I need a lesson - ironhead
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 692
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From: Texas
I need a lesson - ironhead
Is an ironhead essentially a shovelhead or are they two distinctly difference engines? It appears the ironhead pushrod tubes are vertical as opposed to angled, but the rocker boxes appear very similar.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
They are very different engines.
The Sportster is a unit construction crankcase which started being first made as the K Model in 1952.
In 1957 The Sportster was introduced. At that time the bottom end was basically a K Model, as was the top end but with a set of heads having valves in them (aka overhead valve).
The Sportster stayed the same until the end of ironhead production in 1985-86.
Then the so called Evo Sportster replaced the ironhead. Still, there many similar features to the ironhead remaining .
The Shovelhead was completely different from the Sportster
It was more like the Panhead with a different set of heads.
It has a separate transmission, different cam design etc, etc.......... as do all of the big twins.
The only similarities the two engines have are they are both Harley and they both are V twins.
pg
The Sportster is a unit construction crankcase which started being first made as the K Model in 1952.
In 1957 The Sportster was introduced. At that time the bottom end was basically a K Model, as was the top end but with a set of heads having valves in them (aka overhead valve).
The Sportster stayed the same until the end of ironhead production in 1985-86.
Then the so called Evo Sportster replaced the ironhead. Still, there many similar features to the ironhead remaining .
The Shovelhead was completely different from the Sportster
It was more like the Panhead with a different set of heads.
It has a separate transmission, different cam design etc, etc.......... as do all of the big twins.
The only similarities the two engines have are they are both Harley and they both are V twins.
pg
Last edited by piniongear; Jun 29, 2011 at 03:47 PM.
I have a friend who was president of a motorcycle club back in the 70s. A real old-time biker. He loves these bikes. He had a Sportster back then. Whenever he hears me arrive he comments "I have always loved the sound of a shovel". I just button my lip.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 240
Likes: 1
From: West Michigan
Very simply, Ironheads are Sportster engines and they have cast iron cylinder heads and four camshafts. Shovelheads are big twins and have cast aluminum heads and one camshaft. Although the rocker boxes are similar looking, that is where the similarity ends.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 14
From: navarre ohio
the rocker boxes are even totally different,they look similar from across a room maybe but totally different up close..i saw a sporty with shovel cylinders and heads once..looked kind of cool..also saw a 45" with ironhead cylinders and heads,almost bought it..
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