96 Overheating and seizing up?
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: the Iron Range
RE: 96 Overheating and seizing up?
It's easy to get caught up in all the latest hype on the boards, done it and started second guessing myself. Not worth it, gotta take every comment with a grain of salt...mine included.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 1
From: Rockies
RE: 96 Overheating and seizing up?
As everyone notes, it is hype and exaggeration. FWIW, the latest Harley Enthusiast magazine notes the issue, and mentions reports are almost entirely from a few E-Glide riders with the fairing lowers, sitting in traffic, on a very hot day. Duh. On my Ducati in those kinds of conditions, with the underseat exhaust, I could fry some eggsand sausage on the tail while waiting for the traffic to move.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,613
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
RE: 96 Overheating and seizing up?
Well spoken.
ORIGINAL: Hammer02
I haven't heard of a single one siezing up.
The problems with the 07s have been so grossly overexagerated that it is bordering on stupid.
I haven't heard of a single one siezing up.
The problems with the 07s have been so grossly overexagerated that it is bordering on stupid.
Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
RE: 96 Overheating and seizing up?
Same bore, different stroke.I belive when you go to 3 7/8 bore you get 103 cubes.3 7/8 is the bore that takes an 88 to 95.You can go to 103 with an 88 but you have to punch the cases for the longer stroke from the rods.I might be wrong about that, but you do have to use longer rods.By the way, Gates Performance offers a 107 kit for the 88 which is the cylinders and pistons only, same stroke.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 710
Likes: 2
From: St.Louis, MO
RE: 96 Overheating and seizing up?
Since buying mine, I get asked about the tranny noise all the time. Before
I traded in, I had an '06 Lowrider with a 6-speed and had no problems at
all. As far as I know, it's the same trans. so what's all the fuss about. I do
have to admit that the 96" does run hotter, but that's an easy fix. Fuel
management!
I traded in, I had an '06 Lowrider with a 6-speed and had no problems at
all. As far as I know, it's the same trans. so what's all the fuss about. I do
have to admit that the 96" does run hotter, but that's an easy fix. Fuel
management!
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 1
From: North Jersey
RE: 96 Overheating and seizing up?
As the others have said, don't worry about your '07. The way some people nit-pick over every little detail makes you wonder if they are comparing a motorcycle with a Mercedes. As far as heat, one must simply use common sense. If it is 90 degrees and you are in stop and go traffic, plan on pulling over someplace for a break. Air cooled engines need to be moving to properly cool themselves. Every time somebody mentions a problem with an '07 bike, it's like a UFO story. Suddenly everybody climbs on board with their own sightings.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,663
Likes: 7
From: Northeast Ohio
RE: 96 Overheating and seizing up?
Here goes, and from a rider that has had HD's from way back, ironheads, shovels, EVO's and two twin cams and do know how noisy, hot and failure prone those were. The TC 88/96 is a vast improvement on those other setups.
I have not heard of a 96" siezing. The first ones off the line, those built prior to November, December 06 ran exceedingly hot, and yes, do have different degrees of 5th gear whine and the (rocks in a can sound) rattle in the tranny at low rpms. The tranny issue was not universal. Some of the 110's in the SE were having heat related failures, but agin, not universal. Hd came out with a "torque smooting" download which change some of the fuel and timing settings and that has cooled them down a bit but they still run hotter than any previous HD that I have ever owned. I have a very early production 07 Ultra, and it would get so hot sittingin traffic that it was just this side of unbearable. I have since done mods that have eliminated the heat and quieted the tranny somewhat.
Am I concerned about longevity of the engine, even when stock - no, HD would not put themselves in position to have to warranty thousands of failed engines.
Have fun, ride it, and if you want it to run stronger/cooler, some pipes, Air filter and fuel management system are just the ticket.
I have not heard of a 96" siezing. The first ones off the line, those built prior to November, December 06 ran exceedingly hot, and yes, do have different degrees of 5th gear whine and the (rocks in a can sound) rattle in the tranny at low rpms. The tranny issue was not universal. Some of the 110's in the SE were having heat related failures, but agin, not universal. Hd came out with a "torque smooting" download which change some of the fuel and timing settings and that has cooled them down a bit but they still run hotter than any previous HD that I have ever owned. I have a very early production 07 Ultra, and it would get so hot sittingin traffic that it was just this side of unbearable. I have since done mods that have eliminated the heat and quieted the tranny somewhat.
Am I concerned about longevity of the engine, even when stock - no, HD would not put themselves in position to have to warranty thousands of failed engines.
Have fun, ride it, and if you want it to run stronger/cooler, some pipes, Air filter and fuel management system are just the ticket.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,356
Likes: 1
From: Lansdale, Pa
RE: 96 Overheating and seizing up?
The stores you hear are probably bullshit. The 96 has a longer stroke, not a bigger bore then the 88, but that would have nothing to do with it. The reason they're run hotter is because how lean they come from the factory, The best thing to do is use synthetic oil, and stage 1 with a DYNO tune to get your air/fuel ratio to 13:1. Now that I think about it you probably heard that somebody did a stage 1 with out changing the ECM, that a no no. Enjoy your bike.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
From: Southeastern USA
RE: 96 Overheating and seizing up?
ORIGINAL: Two Wheeler
I just bought a 2007 Road King which has the 96 ci, and have begun to hear stories of HD having problems with them overheating and seizing up. I hear they are planning on going to a 103 in 2008 models, and I wonder if it is a result of problems with the 96. I don't know any details, but understand they changed the 88 to a 96 my going to a bigger bore and it isn't leaving enough in the cylinder to handle the heat. While at a dealer service dept a couple of weeks ago, the talk was that they were going to a 103 in order to keep up with some of the metrics that are running 1800 to 2000 cc's. There may be no truth to any of this, but as a new owner of a 96 I am certainly concerned. Has anyone here heard of any stories about this problem with the 96's?
I just bought a 2007 Road King which has the 96 ci, and have begun to hear stories of HD having problems with them overheating and seizing up. I hear they are planning on going to a 103 in 2008 models, and I wonder if it is a result of problems with the 96. I don't know any details, but understand they changed the 88 to a 96 my going to a bigger bore and it isn't leaving enough in the cylinder to handle the heat. While at a dealer service dept a couple of weeks ago, the talk was that they were going to a 103 in order to keep up with some of the metrics that are running 1800 to 2000 cc's. There may be no truth to any of this, but as a new owner of a 96 I am certainly concerned. Has anyone here heard of any stories about this problem with the 96's?
You people worry too damn much.
Shut the computer off and ride.