A love / hate relationship no question
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 960
Likes: 668
From: USA
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,466
Likes: 425
From: Illinois
In 1995, we took a trip from Illinois to Maine and back. Two brand new Evos, two shovelheads, and one panhead. The pan broke down a few times, one of the Evos had to have the intake gaskets replaced.[the original 'compliance' gaskets-known to be problems at the time. Both shovels made the whole trip without a problem, but my '83 wouldn't start the day after I got home.-I never checked the battery the whole time and it was dry.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,110
Likes: 51,394
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
In 1995, we took a trip from Illinois to Maine and back. Two brand new Evos, two shovelheads, and one panhead. The pan broke down a few times, one of the Evos had to have the intake gaskets replaced.[the original 'compliance' gaskets-known to be problems at the time. Both shovels made the whole trip without a problem, but my '83 wouldn't start the day after I got home.-I never checked the battery the whole time and it was dry.
Made that movie once,
Pan was something or two daily, I had a flat, brothers shovel snapped the pinion shaft which we rebuilt in a backyard and the pan finally gave out 200 mi. from home. That 2 week adventure reads a comedy of errors script from a slapstick movie, was epic fun said and done.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
Made that movie once,
Pan was something or two daily, I had a flat, brothers shovel snapped the pinion shaft which we rebuilt in a backyard and the pan finally gave out 200 mi. from home. That 2 week adventure reads a comedy of errors script from a slapstick movie, was epic fun said and done.
Pan was something or two daily, I had a flat, brothers shovel snapped the pinion shaft which we rebuilt in a backyard and the pan finally gave out 200 mi. from home. That 2 week adventure reads a comedy of errors script from a slapstick movie, was epic fun said and done.
If you had a properly rebuilt pan and rode it daily, what would be the failure one could expect?
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,110
Likes: 51,394
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Day two tail light fell apart, caught the lense as it flew by. A running toll lot of little crap like this or stuff rattling loose or breaking. Seat mounts broke and stuff like this. Chain and rear sprocket were in a race to see which would self destruct first. Kicker gave out, did that in a parking lot. The return leg started knocking bad I could hear it at 60mph, I called it in nowhere Kansa at a gas stop, owner wanted to keep pushing, 200mi out yet. Torn down crank pin had gave out, cratered bad, any longer and it would have completely ate itself.
Far as what to expect just make sure the drive train is solid and done right, rocker arms in the older ones could be a problem occasionally but a bud had a 65 that was as reliable as my shovel we were running partners for a long time.
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Aug 21, 2023 at 05:23 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,215
Likes: 6,121
From: Black Hills
This sounds like the shovelhead RT I bought this spring... I hate it right now, can hardly walk after riding it with the mid's. Shop mechanic said he has a set of forwards he'll give me. Fix one oil leak and it sprouts another. I have to replace the switches in the hand controls. I'll have to learn my patience from you as you work through the painful stuff.
Nice bike BTW
Nice bike BTW
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,449
From: la la land jerzey
You know in the two weeks i am on this site i have seen hand fulls of guys who bought a gem and found the real mistakes others made when working on it and the incorrect parts used and not spending the time it takes in some cases to get it right - 3 times some times apart until you get it even in a shop
sure every one wants a trouble free machine - but it leaked on the showroom floor BTW and a lot - every dealer i went into a drain pan was under new machines in the 60s and 70s i was in then - in the 80s it got a little bit better but - evo were almost dry as a tissue compared to a pan or shovel
you need to step back and remember - older Harley’s are great 3rd or 4th bike the day its working as one might expect ——- period no winery comparing
sure every one wants a trouble free machine - but it leaked on the showroom floor BTW and a lot - every dealer i went into a drain pan was under new machines in the 60s and 70s i was in then - in the 80s it got a little bit better but - evo were almost dry as a tissue compared to a pan or shovel
you need to step back and remember - older Harley’s are great 3rd or 4th bike the day its working as one might expect ——- period no winery comparing
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,110
Likes: 51,394
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
This sounds like the shovelhead RT I bought this spring... I hate it right now, can hardly walk after riding it with the mid's. Shop mechanic said he has a set of forwards he'll give me. Fix one oil leak and it sprouts another. I have to replace the switches in the hand controls. I'll have to learn my patience from you as you work through the painful stuff.
Nice bike BTW
Nice bike BTW
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,215
Likes: 6,121
From: Black Hills
Trying to keep it original looking and bought the re-pops from Ted's. Appreciate the offer Dan. When are you coming out this way ? I'll have a cold one for you.