Reliability/longevity of EVO vs. early Twin Cam
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,870
Likes: 499
From: Alberta
I live near a school that trains HD mechanics. Long ago I wanted to hop up and tour on an FXR, but instructors there convinced me to go with a then new FXDXT. Their advise was correct. I went bigger bore/stroke, got heads done, put gear drive cams in and rode that bike thru many states and provinces. 111hp/117ft lbs. An EVO wouldn’t have been as reliable at the horsepower level I wanted.
Also; nowadays, unless you’re a totally self sufficient mechanic, students aren’t even taught on EVO’s.
Ancient, romaticized platform...as the twin cam will be in a few years.
Also; nowadays, unless you’re a totally self sufficient mechanic, students aren’t even taught on EVO’s.
Ancient, romaticized platform...as the twin cam will be in a few years.
Last edited by sharkey; Sep 22, 2018 at 10:14 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 208
Likes: 64
From: Asheville. NC
I live near a school that trains HD mechanics. Long ago I wanted to hop up and tour on an FXR, but instructors there convinced me to go with a then new FXDXT. Their advise was correct. I went bigger bore/stroke, got heads done, put gear drive cams in and rode that bike thru many states and provinces. 111hp/117ft lbs. An EVO wouldnt have been as reliable at the horsepower level I wanted.
Also; nowadays, unless youre a totally self sufficient mechanic, students arent even taught on EVOs.
Ancient, romaticized platform...as the twin cam will be in a few years.
Also; nowadays, unless youre a totally self sufficient mechanic, students arent even taught on EVOs.
Ancient, romaticized platform...as the twin cam will be in a few years.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 2,500
From: Tennessee
There are a few reasons that they went back to a single cam...None of them have to do with the EVO.
Because so many Harley riders are too stupid to maintain the cam tensioners on a T/C.
The valve train geometry is way better on a T/C than on an EVO, Shovel or what have you.
The idea behind the T/C was to correct the angle of the pushrods in relation to the rockers (kind'a like the Sportsters have always been) and it worked very well.
Sadly the government stepped in and told them that they couldn't be gear driven because of noise level rules, so they did chain driven, which is quieter but requires some attention from time to time.
Because they're based on the EVO platform.
As I have said many times before, to my customers at the shop and on these forums, The EVO was a great platform and was one of the things that saved Harley from going out of business, But they are not the best motor Harley ever built.
Pop a set of gear driven cams in a (pre-2003) T/C and weld the flywheels and you have the best, most reliable motor Harley has ever built.
Because so many Harley riders are too stupid to maintain the cam tensioners on a T/C.
The valve train geometry is way better on a T/C than on an EVO, Shovel or what have you.
The idea behind the T/C was to correct the angle of the pushrods in relation to the rockers (kind'a like the Sportsters have always been) and it worked very well.
Sadly the government stepped in and told them that they couldn't be gear driven because of noise level rules, so they did chain driven, which is quieter but requires some attention from time to time.
Because they're based on the EVO platform.
As I have said many times before, to my customers at the shop and on these forums, The EVO was a great platform and was one of the things that saved Harley from going out of business, But they are not the best motor Harley ever built.
Pop a set of gear driven cams in a (pre-2003) T/C and weld the flywheels and you have the best, most reliable motor Harley has ever built.
Last edited by Greezey Rider; Sep 22, 2018 at 11:54 AM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 366
Likes: 25
From: CONUS
There where even porous cases during the mid to early nineties .
Oil would seep through the cases and was found with a die and ultra violet light to locate the seepage.
All being equal they are reliable machines that if treated like a machine and not beaten they can and do run for many miles with basic repairs.
Rob
Oil would seep through the cases and was found with a die and ultra violet light to locate the seepage.
All being equal they are reliable machines that if treated like a machine and not beaten they can and do run for many miles with basic repairs.
Rob
The TC is a POS the MOCO is hoping to forget.
Go to your local HD on Monday morning, have a look in there'll be mostly the TC POS in there being worked on because they have exploded the timing chest or scissored the crank or any of the over 30 recalls for the bucket of schit.
The Evo is a classic and has style and charisma the TC is just a POS.
Go to your local HD on Monday morning, have a look in there'll be mostly the TC POS in there being worked on because they have exploded the timing chest or scissored the crank or any of the over 30 recalls for the bucket of schit.
The Evo is a classic and has style and charisma the TC is just a POS.
What I did notice is that out of all the bikes I've owned up to that point the Road King ran the hottest. Hot starts weren't pleasant at all!
The bike I have now is a different animal in my opinion. It runs cooler, it rides smoother, it's simpler to work on. I put 3500 miles on it since the end of May and the engine oil level hasn't dropped. I miss the 6 speed of the RKC however the sound of 3000-3200 rpm on the highway is music to my ears. OK it's 30 years old and some things need attention, none of which right now would produce a catastrophe. When riding season is over I'm going to tear into it and fix or replace the bothersome things and by spring it will be in the condition where I could ride anywhere any time for as long as I want.
The bike I have now is a different animal in my opinion. It runs cooler, it rides smoother, it's simpler to work on. I put 3500 miles on it since the end of May and the engine oil level hasn't dropped. I miss the 6 speed of the RKC however the sound of 3000-3200 rpm on the highway is music to my ears. OK it's 30 years old and some things need attention, none of which right now would produce a catastrophe. When riding season is over I'm going to tear into it and fix or replace the bothersome things and by spring it will be in the condition where I could ride anywhere any time for as long as I want.
I read somewhere the S&S motors are available in single and twin cam editions and the power output is the same for both.
Because so many Harley riders are too stupid to maintain the cam tensioners on a T/C.
The valve train geometry is way better on a T/C than on an EVO, Shovel or what have you.
The idea behind the T/C was to correct the angle of the pushrods in relation to the rockers (kind'a like the Sportsters have always been) and it worked very well.
Sadly the government stepped in and told them that they couldn't be gear driven because of noise level rules, so they did chain driven, which is quieter but requires some attention from time to time.
As I have said many times before, to my customers at the shop and on these forums, The EVO was a great platform and was one of the things that saved Harley from going out of business, But they are not the best motor Harley ever built.
Pop a set of gear driven cams in a (pre-2003) T/C and weld the flywheels and you have the best, most reliable motor Harley has ever built.
The valve train geometry is way better on a T/C than on an EVO, Shovel or what have you.
The idea behind the T/C was to correct the angle of the pushrods in relation to the rockers (kind'a like the Sportsters have always been) and it worked very well.
Sadly the government stepped in and told them that they couldn't be gear driven because of noise level rules, so they did chain driven, which is quieter but requires some attention from time to time.
As I have said many times before, to my customers at the shop and on these forums, The EVO was a great platform and was one of the things that saved Harley from going out of business, But they are not the best motor Harley ever built.
Pop a set of gear driven cams in a (pre-2003) T/C and weld the flywheels and you have the best, most reliable motor Harley has ever built.
Geezey: Thanks for the great post.
Pop a set of gear driven cams in a (pre-2003) T/C and weld the flywheels and you have the best, most reliable motor Harley has ever built.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Sep 30, 2018 at 09:11 AM. Reason: Multiple posts
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 35,239
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From: 40.2444° N, 75.6419° W
Yup, thats what the bikes look like in Alaska, spare fuel can, mud and all...I have no complaints about my Twinkie...
Last edited by Super Glidester; Sep 22, 2018 at 12:43 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 2,500
From: Tennessee
Its odd the government can step in and tell a manufacturer like HD they have to use chain driven rather than gear driven cams due to noise rules. I wonder how much of a difference the noise can be. Maybe HD just said the gov told them to use chain without it being true. Or perhaps overstating things, saying they can't meet the noise level rules with gear driven cams where they could if they really wanted to.
Geezey: Thanks for the great post.
Geezey: Thanks for the great post.