Fat Boy twin cam reliability
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Stage IV
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Essex
Fat Boy twin cam reliability
Hello,
I'm looking to get my first Harley Davidson and i've come across a Harley Fat Boy 2000registration however I have no idea what i'd be getting myself into, for getting an old (ish) softail. Firstly, I've heard a lot of bad things about the twin cam engines, reliability issues etc... I have linked the listing below and ask kindly for your opinions on it. Key points include:
43480 mileage
Camshaft drive that has been changed from chain to gear drive.
HP125 hydraulic primary chain tensioner
Jagg Oil Cooler -
F&R Floating Brake Rotors
Stainless steel Braided brake lines
Stage 1 air filter kit
As you can see from the images in the link, this is an absolutely gorgeous bike. Purchasing a Harley will be the biggest transaction of my life (20 years old) and I want to get it right. I need to know all the ugly things, all the problems and bad things about these bikes/engines, and whether any of these, on paper, have been remedied with the upgrades above.
What i'm looking to get out of this bike is one that can comfortably get me into town, do a few hundred mile trips every now and again with my girlfriend and just cruise around. I don't ride hard but i would like something that can deal with the narrow, somewhat twisty and generally rough roads of the UK.
I want this bike for the long run and not repairing it every week. Are the modern customisation (tachometer upgrade is a big one) even compatible with these models?
https://www.gumtree.com/p/harley-dav...ar./1282716115
Thanks for the help in advance!!
I'm looking to get my first Harley Davidson and i've come across a Harley Fat Boy 2000registration however I have no idea what i'd be getting myself into, for getting an old (ish) softail. Firstly, I've heard a lot of bad things about the twin cam engines, reliability issues etc... I have linked the listing below and ask kindly for your opinions on it. Key points include:
43480 mileage
Camshaft drive that has been changed from chain to gear drive.
HP125 hydraulic primary chain tensioner
Jagg Oil Cooler -
F&R Floating Brake Rotors
Stainless steel Braided brake lines
Stage 1 air filter kit
As you can see from the images in the link, this is an absolutely gorgeous bike. Purchasing a Harley will be the biggest transaction of my life (20 years old) and I want to get it right. I need to know all the ugly things, all the problems and bad things about these bikes/engines, and whether any of these, on paper, have been remedied with the upgrades above.
What i'm looking to get out of this bike is one that can comfortably get me into town, do a few hundred mile trips every now and again with my girlfriend and just cruise around. I don't ride hard but i would like something that can deal with the narrow, somewhat twisty and generally rough roads of the UK.
I want this bike for the long run and not repairing it every week. Are the modern customisation (tachometer upgrade is a big one) even compatible with these models?
https://www.gumtree.com/p/harley-dav...ar./1282716115
Thanks for the help in advance!!
Last edited by Yilmaz; Jan 23, 2018 at 12:49 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 392
Likes: 12
I have an '03 Fat Boy, similar mileage and upgrades. I change the fluids and plugs and tires when needed. No issues. Would jump on it and ride cross country with no worries. Looks like the cam tensioner is taken care of. Don't know about the hydraulic primary chain tensioner, I did have a bad experience with the HD automatic tensioner. Mine has been very reliable. Looks likes a great bike. One thing that is better on yours is that the early twin cams had a better bottom end.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 520
From: Palm Coast, Florida
Mines a 04, with over 70,000 miles on it. I check cam chain tensioners every 10,000. The only "repair" I've made to the bike, outside of normal maintenance is a new ignition switch. The switch cost me $29.00 and took about 10 minutes to repair. Batteries, tires, fluid changes, clutch adjustments, normal maintenance. I'll probably rebuild the carb this year.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,158
Likes: 11,247
From: San Diego, CA
From the pics... I thought I saw it has a fuel petcock, meaning it has a carburetor... that is a good thing as the '99 & '00 Softail Fuel Injection (MM) is quirky, and few these days know how to deal with it....
Looks like a good bike....
I have an '01 (carb) and '03 (FI) twin cam bikes. They both run well and remain reliable...
The only big issue is the cam tensioners and MM FI unit, both of which you don't have to worry about.....
Looks like a good bike....
I have an '01 (carb) and '03 (FI) twin cam bikes. They both run well and remain reliable...
The only big issue is the cam tensioners and MM FI unit, both of which you don't have to worry about.....
Supporter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 650
From: San Ramon, Ca
As far as I know, 99 & 00 Softails did not come with FI.
02 was the 1st yr for Delphi. Don't buy ANYTHING FI prior
to that.
My 00 Heritage has been absolutely bullet proof!!
I would leave for Florida on it . . . Today.
02 was the 1st yr for Delphi. Don't buy ANYTHING FI prior
to that.
My 00 Heritage has been absolutely bullet proof!!
I would leave for Florida on it . . . Today.
From the pics... I thought I saw it has a fuel petcock, meaning it has a carburetor... that is a good thing as the '99 & '00 Softail Fuel Injection (MM) is quirky, and few these days know how to deal with it....
Looks like a good bike....
I have an '01 (carb) and '03 (FI) twin cam bikes. They both run well and remain reliable...
The only big issue is the cam tensioners and MM FI unit, both of which you don't have to worry about.....
Looks like a good bike....
I have an '01 (carb) and '03 (FI) twin cam bikes. They both run well and remain reliable...
The only big issue is the cam tensioners and MM FI unit, both of which you don't have to worry about.....
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,158
Likes: 11,247
From: San Diego, CA
I recently looked at an '01 Softail with FI, and it had the Delphi FI system.....
Based on seeing an '01 with Delphi FI, I assumed (yeah, I know...) that the '99 & '00 softails with fuel injection were MM...
My bad...... boy was I wrong.... on everything....
I just checked....
The 1st year for a Twin Cam (88B engine) in a softail was 2000....
So it looks like the 1st FI offered on softails, with the twin cam 88B, was the Delphi in 2001........
In any case, doesn't apply to the OP's bike, sorry for posting the bad info....
FWIW.... I'd jump on my carbed 2001 Softail and ride it anywhere......
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