Hey All,

Just a quick question...
I got a newsletter from JP Cycles recently, discussing the "well known" cam chain issues. Of course, this has got me worried and thinking quite a bit.
My bike has 15,000 miles on it. I picked it up last summer.

Mine is a 1999 FXST with the 80" (1340) EVO motor.
I cannot find any info in my Clymer about the cam chain tensioners.
Does this EVO have them, or is it the gear drive that I suspect ?

Also, any other known wear items I should check while she's down for winter hibernation ? They've already blasted the hell out of the roads with really thick salt in my neck of the woods.

Thanks in advance !

 

No, you don't have cam chain tensioners. The only thing I can think of in an EVO is the crankcase breather will sometimes create problems. I am in NO WAY an EVO expert. The breather thing I mentioned is something I saw in AIM article. You may want to post in the EVO section for better advice.

 

You dont have cam tensioners, but you do have a "junk" cam bearing, Harley stoped using Torrington bearings in 92 and started using a lesser qualty bearing. Unless you have changed you cam and or have had a new inner cam bearing installed, I would highly recommend doing so.

 

Thanks for the replies!

I didn't realize there was a section for EVO's. now I know.

I did read earlier about the bearing change on another forum.
I am a machine tech, and I use Torrinton / Fafnir bearings, ***,
Timken, and the like. Most others are crap. I can't believe that HD would
sacrifice reliability for a few pennies on their bottom line. what a bummer.

I got the bike with 14,000 miles on it, and trailered it home from Laconia.
the trailer got rear-ended, and the bike got $5000 worth of damage.
My truck got totaled. that's another story though... one that is still sore.

Due to the mileage when I got it - I don't imagine the PO did any major work to it, such as cam bearings or the like. It was mostly stock - except for the pipes (and not even properly jetted).

He complained that it would "buck" from takeoff. - well, no S***.
huge azz screamin' eagle pipes made the bike wicked lean.
I've got it running damn good now. Just getting into the bike, and discovering
it's history by exploration.

So, as it usually goes with used equipment - I have no idea how conscientious
the previous owner was....

Thanks again !

 

X2 on the above, you definitely want to change that cam bearing to a Torrington. That bearing shouldn't cost you more than $10. It will fail at some point, and if you don't catch it failing, it could destroy the engine. Might as well go with a Cam upgrade while you're in there. Andrews EV27 is nice and will make a notable performance difference. The Cam was like $125 on eBay. Cutting your current push-rods out with a bolt cutter and replacing them with adjustables will save you the hassle or expense of pulling the heads. I went with Andrews Adjustables on the Push-rods. They were just over $100 on eBay. I personally haven't heard much on Breather issues, but a new stock H-D Plastic Breather was only about $6.50, so why not. I considered going with a steel replacement breather vs. H-D plastic, but the majority of the Wrenches I talked to advised against it. Their theory is that the plastic breather can't cause damage to the cases & that the Steel Breathers could.

In case nobody has already mentioned it, the only other advice that come to mind on an EVO Motor, is to be sure to warm it up a bit before nailing the throttle. If not, the rear base cylinder gasket is known to blow & leak. The EVO is a great motor that you'll see many mile out of. They take a pretty good beating as well, and won't let you down.

Enjoy!

 

My 2 cents,
Harley used 'Gear driven cams' in EVO's but in order to reduce engine noise went with the Chain drive which should be quieter in an oil path, the Tensioner problem was fixed in 2007 and up, It is offered as a 'not - so - cheap' upgrade to TC88 owners which also upgrades the Oil Pump.

 

I hope this means my '92 has Torrington bearings.