Why do shovels always need a top end?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 12,946
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
Why do shovels always need a top end?
Question, please:
Why do shovels always need a top end job done?
Is it an oil pressure issue, that's causing the rings to wear out so quickly?
If so, I'd think an aftermarket oil pump could fix that.
I just wonder what would it take to make a shovelhead run for 100,000 miles like a twinkie or an Evo.
thanks,
~joe
Why do shovels always need a top end job done?
Is it an oil pressure issue, that's causing the rings to wear out so quickly?
If so, I'd think an aftermarket oil pump could fix that.
I just wonder what would it take to make a shovelhead run for 100,000 miles like a twinkie or an Evo.
thanks,
~joe
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 39
From: NW Florida
A shovelhead top end is old tech, most of the parts date back to the knucklehead and pan era. Rods are the same from 1941 to 1973, pistons were updated in the 50's with better rings but it is still a knuckle piston. Clearances are somewhat sloppy compared to an evo. Because of the design and material used you can't run a shovel as tight as an evo. Too much oil pressure on a Shovel will cause the bearings to slide instead of roll which will cause it to wear faster. Ways to extend the motors life is to be fanatical about changing oil and warm up the motor before you open it up. Disect your oil filter and look for excess metal, steel or bronze and find the source before it becomes a major problem.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,569
Likes: 624
From: deland,florida
top end
they dont,if their done right the first time,we get evo-like milage out of our shovel top end jobs
kirby
www.veetwinperformance.com
kirby
www.veetwinperformance.com
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Another thing that really promotes wear is a low idle. They sound cool chugging at 600 rpm but its really hard on them. Better to set idle to 1000 rpm.
+1 on keeping the oil changed also. Shovels tend to run hotter than evo's so the oil is that much more important.
+1 on keeping the oil changed also. Shovels tend to run hotter than evo's so the oil is that much more important.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 154
Likes: 2
From: san diego ca
Lots of sage advice on the shovels..i call them tarctors, but nothing, nothing sounds like a shovell..the best advice i read was: Warm her up, take the time to let her get warm..plus always run baffles, or exhaust pipes/mufflers.. but its old antiquated engineeting.. s&s will be a headache, they are not made as well as when they first started popping them out..stick with HD, costly, but its a HD.. "H" "D" stands for hundreds of dollars..ruben
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