Having a discussion about HD and the engine purported to have saved the company. Was the Evolution Engine an in-house design or were their outside designers? Friend of mine says there was some outsourcing from Japan on the engine. Wanted to know if that was true or not. Any sources would be appreciated.

SK

 

In-house design, with pistons developed by Mahle, a German company. Sourced from Harley-Davidson Evolution Motorcycles by Greg Field.

 

Thanks man! Apologies to everyone if I posted this in the wrong forum.

 

I have a distinct recollection from back in the day that beyond the piston design there was also some German influence with manufacturing processes involved.

 

Porche I believe designed the top end.

 

The top end was done entirely in-house, except for the pistons, with influences from American auto engineering (of all places). Porsche had a big hand in the developement of the vrod engine, and, I think, in the failed watercooled v4 (the Nova project.).

 

BTW, the manufacturing processes were the idea of W. Edwards Deming, adapted to motorcycle production by the Japanese, and readapted by Harley as their MAN (Materials As Needed) system.