Twinkie.....

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Apr 18, 2007 | 08:42 PM

#11

pococj

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 11,068

Likes: 1,477

From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?

RE: Twinkie.....

Cast-in main bearing race. A cast-in race means big bucks to repair, instead of just pressing out/pressing in a new race. Usually the crankcase will simply be trashed as it's not economical to repair.

Chain drive cams with a tensioner. Timing is sloppy, varying up to 4 degrees. Tensioner wear seems to follow no apparent cause/effect schedule, with some going well over 60k miles, and some dumpingat 20k miles.

No tappet blocks; they're part of the engine cases. When they wear out you might be able to go oversize once, but then after that it's new engine cases.

Heads are a good design, but don't breathe as well as needed if you get into much motor mods. That means more expense.

Connecting rods have no races so they're not rebuildable.

These are the reasons I wrote what I did about a "throwaway" engine. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of really good things about the Twinkie motor, but I'm just wondering what we'll see down the road, 30 years from now. My point is, in my opinion (and we all know about how they smell), there are too many non-rebuildable parts on this engine. And I will admit that some of these may turn out to be overblown, but we'll have to wait and see about that. And since I'm over 50 I may never find out!

Apr 18, 2007 | 09:07 PM

#12

Tnicean

Tourer

Joined: Mar 2006

Posts: 341

Likes: 0

From: Richmond, VA

RE: Twinkie.....

I reckon when my motor wears out I will get a new factory replacement. I have 32K now and expect it will go 100K. I like the fact that I park it and no oil spots, ever. I have ridden it hard on the slab going 80+ for hours on end and no problems. Gas it up and hit the starter and go. 7K miles last summer on one trip and no issues. It may be a throw-away but I think it will last a good long time. I did just replace the tensioners and will probably go to gear drive or the new chains when I go back into the cam chest. I now have all the tools so going to gear drive (if my run out is ok - haven't checked it) next time and it won't be so expensive.
Tnicean

Apr 19, 2007 | 10:41 AM

#13

shvlhead

Intermediate

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 49

Likes: 0

From:

RE: Twinkie.....

Quote:

ORIGINAL: ultraultra

Around these parts a "twinkie" is a rump ranger..... I ain't going anywhere NEAR that!!

Man your right, Ive never heard it reference to a bike before.

Apr 19, 2007 | 12:11 PM

#14

BadBobOk

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 7,773

Likes: 7

From: Central Oklahoma

RE: Twinkie.....

Quote:

ORIGINAL: ultraultra

Around these parts a "twinkie" is a rump ranger..... I ain't going anywhere NEAR that!!

Apr 19, 2007 | 01:30 PM

#15

wingt50dw

Road Master

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 804

Likes: 0

From: Tuscaloosa, AL

RE: Twinkie.....

My evo loves to eat twinkies.

Apr 19, 2007 | 04:36 PM

#16

89FLHT

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 2,379

Likes: 226

RE: Twinkie.....

I've heard them called Twinkies since they first came out.

Apr 19, 2007 | 04:39 PM

#17

Storm 4 U

Banned

Joined: Apr 2007

Posts: 1,226

Likes: 1

From:

RE: Twinkie.....

My Evo likes to eat my own Twinkie (Night Train) just haven't gotten around to doing the 107" build yet

Apr 19, 2007 | 04:44 PM

#18

zukeeper

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 4,053

Likes: 5

From: Southern IL

RE: Twinkie.....

Quote:

ORIGINAL: 89FLHT

I've heard them called Twinkies since they first came out.

yep , harley folk are quck to nickname engines LOL I've heard the term since almost day one. I agree with poco , built like a bic lighter, shovelheads and evos more like a zippo