cam bearings have been replaced by a recall Harley had back then....

 

Twin Cam engines had the cam bearing problems, not the EVO's. Last of the EVO's was 1998 (1999 for softails).

 

what ride99fxd says is correct. the problem was in twins cam 1999 to late 2000. When I was looking to purchase, I took the vin number and went here http://www.harley-davidson.com/EX/MN...bmLocale=en_US. If the bike was maintained by a dealer it will be shown, if the orwner states he did his own maintance then ask him for receipts.

 

Thanksmuchly. I thought the Twin Cams were still considered to be Evos. Now I know there is a distinction between Evos and Twin Cams. As far as the bearings go, I'm gratefull for pointing me to the Harley site to research the vin nmbr. I wouldn't have found that on my own. Anyhow, I'm not as ambivalent about it as I was yesterday before your replies.