96 CI Engine Reliability
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
if you want to know all the things that could possibly go wrong on a twin cam harley , with the qualification that out of the ten's of thousands twin cams harley has sold, the stuff in this article has happened to at least 1 person, you will find the article an interesting read. A lot of the stuff has happend to me and certainly have seen a lot of threads started by others will simular eaches. I don't agree that the late model twin cam will make it to 40K miles for all owners. Some owners have 75K and all is well, some owners have eaches that occur way before 10K. I rebuilt my engine at 9K. I was motivated to do so after having an over heating adventure that had my engine screeching like it was being cut in half with a hack saw. I found bent push rods, highly worn rod end bearings, indications of excessive crank run out, real excessive carbon build up, in the primary my clutch basket had chipped teeth, my starter gear had chipped teeth, I always found metal chips in my primary oil and always find metal fuzz in both my primary and engine mag plugs. Batteries seem short lived in NYC due to the stop and go traffic which allows a lot of heat to sit around the engine....batteries don't charge well when excessively hot....regulators and stators are problems as well. Recent discovery ....it looks like my swing arm bearings have crapped out...like many others who report various reasons for the high speed wobble. Had I read this article before buying my bike...I would have googled the eaches to see how true they were...and not bought a Harley.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,132
Likes: 25
From: NorCal
I literally beat the crap out of my 96" FLHX with Woods cams for 26k miles. Just sold it, did a compression and leak-down. 185 in each hole and 5% leak-down. Only problem I ever had was a broken clutch hub and ruined Screamin' Eagle clutch discs from trying to do too many burnouts... I replaced the compensator because I already had it out, but there was nothing wrong with the stock unit.
These are great, near bulletproof bikes in my opinion.
These are great, near bulletproof bikes in my opinion.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 17
From: Orange, VA,
I will say they are good bikes, a little over priced but good, bullet proof, no, they have done a great job on a archaic engine design and I like riding mine and touring, but if you want power equal to the competition you have to do alot more to these to even come close.
30000 on my bike and I've had serious problems. The front wheel bearings are junk. Had to replace them,TWICE. And I've had to replace BOTH tires,the rear one twice.
Sheesh. I wish I would have done more research in these bikes. If I knew how much work I would have to do to it I would have bought 2 of them.
Well my 06 1100 v-star only needed gas and oil changes in 40000 but I didn't ride that bike anywhere near as hard as I ride this one.
When we tore it down this spring to go 106 my mech found nothing wrong. Cylinder bores still had the crosshatching. No fuzz in the tranny,primary or motor. Since going 106 I am going thru more rubber,and don't mind at all.
Rubber side down guys
Sheesh. I wish I would have done more research in these bikes. If I knew how much work I would have to do to it I would have bought 2 of them.
Well my 06 1100 v-star only needed gas and oil changes in 40000 but I didn't ride that bike anywhere near as hard as I ride this one.
When we tore it down this spring to go 106 my mech found nothing wrong. Cylinder bores still had the crosshatching. No fuzz in the tranny,primary or motor. Since going 106 I am going thru more rubber,and don't mind at all.
Rubber side down guys
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
I'll be turning 77,000 miles on my '09 RK this week. The motor is 100% stock with just a recent Stage I upgrade. The motor has not given me a single problem at all. The stator and compensator inside the primary have been the only thing replaced, but the motor and tranny have been bullet-proof. Also just recently replaced the starter.
This bike has been supremely reliable and the best bike I've ever had. Take care of your machine and it will run 100's of thousands of miles.
This bike has been supremely reliable and the best bike I've ever had. Take care of your machine and it will run 100's of thousands of miles.
Four year old thread. I wonder if the OP Milo is still around?
Five years after buying my 07, I'm perfectly happy with the reliability I've enjoyed with the 96. I've only replaced the wheel bearings and compensator in 30000 miles. I do drive it like a Model T though, baby the hell out of it.
Five years after buying my 07, I'm perfectly happy with the reliability I've enjoyed with the 96. I've only replaced the wheel bearings and compensator in 30000 miles. I do drive it like a Model T though, baby the hell out of it.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 197
Likes: 3
I have 65,000 miles on my 08 Road Glide. It is stock with the exception of a SE air cleaner and a nightrider IED. I have yet to have a drive train problem.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 40
Likes: 2
From: Texas
I have bros with well over 50k on their TC 96. No problems whatsoever. Matter of fact, one bro just did a 103 upgrade to his after 50k miles, and his stock jugs showed hardly any wear when they came off. Also, the lower end was as tight as a bug in a rug.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
oh ****. wish you would've told me sooner. i had 42000 on my road king when i traded it in on my roadglide. got 30000 on it. guess i should start thinking about trading this one in soon.................. NOT!