M8 vs vintage Harley motors
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 203
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From: TX
M8 vs vintage Harley motors
I was at Wheels Through Time museum earlier this summer and have been watching Matt's videos ever since. It's crazy how he can kinda just tinker and mess with these ancient motors and get them running with a few spare parts and stuff.
What I'm wondering is, would the M8 motor have that potential 60 yrs down the road? Given that it's I guess more "advanced" than the Twin Cam and Evolution motors were, which likely includes more mechanical complexity, would someone be able to drag an old M8 their grandpa owned out of a barn and open the engine up and work on it? Or would it be too complex and intricate for regular motorhead to mess with?
I'm just curious, because seeing Matt restore these old historic bikes, I'd hate to know that might die out with the M8, but then again maybe it won't. I don't know enough about engines to see if they'd be similar or not.
What I'm wondering is, would the M8 motor have that potential 60 yrs down the road? Given that it's I guess more "advanced" than the Twin Cam and Evolution motors were, which likely includes more mechanical complexity, would someone be able to drag an old M8 their grandpa owned out of a barn and open the engine up and work on it? Or would it be too complex and intricate for regular motorhead to mess with?
I'm just curious, because seeing Matt restore these old historic bikes, I'd hate to know that might die out with the M8, but then again maybe it won't. I don't know enough about engines to see if they'd be similar or not.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: Rolla
The "mchanical" part of the engine might be more advanced than something 60 years ago, but the basic principals will still apply.
Anyone that has the skills to do engine work on older bikes will still have those same skills when it comes to the newer stuff.
Where it will get a lot more complicated is with the computer controls (ECM, etc).
As technology marches forward, it is very possible that advancements in those systems make some of the "computer" parts hard to come by.
No different than some are going through with dealing with some of the older muscle cars.
Working on the older stuff (Pre Computer) can be done, and lots of aftermarket support.
Then when you get to some of the 90's cars where computers really started to come into play, there are more obsolete parts.
There is such a thing as too old for factory support, but not yet quite old enough (or enough demand) for the aftermarket to support.
Anyone that has the skills to do engine work on older bikes will still have those same skills when it comes to the newer stuff.
Where it will get a lot more complicated is with the computer controls (ECM, etc).
As technology marches forward, it is very possible that advancements in those systems make some of the "computer" parts hard to come by.
No different than some are going through with dealing with some of the older muscle cars.
Working on the older stuff (Pre Computer) can be done, and lots of aftermarket support.
Then when you get to some of the 90's cars where computers really started to come into play, there are more obsolete parts.
There is such a thing as too old for factory support, but not yet quite old enough (or enough demand) for the aftermarket to support.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 203
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From: TX
Hmm. You think an M8 could be modified to just use a cable throttle, normal keyed ignition, and such? Like if the computer parts were unavailable, you'd be able to rig more traditional components up to still feed it the fuel and spark it needs? Or are they designed to only be compatible with the electronics?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
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Hmm. You think an M8 could be modified to just use a cable throttle, normal keyed ignition, and such? Like if the computer parts were unavailable, you'd be able to rig more traditional components up to still feed it the fuel and spark it needs? Or are they designed to only be compatible with the electronics?
Let us know if you give it a shot.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,345
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From: Seattle
There is already a Carb conversion for the M8 so if someone really wanted to get one running 40 years from now it will probably be able to be figured out how to be carbed.
Replacing the BCM is harder. I'm sure someone knows how though.
Replacing the BCM is harder. I'm sure someone knows how though.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2017
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From: Colorado Springs
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Cruiser
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From: Colorado Springs
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 574
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From: Spokane, WA
That video pretty much tells us that the 4 valve heads aren't responsible for the M8 even pulse idle sound. People blame the 4 valve heads for the "M8" sound, but it's probably more to do with fuel injection, ignition timing, engine management, EPA, etc.
