Potato..potato...question
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 36
From: Houston, TX
See below, (Yes, my 2000 is forged, but not so later model 96" 2007 and up)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x75...ts-forged_auto
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x75...ts-forged_auto
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,137
Likes: 51,478
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Too much oil was the biggest contributor besides too low an idle. OEM crankpins came with a single oil hole on them & lower ends held up fairly well, you'd see some cratering on the ones the with the constant real low lope. Along came the "new " must have 3 hole crankpins with the thinking more was better and the trashed crankpin skyrocketed. There was a number of reputable builders wrote up articles about the problem years ago , why today's quality aftermarket crank pins for the older ones have either 1 or 2 oil ports not 3 anymore. Gotta watch the cheaper imports they still use the 3's. Keep the R's up they work drop it down say goodby to Mr. rods just a matter of when not if.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 1,488
From: SW Washington State
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,214
From: Oxford, Nc
Thanks Gladdman. I am a big fan of the early era Twinkie but I am disappointed in the newer models (particularly '07 and up.) So while I have 140,000 miles on a '00 hot forged crank with dual Timken bearings (and no compensator issues,) I would be concerned about trying to get that kind of longevity out of a newer bike. Harley realized that their average customer rides less that 5,000 miles per year, and that's who they build the bikes for now IMO.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 6
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
In today's age there's more desire for less weight and better gas mileage than with longtime durability. I'm no mechanic or engineer, but from what I know heavy cold forged steel engine blocks will outlast metal alloys and can be bored out and rebuilt many more times. There's a trade off with the alloys people have been using lately. It's lighter and provides a more nimble feel, while getting better gas mileage, but won't hold up for as long. A small hydrolock situation will easily crack a block today when the same situation wouldn't years ago. Case in point: I cracked my Tundra's v8 by hydrolock a few years back when I followed 2 old Chevy's on a swamp ride when we hit a puddle where the water was over the hood. The 2 older Chevy's went right through no problem (they coughed a lot) and mine instantly hydrolocked and cracked the block.
There are advantages and disadvantages to today's engines. I guess they feel that the advantages outweigh those disadvantages.
There are advantages and disadvantages to today's engines. I guess they feel that the advantages outweigh those disadvantages.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Miami Beach, Fl.
[There are advantages and disadvantages to today's engines. I guess they feel that the advantages outweigh those disadvantages.
Thumper, I think WE are not the one's benefiting from the advantages. LOL
Thumper, I think WE are not the one's benefiting from the advantages. LOL
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 446
From: South Florida
Wow. I had an 93 FXDL with drag pipes that used to foul plugs if I used the choke. Had to use that little star wheel on the throttle to get the rpms up when I first started it in the morning. If I let it sit a while, the idle would come up on it's own. Had to warm them up, or you'd blow out the base gaskets or the rocker covers, and leak oil.
I remember the dual fire ignitions too. Everybody wanted single fire, because it was rumored that the dual fire actually worked against you in the HP dept.
Seems like everything these people want today is everything we hated about the bikes in the old days. Took a good few minutes to warm up. Sucked if you had to leave in a hurry. More than once, but that's for another post.
I remember the dual fire ignitions too. Everybody wanted single fire, because it was rumored that the dual fire actually worked against you in the HP dept.
Seems like everything these people want today is everything we hated about the bikes in the old days. Took a good few minutes to warm up. Sucked if you had to leave in a hurry. More than once, but that's for another post.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
Here's the link to the nightrider page that talks about jumper wires across the coils to convert a single fire ignition to a dual.
http://www.nightrider.com/bt30/hdignitionmodules.htm
I've never had the guts to try it, but I do know how different my '06 TC88 sounds at idle when I changed out the stock cams to a more lopey Andrews 21. But it doesn't "potato potato," especially at a 950 rpm idle.
http://www.nightrider.com/bt30/hdignitionmodules.htm
I've never had the guts to try it, but I do know how different my '06 TC88 sounds at idle when I changed out the stock cams to a more lopey Andrews 21. But it doesn't "potato potato," especially at a 950 rpm idle.