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Nov 22, 2008 | 10:19 PM

Medicfrost

Thread Starter

Road Warrior

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 1,649

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From: Celebration, FL

Need some tips

I posted this in the Dyna forum, but didn't get many responses. Tomorrow my buddy is going to look at a 1998 Wide Glide, and I'll be going with him. I've never owned a Dyna model, and I've never owned an EVO motor. What kind of stuff do you recommend we look for when looking at it?

Nov 22, 2008 | 10:35 PM

06dynablack

Road Warrior

Joined: Mar 2006

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From:

I just responded to it in dyna section

Nov 23, 2008 | 05:47 AM

ezriderpgh

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 2,156

Likes: 1

From: Pittsburgh, PA

A newer bike! I hated every evo I have owned. My last scoot was '08 Super Glide Custom, one bad azz bike I must say. I wouldn't go back to evo for free.

Nov 23, 2008 | 06:00 AM

JBaker421

Big Kahuna HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 29,598

Likes: 19

From: Oregon

Evos rule.

The later models, which this is, had incremental improvements and just got better and better. They have a different sound, never matched by the TC's. They are bullet proof and dependable. They are easier and cheaper to work on than are the TC's. For instance, it's a lot cheaper and easier to swap the cam and assuming it's carbed, a lot cheaper to fix than if computerized electronics fail.

Also, it's a lot cheaper to tune a carb for stage one or two than to do injection. The later CV carbs which it should have are all you need.

That later model has electronic ignition which starts and runs better than the early points/condensor models although the earlier ones can be changed.

We have a 96 Wide Glide and it's my favorite ride, above the 02 Deuce and the Heritage.

Imho the Evo will run right with a TC88 because, possibly, the extra drag from the twin cam setup and maybe from the balancer on the softails.

I also believe that the Dynas handle better than the softails, but that's just my opinion.

If you prefer to spend gobs of money and suffer a lot of depreciation, buy a new bike. If you want low total cost of ownership and a reliable fun bike, you can't beat that Evo.

$.02

Nov 23, 2008 | 06:06 AM

dc1450

Road Master

Joined: May 2005

Posts: 1,121

Likes: 3

From: Mass.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezriderpgh

A newer bike! I hated every evo I have owned. My last scoot was '08 Super Glide Custom, one bad azz bike I must say. I wouldn't go back to evo for free.

Then you should have had a shovelhead! You'd LOVE the EVOs! LOL

Look for base gasget leaks and rockerbox leaks. Some rocker boxes can warp and you can never seal them. No big deal you just have to replace them. Those vintage EVOs had some lifter failures in higher mileage bikes. Nothing you can predict but, if your over 20K and the top end is apart I'd replace them.
All in all, they are a good bike, reliable, strong and easy to repair.

Nov 23, 2008 | 06:10 AM

JBaker421

Big Kahuna HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 29,598

Likes: 19

From: Oregon

PS I would prefer to go the Torrington cam bearing route with an Andrews EV27 cam just for fun, durability, and noticeable power gain, but there are lots of stock or stage 1 evos out there with well over 100k on the clock and no major issues.

This is a really good engine and assuming the bike is otherwise in great shape and the price was right, I'd jump.

You may prefer a good indy for periodic tuning and maintenance - some old salt who's been around. Seems the youngsters at the dealers often don't know how to tune an Evo and they might leave you disappointed for no good reason.

$.02

Last edited by JBaker421; Nov 23, 2008 at 06:15 AM.

Nov 23, 2008 | 06:18 AM

JBaker421

Big Kahuna HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 29,598

Likes: 19

From: Oregon

Quote:

Originally Posted by dc1450

Then you should have had a shovelhead! You'd LOVE the EVOs! LOL

Look for base gasget leaks and rockerbox leaks. Some rocker boxes can warp and you can never seal them. No big deal you just have to replace them. Those vintage EVOs had some lifter failures in higher mileage bikes. Nothing you can predict but, if your over 20K and the top end is apart I'd replace them.
All in all, they are a good bike, reliable, strong and easy to repair.

That's really good advice about the leaks although that 98 had some improvements and had far fewer of those problems than did the earlier ones. That's good advice about changing the lifters, especially if changing the cam, but I've seen those lifters go well over 100k, too, so who knows...