Getting first Harley
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 452
Likes: 228
From: Northford, CT
After a rough start in the Harley scene with a 1977 Sportster, I bought my first big twin... a 1984 Shovelhead Low Rider in 2015. Have gone all over New England, NY, NYC and PA with this bike and continue to do so. Thousands of miles of smiles. Only left me stranded twice:
1. Shortly after purchase, the clutch cable snapped (it had fraying at the cable end which I knew about but waited too long to replace!)
2. Last season... the original 1984 stator quit. Replaced it with a Cycle Electric.
That's it! I freshened the transmission up myself in 2020 during the pandemic because I wanted a leak free transmission. Used quality parts throughout. Still LEAK FREE
To compare:
I bought a 1999 FXDX last season with 10k miles:
1. My Shovelhead motor hands down is quieter than the TC88. It will need "rocker lockers" to hopefully quiet all the racket
2. Tensioners will need to be addressed soon along with cam bearings or catastrophic engine failure will occur
3. Breather umbrellas in the head are going to need to be replaced. It pukes oil out of the breather. My Shovelhead does not puke oil even when sitting.
Apples and oranges but overall the TC88 has needed more attention during ownership. To be fair this is comparing a last year production run of a 1984 Shovelhead to a first year production run of the TC88.
For me it is a fact though that the Shovelhead has been less labor intensive than my TC88. When I park the Shovelhead there are NO drips under it (YES it has oil in it LOL!). When I park the TC88 there are small drips under it (breather).
Dive into the Shovel world!
1. Shortly after purchase, the clutch cable snapped (it had fraying at the cable end which I knew about but waited too long to replace!)
2. Last season... the original 1984 stator quit. Replaced it with a Cycle Electric.
That's it! I freshened the transmission up myself in 2020 during the pandemic because I wanted a leak free transmission. Used quality parts throughout. Still LEAK FREE
To compare:
I bought a 1999 FXDX last season with 10k miles:
1. My Shovelhead motor hands down is quieter than the TC88. It will need "rocker lockers" to hopefully quiet all the racket
2. Tensioners will need to be addressed soon along with cam bearings or catastrophic engine failure will occur
3. Breather umbrellas in the head are going to need to be replaced. It pukes oil out of the breather. My Shovelhead does not puke oil even when sitting.
Apples and oranges but overall the TC88 has needed more attention during ownership. To be fair this is comparing a last year production run of a 1984 Shovelhead to a first year production run of the TC88.
For me it is a fact though that the Shovelhead has been less labor intensive than my TC88. When I park the Shovelhead there are NO drips under it (YES it has oil in it LOL!). When I park the TC88 there are small drips under it (breather).
Dive into the Shovel world!
Last edited by garystaven88; Nov 29, 2023 at 08:36 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
I bought a 1999 FXDX last season with 10k miles:
1. My Shovelhead motor hands down is quieter than the TC88. It will need "rocker lockers" to hopefully quiet all the racket
2. Tensioners will need to be addressed soon along with cam bearings or catastrophic engine failure will occur
3. Breather umbrellas in the head are going to need to be replaced. It pukes oil out of the breather. My Shovelhead does not puke oil even when sitting.
Apples and oranges but overall the TC88 has needed more attention during ownership. To be fair this is comparing a last year production run of a 1984 Shovelhead to a first year production run of the TC88.
For me it is a fact though that the Shovelhead has been less labor intensive than my TC88. When I park the Shovelhead there are NO drips under it (YES it has oil in it LOL!). When I park the TC88 there are small drips under it (breather).
Dive into the Shovel world!
1. My Shovelhead motor hands down is quieter than the TC88. It will need "rocker lockers" to hopefully quiet all the racket
2. Tensioners will need to be addressed soon along with cam bearings or catastrophic engine failure will occur
3. Breather umbrellas in the head are going to need to be replaced. It pukes oil out of the breather. My Shovelhead does not puke oil even when sitting.
Apples and oranges but overall the TC88 has needed more attention during ownership. To be fair this is comparing a last year production run of a 1984 Shovelhead to a first year production run of the TC88.
For me it is a fact though that the Shovelhead has been less labor intensive than my TC88. When I park the Shovelhead there are NO drips under it (YES it has oil in it LOL!). When I park the TC88 there are small drips under it (breather).
Dive into the Shovel world!
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 960
Likes: 668
From: USA
Road Captain
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 554
Likes: 359
From: Bristol, CT
Welcome, if you are going to go hunting for a shovelhead you need to know what youre looking at without relying on the sellers word. The VIN on the engine is easily decoded and will tell you what it was when it left the factory. There are several good charts, I was looking for my copy of shovel only years. This link below was quicker to find, hope its ok. There are some nuances to know because there was a short time in 1979 that the frame and engine numbers did not match. Also be aware the engine in the frame may not be original to the bike. Knowledge will give you bargaining strength and some peace of mind. My 1976 FXE started out as a 9D bike - FXE1200, but is sporting a 3G engine - FLH 80 from 1978 1/2. My buying circumstances were simple as this widow simply wanted the bike gone and no foot traffic or tire kickers. No seller representation from her of what it was, just a Harley that sat more than 12+ years, but I knew it would make a period correct rider I could enjoy. I could never recoup all the money I have into her because Im not a builder, but the joy of riding is why Im here. I had my first shovel when they were current. In fact it was the year AMF sold HD - 1981.
This community is the place to ask your questions. Ive enjoyed the learning and fun here.
Good Luck!
https://www.shovelhead.us/pics/sheet...%20Numbers.pdf
This community is the place to ask your questions. Ive enjoyed the learning and fun here.
Good Luck!
https://www.shovelhead.us/pics/sheet...%20Numbers.pdf
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,511
Likes: 13,826
From: Pa.
Post pictures of potential bikes so we can pick them apart (or give the thumbs up). Like others have said, its hard to find one thats a virgin. If the engine has been rebuilt you can bet you'll find something questionable that took place.
Knowing what are harley vs taiwan parts are, you need to know what you're looking at which comes with experience (or we point them out).
matching belly numbers, an unaltered vin, a vin that matches the frame if its a post 69 bike. You didn't mention year or version such gen shovel or cone shovel.
Avoid a modified frame and a bored and stroked engine. Some period mods are cool and desirable so I wouldn't walk away from a tastefully modded bike where I could replace those parts if I wanted and do it over time.
Knowing what are harley vs taiwan parts are, you need to know what you're looking at which comes with experience (or we point them out).
matching belly numbers, an unaltered vin, a vin that matches the frame if its a post 69 bike. You didn't mention year or version such gen shovel or cone shovel.
Avoid a modified frame and a bored and stroked engine. Some period mods are cool and desirable so I wouldn't walk away from a tastefully modded bike where I could replace those parts if I wanted and do it over time.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 452
Likes: 228
From: Northford, CT
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,231
Likes: 6,168
From: Black Hills
Follow up on V-Twin parts ... yesterday working on a '41 knucklehead, the new rear exhaust pipe will not go into the head. The end that goes into the Y pipe fits in the head. The "head end" of the pipe is slightly oval shaped and .022 larger that the other end. We had to try to reshape the end the grind down the pipe until it fits. Just one incident of many with their poor quality parts.