Video Idea. I would love to have a series like "how to make your Harley XYZ bulletproof" I personally own a 2012 wide glide with the 103 TC in it and would love to own this thing for a looooong time
@Shane G can't help ht ask..... 50k lemons as I 2? Total engin fail or needed some work?? I've got 70,000 on 2015 103. Couple problems over the years but nothing catastrophic
Depends on the bike, IMO. If the bike is a lighter bike, the Twin Cam and the M8 are fine. The touring bike both engines are very underpowered. Mass production and cut cost spending. To me, this just gives aftermarket companies to build parts to make the engines better all around or buy a complete aftermarket engine and don't worry about the Harley engine. The same principles apply to sports cars that become race machines. Usually, if you have the money, you drop a crate performance engine in and pull out the original engine. This way, if you sell the bike, you can sell the bike with the original engine. To me, if I'm going to beef up the original engine, it is because I want it to last, and I'm going to keep it for a long time. Otherwise, like other auto machines, I'm going to cash it in for a new one. Personally, I like 2010 softail classic. It's practical. Get me point A to point B. Ther isn't a perfect motorcycle. Just the one each biker prefers, and that's the bottom line.
I went from an Evo Sportster to a 2003 Twin Cam. Yeah, I found out the hard way that Harley cheaped out on the internal engine parts. That would be acceptable on a cheap bike but it is absolutely unacceptable on a brand that claims to be "Premium" and charges a premium price. BTW, I miss the saggy shelf with the aerosol cans in the back. It was like a mascot.
I went from a 99 sportster that I kept for over 10 years into it 2003 road king I put about 45,000 trouble free miles on that bike. What problems did you have? I did upgrade the complete two hydraulic tensioners at 15,000 miles.
My 2003 RKP has 114,000 miles on it. still runs good. Although I had to replace cam chain tensioners 3 times BEFORE they went bad, well , that's what wrenches are for. The only other internal parts were lifters, I replaced at 100K
I had 2 1200 sporties one was 01 Buell but with absolute young fella abuse 75000kms & 55k other Absolutely for from cold startup I never had 1 issue besides a battery in either,by far most reliable engine & I've had multiple twincams M8s,dropped over 50k on both M8s & both spent more time in wrty than my shed both all same engine issues deadset lemons even with stage 4 kits etc all done from new at dealer I now have a Honda till I find the right twincam.....
I bought a '99 TC new and rode it over 100,000 miles. I put a gear drive cam and had it dyno tuned at 15.000 miles to get rid of the tensioner worry's and that engine had never been apart otherwise. I changed my oil every 2500 miles. Up until '95 they had the bolted crank which was practically indestructible. What kind of problems did you have with yours?
Let's not forget the evolution motor was developed under AMF, they spent a lot of money and time developing a good engine that took care of all the shovelhead engine problems.
Thanks for that kind word about AMF. I always think about that company as the source of Harley’s troubles, but if they were the driving force behind the Evo then that certainly dispels that belief. I’m pretty sure that AMF was responsible for Harley’s venture into snowmobiles as well as I remember that tank they built and tried to label it as a snowmobile. Now that all the snowmobile companies are going to 4 strokes maybe Harley should try planting a Milwaukee 8 in a machine!
@@chrish5791 at the bankruptcy court the Davidson family begged the judge to let AMF buy Harley-Davidson because Bangor printer had a history of buying companies taking a tax write-off demolishing the factory and he would have Harley-Davidson cups and t-shirts and knickknacks but no motorcycles. Just like general Mills / MPC saved Lionel trains AMF saved Harley Davidson otherwise we would have neither one today of course they were still American made in those days both the toy trains and the motorcycles. If we were not the world's policeman bankrupting our country to keep peace in the world all of the countries that stole our prosperity would be killing each other left right and center and we would make money selling them ammunition as long as it was backed by gold 🥇🪙.
@@martincvitkovich724 The story I heard is that Vaughn Beals and friends had to buy new Cincinnati Milacron machines in order to get the loan they needed to buy the company approved.
and don't forget,AMF produced the 5 speed transmission,and the 80 c.i. 1340 c.c. engine..I had a 79,AMF-H-D Lowrider,silver,black,red pinstripes.She was beautiful,ran great,never any major problems.
Harley-Davidson, One step forward and two steps back. When they removed the TIMIKIN and went to the flat roller they took us back to 1953. Then the tried to cheapen up on the bearings in the cam chest they took a step back to the last of the Shovel heads that came with a caged cam roller bearing that failed. H-D came out with a service bulletin that stated if a German bearing is installed remove it and install a full compliment Torrington cam bearing. They didn't learn their lesson and tried it in the Twin Cam with the same result only with no service bulletin for replacement, All they care is it that it will last until the warranty has expired. From the dawn of time until the EV2 the crankshaft was a Five piece unit with replaceable; crankpin, pinion and sprocket shafts. The EV2 has a Three piece Crank with the shafts machined from the flywheel castings. They had failures of the pinion shafts due to an improper radius in the machining cut causing a stress riser that would cause the shaft failure.( I replaced a few working for the dealership) I have built some nasty Nitro Dragsters and never had the wheels shift, since working on the twin cams I have seen more than one set of wheels scissor and it sucks. The only other failure in the EV2 was the plastic crank case breather gear that would disintegrate. Once the got those few snags worked out the were a great engine. Keep the great video's coming and I hope everything works out to your satisfaction.
Harley made a mistake with the EVO. They run well and for a long long time. Many keep them for years rather than trade for something without the known longevity. My 99 Softail Custom only has 65,000 on it and runs like new. And the fit and finish on the bike are fantastic. Having heard of problems of the later twin cam engines, I love the simplicity of the EVO. But Harley cannot sell new motorcycles if the old ones keep running. I have kept mine stock for the most part except for lots of Chrome the first owner put on it along with drag pipes and a K&N air filter. My 99 comforts me.
This is hilarious! I have been talking to some other person on here and he says the old engines (the ones that killed HD prior to the Evo) were solid, and the new ones are solid, and Evos aren't all that. I of course told him he was one in a million. Now you publish this (I agree 100%) and it cracked me up. The timing was perfect. I plan to stick with my 1991 Evo. It seems to be solid. I also prefer the reliability of my carburetor over fuel injection, where any one thing can stop me in my tracks.
These new bikes are electronic nightmares. Too many things rely on sensors that piggy back on other systems, so when something goes wrong you have no idea where to start if it’s not blatantly obvious. I went through that with a 2020 streetbob.. never again. Went back to a dyna with a 96 twin cam and called it a day.
The problem with "cost savings" is that they rarely trickle down to the consumer. It's simply not about pride anymore. Just greed and investors reports
Really enjoy your channel and look forward to it every week. Recently brought a one owner 97 Fatboy (Stage 1) done 22000 kms , so any info you put out on the Evo feeds my passion. Cheers 😎🇦🇺
You said something that speaks volumes. Drive sensible. Big twins are not hot rod engines, there I said it. I've had Shovels,Pans, Twin Cams and am currently on a 67 Shovel. Every one I've had required some mods to the engines for longevity. Treat them for what they are and they will take you down the road and back. Good articles, hope new digs work out for you.
BC,You are 100% right.if you start out with a good running H-D and you treat it like it was built to be treated,then it will last you forever,there will always be maintence and some parts do wear out over time just keep up with her.If you pound her into the ground,rev the f out of her,or just don't maintain her properly,then like anything,you will end up with a broken motorcycle.Don't blame the bike,blame an aggressive right hand.
The MoCo needs to solve the crank runout issue. Their solution was to allow for a higher runout to be considered in tolerance. Rebuilding the crank was a major expense during my 50k refresh. Come on HD….Just weld the damn crank.
I've done lots of research & watched many of your helpful videos before buying parts for my builds. 2006 street glide, Arlen Ness big sucker, pro pipe, fueling OEM+ cam plate, 509 S&S cam, & Power vision. Bike runs real strong for 88 cubes. Keep up the great videos! I'll be watching. Thanks
I really enjoy your content. Glad to see you persevere through your recent moves!!! Always look forward to see your next topic when I tune in. Past Harleys; 96 FXSTC, 97 FLRHI, 16 FLHXS (someone totaled last summer, lucky to be alive and still riding! currently went back to an EVO 97 FXSTC, stock 9k on it from orig. owner, which I'm slowly making changes to.
Congratulations on the new place! Was getting worried that something had happened when the Friday videos stopped so suddenly, I’ve been watching for a while and I’ve learned a lot. Keep the content coming!!
Congratulations on the life changing events. Hope all is well. I appreciate all the EVO content. I'm subscribed to your channel till I die. Keep up the good work 💪🏾
Thanks for your comments and videos, well done. I have too many bikes. The '15 Ultra is the one we ride most often. It has a 103 and is not changed up except for exhaust. Very dependable so far ( 6K ). My favorite to look at and think they will never be made again (because of cost) is the '97, '98 and '99 Heritage Springers. They really are artwork and they all have EVO's. thanks again
I'm glad i chose for the BMW R1100RS, a pretty cool design those cyl heads and having a camshaft snucked in there, futuristic suspension. It seems to do 0-200km/h in about 11/12 seconds with only 90HP and 100nm Torque and doing 5 liter / 100km.
I went through the factory school in 1981 and saw a fellow trueing wheels on a modified trueing stand with a foot operated air center point, trueing more than one crankshaft a minute he was doing. The early Twincam loose cranks were fixed the dirt bike method of welding the pin. Old and retired now.
I brought 2 brand new M8s & spent huge money on stage 4 kits full exhausts everything done right dealership over 10k on engine alone each bike & both were in shop on wrty more than my garage with stator regulators,oil pumps & backing plates,oil locks cooking engines & after 40 years riding 20 of those years with 9 Harley's I have a Honda in shed now don't own a Harley anymore,last twincam103ho I thought were great engines I never had any issues with but the M8s both were a nightmare I'd kill to get my 16 breakout back hassle free bike screw M8s never buy another
I did get some rework done on my 2018 Road King Police with a multitude of things including a new oil pump and installed am external breather. So far it's been running great and I have about 80k miles on it. I ride it everyday down here in Florida. Hopefully it lasts
@@Peter-nm1ps I actually bought it used with 10k miles on it. The rest I've been putting on. It's actually been very reliable and the one time that I did get it towed was for a nail in the tire and since I had the wheel and tire warranty, that didn't cost me anything
@@Peter-nm1ps that's great that it still runs good. I'm not into sport bikes anymore unless it's a track day. I just find Harley cruisers way more comfortable and practical for everyday use. To each thier own though. At least you're on two wheels. Keep riding, and keep enjoying what you're doing
@@Kajemyster The oil pump was covered under warranty and they actually changed it to a 2022 oil pump. I'm looking to changed out the cam plate, and put in a new cam as well to the ones gixxerfoo recommended for a little more power and longevity. I may have my local shop do that instead of taking it to a Harley dealership. I got quoted about $800 for the cam plate, cam and labor.
I was going to buy a new Honda Rebel but loved the look of the 883. Saw a 2001 for 1/2 the cost of the rebel. What sold me, however, was the EVO reputation... bullet proof. I hope I do not curse myself. So far so good. 😊
@Peter Done 2 years ago... so far no regrets. Very different machines. I have to admit, I did my refresher course on the Rebel, nice bike, but I wanted a little more character in my older years. Already owned 3 Asian bikes.
Hey Gix , your show on Friday is the trigger that switches my brain from “at work mode” to “it’s the weekend so I can work on my stuff mode “ . I look forward to you pulling the trigger and throwing my brain switch each Friday. 💪
I have had several shovels over the years new and used . I never had any issues with them and were quite reliable with proper maintenance and upkeep. That’s the major problem with the shovels was the lack of maintenance cause the majority of the problems .
I believe you're right. Shovels were reliable if they were maintained properly. The other reason for their bad reputation was too many of them wound up in the hands of people that simply abused them.
Outstanding, glad you are moving in the direction you wanna go. Been watching channel for awhile now and continue to look forward to what you post. I always come away with learning something new every time . Thanks for posting can't wait for more
Gixxer, always enjoy your topics and narrative. You apparently have had A Lot going on. Hope things work out for the best for you. Hang in there Amigo🤙
I bought an 01 Dyna and afterwards found out it had the Timkin bearings and bolted flywheel. Another $2,500 got me a forged cam plate, better oil pump, gear drive cams, new lifters, inner cam bearings, S&S .510 cams and adjustable pushrods. It's finally as good as an Evo. It came with a Supertrapp 2:1, K&N filter and Mikuni 42mm carb. I added a billet fork brace and Jagg oil cooler. Was going to do a 95" kit with high compression, headwork and forged pistons but it runs so well I hate to touch it but stage IV is just one step away.....
Thanks for all the great content you provide!! I bought a FLHXS 2021 $43,000.00 CAD Right out of the box shifter pawl spring had to be replaced.few month later if you leave the ignition on wile fueling the ECM locks up and the bike won't start must leave it sit with ignition off for 10 min.(dealer can't repair it)and this year went on my first ride throttle by wire puts the bike in LIMP MODE . OH YES and the front disc have been replaced 2 times warping problems. I sold my 2004 ultra classic to my Nabour and he IS having a blast with that bike LOL THANKS HD
Bought a new Softail in 2011…immediately joined the Forums and learned all the “bad” stuff about my motor….146,000 miles on a stock bottom end and not a problem…and I did a big bore kit with cams and heads….if you didn’t get a lemon from the factory, you are fine
I have had 2 TC88 and 1 TC88B bikes. My 01 FXDX was a dream bike and I miss it a ton. My 03 FXD is my current bike and has been a very reliable bike. My 04 Fatboy was my least favorite of the 3 for comfort reasons, just never liked how that bike rode. For the 01 and 04 I did the Screamin Eagle upgrade to the camchest and have zero complaints and had zero reliability issues. All bikes ran all over and had decent power. The 03 I completely tore out the factory cam system for an SS510 gear cam system and that makes the TC88 a much better running motor, hopefully just as reliable over the next few years as the others were. The evo's were fine but I will always be happier to run a TC88.
Right now, it may feel like a few rough & rocky steps on your winding path up the mountain my friend, but just remember the view you will get from the top will have made the whole journey worthwhile. Not every step is easy, but every step counts towards your destination so long as you never give up mate. 👍
Sorry George Smith to my knowledge didn't. The Evo project was started in 1979. I saw 2 in bikes at service school in Jan 1982 across from the cafeteria downstairs looking through a window before I got run off. 12 engines 750,000 test miles on those 12 before the release in 1984 year models in Sept of 1983
Gixxer, you put out a lot of good content and information, knowledge is power! You have a good supportive fan base, keep up the good work, I for one, am not going anywhere.
My FXR Evo motor sounds great, super reliable in the summer and during our cold winters here in Canada. I ride it minus -10 Celsius and this crazy motor loves winters. No issues at all
I really appreciate your content. I think we all do. Thank You. I love the insight and history of the tech. Keep it rolling our way. I think you should be at 100k subscribers by now!!! PS I like when you expose the corner cutting the co. made, and the FIX.
I am a faithful viewer. You are a walking Harley encyclopedia Mr Gixxer! I guess my 2002 was the last year of the assembled balanced crank. I have not opened the engine. It runs soo smooth and reliable. I don't want to risk spoiling a reliable Harley. That's unheard of. Every Harley I've owned has suffered break downs.
You're 2002 crank are pressed. GixxerFoo keeps repeating this nonsense. Not just this video but also in other. The fact are all Twin Cam cranks are pressed together starting from 1999. I have a 2000 Dyna where I this winter changed my crank for a S&S crank 4 3/8" stroke. My old 88" OEM crank are pressed.
No Gixxer corrected me there. So much for hoping 2002 had something better in the drivetrain. On the other hand, the great Gixxerfoo hasn't revealed anything terrible about my year bike. Yet.
Anything made after the Evo is cheap crap, and I call them PlastiGlides®️. I bought an '02 Softail Springer, but sold it after 2mos, because it felt like riding a Honda, the heart and soul of the machine was gone. My '97 WideGlide is twice the machine the new ones are, but it still makes my '72 ElectraGlide look like a tank. You couldn't give me a new Harley.
I love your perspective. I know Moving sucks ! about 7 years ago I got eviction notice on my BD & less than a month to find a place & move. I am set up now About 2000 ' A/C ( Florida) but its been rough. But im still here & going forward. EVO's ROCK!!!! Cant wait to see your shop
bought a new road glide recently. the clutch slipped terribly right out the box. got it home, rode around for a few days and had to put it in the shop.
I have a 2017 RG and put in the 114 kit right after I bought it. Talking about a domino effect! First the clutch basket exploded. Then the compensator went, followed by the transmission. Oil summing went nuts, so had to put in new oil pump and plate by S&S. Then the Harley Screamin Eagle cams went so new cam and lifters. Although is was expensive, I love my HP now and couldn’t ride a stock bike.😊
Man oh man I miss my Evolution bikes! I shoulda never sold them! The twin cams were a disaster waiting to happen! Now I have the M8 and truthfully I quite like a lot. I have a 2017 model, that I took upon myself to fix the oil pressure issue. So far it's been a really reliable engine and in fact the 107" motor was just fine as far as I'm concerned. I don't need to go or accelerate any faster or better. It's a bagger, fast is relative to your destination. I didn't buy mine to race it that's for sure. But I did cam it up and with the S&S .475c cam and did a few other choice mods that kept it reliable. Getting back to the Evolution motors, I rarely if at all had issues with the motor itself, I did however had a terrible issue with the EV-1 cam that slowly disintegrated and took out my bottom end, thank god for Delcron! Evos are still my favorite AMF motor and Harley-Davidson was smart for keeping it as long as they did.
In addition to how you run your motorcycle, I believe in timely service intervals, all three holes each time with quality lubes and filter is key. Scrimping here is not saving at all, it ends up costing. And - don't despise that downtime, enjoy it, do it well, and be looking for changes and do it well! Connect with your bike, and seek out loose fasteners always! Check your tires, too!
When you keep charging more for less it's a thin line you walk and Harley seems to really stagger on both sides of that line. Most folks I know give A.M.F. the credit for the Evo and for me and alot of people I know judge other engines against the Evo. Reliability, cost and cost of upgrading. If not for the aftermarket supporting Harleys because of customers who are in love with the story of Harley and not the corporate side of it at all. The bikers, the tattoos and the bad boy look is what kept Harley and AMF alive and afloat. The very people Harley always tried to distance themselves from are the reason they're still here. If Indian had kept it together and stayed American owned they could have taken Harleys market share. They were around first anyway. Great vids, glad you post.
A bike that costs $20-35K should have Zero excuses when it comes to engine build quality. I have owned several new twinkie and M-8 Harleys over the years, but from here on out I will buy nothing but big bore Evo bikes with proper Timkin bearings (and Zero crank end-play) from here on out. The motor company deserves the bad rap they took over quality. The fit and finish has improved dramatically in the past few years however. It is ridiculous to consider spending $30K for a new bike when I can easily buy a show quality chopper with a big bore S&S Evo and custom paint all day long for under $8K.
I had a 76 sportster which was a disaster, however my 76 flh liberty edition and my 78 flh 75th anniversary were frigging great. Now onto the newer ones they have their quirks, but a twin cam is worth beefing up. Take Care Brother
As a owner of both a evolution and a twin cam 103 ho , I will have to say I am very happy with both but when I took your advice and put the wood 222 cams and a thunder max tuner and tab full exhaust I am a big fan of the twin cam thanks for your vids that pointed me in the right direction as far as parts you are spot on thanks
Did you get your bike tuned? I have a twin cam too.. I like torque and mid range RPMs (don’t care about highest HP).. how’s your torque curve? I’ve watched all Gixxer’s vids, just curious of user feedback.. thanks
@@GBDunknRollCD I got that.. I’m wondering what the torque curve is like on a dyno tune.. is it good and steady, or a rise and peak.. the graph Gixxerfoo showed shows the latter..
@@bullast2046 that's because a more restrictive cam and head allows the air to flow faster through a tighter space at low rpms, you're going to lose torque under 3-3.5k and gain it above 4k. It's opening up the top end. The best way to get more torque down low for your "preference" is to increase displacement ie. a bigger bore or stroke
@@bullast2046 it all depends on what you have done to your bike, different cam lift and durations with change the curve drastically, find a cam to suit your needs when it comes to having power and tq come on down low and you should be happy
Congrats there Foo, you got at least the camera backdrop of your new creative work center organized. It’s just not the same as when we could take bets on that shelf behind you and if it was going to collapse by your next video! The suspense that used to add to your videos was palpable.
A lot of the Milwaukee 8 when you change the Fluids you will have metal on all 3 drain plugs including the engine. I put s&S 1200 KITin the 2021 883. The gear case was loaded with metal fragments from when the cases were machined and not cleaned properly.
Excellent video Gixxerfoo! Sorry to hear about your moving situations, but been there, done that. Looking forward to the new content! Love my Evos! ('95 Electra Glide Custom, '00 883 Sportster) Hey, decorating tip, bring back the firefighters calendar. LOL!!!
Do you feel like Harley-Davidson engine quality has gone forward or backwards with the new engines?
Evo 883 sportster. Best HD engine. Only one I'd own.
Backwards I learnt first hand with two new M8s both 50k lemons both gone never again
Video Idea.
I would love to have a series like "how to make your Harley XYZ bulletproof"
I personally own a 2012 wide glide with the 103 TC in it and would love to own this thing for a looooong time
@Shane G can't help ht ask..... 50k lemons as I 2? Total engin fail or needed some work?? I've got 70,000 on 2015 103. Couple problems over the years but nothing catastrophic
Depends on the bike, IMO. If the bike is a lighter bike, the Twin Cam and the M8 are fine. The touring bike both engines are very underpowered. Mass production and cut cost spending. To me, this just gives aftermarket companies to build parts to make the engines better all around or buy a complete aftermarket engine and don't worry about the Harley engine. The same principles apply to sports cars that become race machines. Usually, if you have the money, you drop a crate performance engine in and pull out the original engine. This way, if you sell the bike, you can sell the bike with the original engine. To me, if I'm going to beef up the original engine, it is because I want it to last, and I'm going to keep it for a long time. Otherwise, like other auto machines, I'm going to cash it in for a new one. Personally, I like 2010 softail classic. It's practical. Get me point A to point B. Ther isn't a perfect motorcycle. Just the one each biker prefers, and that's the bottom line.
I went from an Evo Sportster to a 2003 Twin Cam. Yeah, I found out the hard way that Harley cheaped out on the internal engine parts. That would be acceptable on a cheap bike but it is absolutely unacceptable on a brand that claims to be "Premium" and charges a premium price.
BTW, I miss the saggy shelf with the aerosol cans in the back. It was like a mascot.
I went from a 99 sportster that I kept for over 10 years into it 2003 road king I put about 45,000 trouble free miles on that bike. What problems did you have? I did upgrade the complete two hydraulic tensioners at 15,000 miles.
My 2003 RKP has 114,000 miles on it. still runs good. Although I had to replace cam chain tensioners 3 times BEFORE they went bad, well , that's what wrenches are for. The only other internal parts were lifters, I replaced at 100K
😂😂😂😂😂😂 thought i was the only one that noticed that !!
I had 2 1200 sporties one was 01 Buell but with absolute young fella abuse 75000kms & 55k other Absolutely for from cold startup I never had 1 issue besides a battery in either,by far most reliable engine & I've had multiple twincams M8s,dropped over 50k on both M8s & both spent more time in wrty than my shed both all same engine issues deadset lemons even with stage 4 kits etc all done from new at dealer I now have a Honda till I find the right twincam.....
I bought a '99 TC new and rode it over 100,000 miles. I put a gear drive cam and had it dyno tuned at 15.000 miles to get rid of the tensioner worry's and that engine had never been apart otherwise. I changed my oil every 2500 miles.
Up until '95 they had the bolted crank which was practically indestructible. What kind of problems did you have with yours?
Let's not forget the evolution motor was developed under AMF, they spent a lot of money and time developing a good engine that took care of all the shovelhead engine problems.
Thanks for that kind word about AMF. I always think about that company as the source of Harley’s troubles, but if they were the driving force behind the Evo then that certainly dispels that belief. I’m pretty sure that AMF was responsible for Harley’s venture into snowmobiles as well as I remember that tank they built and tried to label it as a snowmobile. Now that all the snowmobile companies are going to 4 strokes maybe Harley should try planting a Milwaukee 8 in a machine!
plus AMF brought in CNC machines
@@chrish5791 at the bankruptcy court the Davidson family begged the judge to let AMF buy Harley-Davidson because Bangor printer had a history of buying companies taking a tax write-off demolishing the factory and he would have Harley-Davidson cups and t-shirts and knickknacks but no motorcycles. Just like general Mills / MPC saved Lionel trains AMF saved Harley Davidson otherwise we would have neither one today of course they were still American made in those days both the toy trains and the motorcycles. If we were not the world's policeman bankrupting our country to keep peace in the world all of the countries that stole our prosperity would be killing each other left right and center and we would make money selling them ammunition as long as it was backed by gold 🥇🪙.
@@martincvitkovich724 The story I heard is that Vaughn Beals and friends had to buy new Cincinnati Milacron machines in order to get the loan they needed to buy the company approved.
and don't forget,AMF produced the 5 speed transmission,and the 80 c.i. 1340 c.c. engine..I had a 79,AMF-H-D Lowrider,silver,black,red pinstripes.She was beautiful,ran great,never any major problems.
My local Harley Tech has one million miles on his EVO. He rides it every day rain or shine. I really enjoy your channel I have learned a lot.
1981 fxwg Shovel. Original motor still kicking 40+ years later 🤙
is his name Shadow?
@@mikec1254 His name is Ron
I ride mine rain shine and during cold Canadian winters
Harley-Davidson, One step forward and two steps back. When they removed the TIMIKIN and went to the flat roller they took us back to 1953. Then the tried to cheapen up on the bearings in the cam chest they took a step back to the last of the Shovel heads that came with a caged cam roller bearing that failed. H-D came out with a service bulletin that stated if a German bearing is installed remove it and install a full compliment Torrington cam bearing. They didn't learn their lesson and tried it in the Twin Cam with the same result only with no service bulletin for replacement, All they care is it that it will last until the warranty has expired. From the dawn of time until the EV2 the crankshaft was a Five piece unit with replaceable; crankpin, pinion and sprocket shafts. The EV2 has a Three piece Crank with the shafts machined from the flywheel castings. They had failures of the pinion shafts due to an improper radius in the machining cut causing a stress riser that would cause the shaft failure.( I replaced a few working for the dealership) I have built some nasty Nitro Dragsters and never had the wheels shift, since working on the twin cams I have seen more than one set of wheels scissor and it sucks. The only other failure in the EV2 was the plastic crank case breather gear that would disintegrate. Once the got those few snags worked out the were a great engine.
Keep the great video's coming and I hope everything works out to your satisfaction.
As far as I'm concerned you're the most informative and entertaining of any Harley Chanel out there. Keep it up and Thank You !!
100% Spot On!
I agree.ty for the information 😅
I agree 💯 ty for the videos n info
Well. Aren't you gullible?
Harley made a mistake with the EVO. They run well and for a long long time. Many keep them for years rather than trade for something without the known longevity. My 99 Softail Custom only has 65,000 on it and runs like new. And the fit and finish on the bike are fantastic. Having heard of problems of the later twin cam engines, I love the simplicity of the EVO. But Harley cannot sell new motorcycles if the old ones keep running. I have kept mine stock for the most part except for lots of Chrome the first owner put on it along with drag pipes and a K&N air filter. My 99 comforts me.
Good luck 🍀👍 with your new shop Andrew! Thanks for the great topics and sharing your knowledge! Ride on wind brother! 🏍️
The m8 doesn't even sound like a harley. The evo sportster is the best sounding harley as well as the early twin cam engines with a carb.
I've got a 96 Sportster S and 01 FXDX and I agree 100%😊
Thank the EPA for that.
Keep the power mild?! Ride it Sensibly?!!! Then Harley better not sell me a "Screaming Eagle" if it's just a "clucking chicken"
My 88 cubic in. Twin cam has been going for 17 years. Last carburetor model. Still running great.
I still loved my Shovel. Easy to fix on the side of the road. You just needed to maintain it. 🏍💨🏍💨
This is hilarious! I have been talking to some other person on here and he says the old engines (the ones that killed HD prior to the Evo) were solid, and the new ones are solid, and Evos aren't all that. I of course told him he was one in a million. Now you publish this (I agree 100%) and it cracked me up. The timing was perfect. I plan to stick with my 1991 Evo. It seems to be solid. I also prefer the reliability of my carburetor over fuel injection, where any one thing can stop me in my tracks.
These new bikes are electronic nightmares. Too many things rely on sensors that piggy back on other systems, so when something goes wrong you have no idea where to start if it’s not blatantly obvious. I went through that with a 2020 streetbob.. never again. Went back to a dyna with a 96 twin cam and called it a day.
The problem with "cost savings" is that they rarely trickle down to the consumer.
It's simply not about pride anymore. Just greed and investors reports
Really enjoy your channel and look forward to it every week. Recently brought a one owner 97 Fatboy (Stage 1) done 22000 kms , so any info you put out on the Evo feeds my passion. Cheers 😎🇦🇺
You said something that speaks volumes. Drive sensible. Big twins are not hot rod engines, there I said it. I've had Shovels,Pans, Twin Cams and am currently on a 67 Shovel. Every one I've had required some mods to the engines for longevity. Treat them for what they are and they will take you down the road and back.
Good articles, hope new digs work out for you.
BC,You are 100% right.if you start out with a good running H-D and you treat it like it was built to be treated,then it will last you forever,there will always be maintence and some parts do wear out over time just keep up with her.If you pound her into the ground,rev the f out of her,or just don't maintain her properly,then like anything,you will end up with a broken motorcycle.Don't blame the bike,blame an aggressive right hand.
Baggers running 7s. No hotrodding there.
Love your channel Gixx, I look forward every week to your videos and find them very informative. Congratulations on the new move for what it’s worth.
The MoCo needs to solve the crank runout issue. Their solution was to allow for a higher runout to be considered in tolerance. Rebuilding the crank was a major expense during my 50k refresh.
Come on HD….Just weld the damn crank.
As a Harley owner all my life and the son of a Harley owner I would like to know when did Harley ever have quality?
I've done lots of research & watched many of your helpful videos before buying parts for my builds. 2006 street glide, Arlen Ness big sucker, pro pipe, fueling OEM+ cam plate, 509 S&S cam, & Power vision. Bike runs real strong for 88 cubes. Keep up the great videos! I'll be watching. Thanks
"Research" The most overused word ever in the internet era.
My 88 is still running great after 17 years.
I really enjoy your content. Glad to see you persevere through your recent moves!!! Always look forward to see your next topic when I tune in. Past Harleys; 96 FXSTC, 97 FLRHI, 16 FLHXS (someone totaled last summer, lucky to be alive and still riding! currently went back to an EVO 97 FXSTC, stock 9k on it from orig. owner, which I'm slowly making changes to.
Congratulations on the new place! Was getting worried that something had happened when the Friday videos stopped so suddenly, I’ve been watching for a while and I’ve learned a lot. Keep the content coming!!
Thanks!
The extra support on the channel is greatly appreciated, thank you!!
Congratulations on the life changing events. Hope all is well. I appreciate all the EVO content. I'm subscribed to your channel till I die. Keep up the good work 💪🏾
Thanks for your comments and videos, well done. I have too many bikes. The '15 Ultra is the one we ride most often. It has a 103 and is not changed up except for exhaust. Very dependable so far ( 6K ). My favorite to look at and think they will never be made again (because of cost) is the '97, '98 and '99 Heritage Springers. They really are artwork and they all have EVO's. thanks again
EVO's Forever. and ever. Built better than today's board of directors.
Congratulations on your move! You definitely deserve it with all the help you’re giving us viewers
Thank you so much 🤗
I'm glad i chose for the BMW R1100RS, a pretty cool design those cyl heads and having a camshaft snucked in there, futuristic suspension.
It seems to do 0-200km/h in about 11/12 seconds with only 90HP and 100nm Torque and doing 5 liter / 100km.
I went through the factory school in 1981 and saw a fellow trueing wheels on a modified trueing stand with a foot operated air center point, trueing more than one crankshaft a minute he was doing. The early Twincam loose cranks were fixed the dirt bike method of welding the pin. Old and retired now.
At the capital drive plant I saw that in Jan of 1982 and them balancing the assemblies electronically assembled crankshafts to a set piston weight
Thanks for the topic. You just confirmed my suspicion as to why they did away with the tapered crank bearings. Cost and production.
I brought 2 brand new M8s & spent huge money on stage 4 kits full exhausts everything done right dealership over 10k on engine alone each bike & both were in shop on wrty more than my garage with stator regulators,oil pumps & backing plates,oil locks cooking engines & after 40 years riding 20 of those years with 9 Harley's I have a Honda in shed now don't own a Harley anymore,last twincam103ho I thought were great engines I never had any issues with but the M8s both were a nightmare I'd kill to get my 16 breakout back hassle free bike screw M8s never buy another
I did get some rework done on my 2018 Road King Police with a multitude of things including a new oil pump and installed am external breather. So far it's been running great and I have about 80k miles on it. I ride it everyday down here in Florida. Hopefully it lasts
How much did the oil pump and labor cost you? Need to do the same to my 2018 Low Rider eventually.
@@Peter-nm1ps I actually bought it used with 10k miles on it. The rest I've been putting on. It's actually been very reliable and the one time that I did get it towed was for a nail in the tire and since I had the wheel and tire warranty, that didn't cost me anything
@@Peter-nm1ps that's great that it still runs good. I'm not into sport bikes anymore unless it's a track day. I just find Harley cruisers way more comfortable and practical for everyday use. To each thier own though. At least you're on two wheels. Keep riding, and keep enjoying what you're doing
@@Kajemyster The oil pump was covered under warranty and they actually changed it to a 2022 oil pump. I'm looking to changed out the cam plate, and put in a new cam as well to the ones gixxerfoo recommended for a little more power and longevity. I may have my local shop do that instead of taking it to a Harley dealership. I got quoted about $800 for the cam plate, cam and labor.
Always great to hear from you, even when I don't know if temptin bearing for a crank ha ha ha . But my Evo is running great!
Your videos are my first resource whenever I have a question about HD. Excellent content and delivery.
Understand Life Changes brother. Glad to see you still hanging out your sign. My brother and I really appreciate what you do. Hang in there!
I was going to buy a new Honda Rebel but loved the look of the 883. Saw a 2001 for 1/2 the cost of the rebel. What sold me, however, was the EVO reputation... bullet proof. I hope I do not curse myself. So far so good. 😊
@Peter Done 2 years ago... so far no regrets. Very different machines. I have to admit, I did my refresher course on the Rebel, nice bike, but I wanted a little more character in my older years. Already owned 3 Asian bikes.
@Peter Well... not this guy. Icon jacket and my 883 has been labeled a girl's bike... by big Harley guys ... you know, the ones you classify as apes!
2001 is the end of the run. Great bikes!
Hey Gix , your show on Friday is the trigger that switches my brain from “at work mode” to “it’s the weekend so I can work on my stuff mode “ . I look forward to you pulling the trigger and throwing my brain switch each Friday. 💪
They should have stayed with the EVO.
Bulletproof, easy to work on, easy to hop up.
HD just had to screw it up.
I have had several shovels over the years new and used . I never had any issues with them and were quite reliable with proper maintenance and upkeep. That’s the major problem with the shovels was the lack of maintenance cause the majority of the problems .
Facts 👌 💯
After I bought my shovels (used) and all the issues were fixed, they have given me no problems whatsoever. (knock on wood)
I believe you're right. Shovels were reliable if they were maintained properly. The other reason for their bad reputation was too many of them wound up in the hands of people that simply abused them.
100% right, I have had shovels half my life with no problems out of the ordinary.
That’s true with all engines.
Outstanding, glad you are moving in the direction you wanna go. Been watching channel for awhile now and continue to look forward to what you post. I always come away with learning something new every time . Thanks for posting can't wait for more
Gixxer, always enjoy your topics and narrative. You apparently have had A Lot going on. Hope things work out for the best for you. Hang in there Amigo🤙
Good luck with the new digs GF. Keep bringing that great content.
Because HD is a T-Shirt company selling incomplete motorcycles
Always learning from you’re content buddy. Hope all is well brother and keep it coming!!
Most informative channel I have found!!. Keep em coming!. Congrats on the new shop!.!
I bought an 01 Dyna and afterwards found out it had the Timkin bearings and bolted flywheel. Another $2,500 got me a forged cam plate, better oil pump, gear drive cams, new lifters, inner cam bearings, S&S .510 cams and adjustable pushrods. It's finally as good as an Evo. It came with a Supertrapp 2:1, K&N filter and Mikuni 42mm carb. I added a billet fork brace and Jagg oil cooler. Was going to do a 95" kit with high compression, headwork and forged pistons but it runs so well I hate to touch it but stage IV is just one step away.....
Congrats on the new place Of course man i cant wait for a new vid every week!
Thank you for the support!
Missed you bud. Good to have a video from you today.
I really like my Evo, so far. My friends with TCs love my Evo.
Please put that old wonky shelf back up in your new shop. It makes us feel at home.
Thanks for all the great content you provide!! I bought a FLHXS 2021 $43,000.00 CAD Right out of the box shifter pawl spring had to be replaced.few month later if you leave the ignition on wile fueling the ECM locks up and the bike won't start must leave it sit with ignition off for 10 min.(dealer can't repair it)and this year went on my first ride throttle by wire puts the bike in LIMP MODE . OH YES and the front disc have been replaced 2 times warping problems. I sold my 2004 ultra classic to my Nabour and he IS having a blast with that bike LOL THANKS HD
This is the reason I went with a Sportster, the fact it is tried and tested for decades.
My 2005 1200 Roadster has 83,000 miles on it and was a good investment.
I hope the circumstances you speak of aren't family related. Wish you all the best and keep the videos comin bruh.
Bought a new Softail in 2011…immediately joined the Forums and learned all the “bad” stuff about my motor….146,000 miles on a stock bottom end and not a problem…and I did a big bore kit with cams and heads….if you didn’t get a lemon from the factory, you are fine
Love your channel. Your passion shows! i wish you the best with your changes.
I have had 2 TC88 and 1 TC88B bikes. My 01 FXDX was a dream bike and I miss it a ton. My 03 FXD is my current bike and has been a very reliable bike. My 04 Fatboy was my least favorite of the 3 for comfort reasons, just never liked how that bike rode. For the 01 and 04 I did the Screamin Eagle upgrade to the camchest and have zero complaints and had zero reliability issues. All bikes ran all over and had decent power. The 03 I completely tore out the factory cam system for an SS510 gear cam system and that makes the TC88 a much better running motor, hopefully just as reliable over the next few years as the others were. The evo's were fine but I will always be happier to run a TC88.
good video, GixxerFoo! I learn a lot, thanks.
Right now, it may feel like a few rough & rocky steps on your winding path up the mountain my friend, but just remember the view you will get from the top will have made the whole journey worthwhile.
Not every step is easy, but every step counts towards your destination so long as you never give up mate. 👍
And yet, neither the author, nor anyone else mentions the huge involvement of S&S in the development of the Evo. H-D' s best motor EVER!
Sorry George Smith to my knowledge didn't. The Evo project was started in 1979. I saw 2 in bikes at service school in Jan 1982 across from the cafeteria downstairs looking through a window before I got run off. 12 engines 750,000 test miles on those 12 before the release in 1984 year models in Sept of 1983
Gixxer, you put out a lot of good content and information, knowledge is power! You have a good supportive fan base, keep up the good work, I for one, am not going anywhere.
Harley Davidson, Microsoft, and Radio Shack are living proof that you dont have to have a good product to be successful !!!
My FXR Evo motor sounds great, super reliable in the summer and during our cold winters here in Canada.
I ride it minus -10 Celsius and this crazy motor loves winters.
No issues at all
Well, don’t forget we always have S&S and if you go that way that should fix most of your problems
Look forward to your videos every week! Fantastic content!!! By far one of my favorite channels 🤘🏽
Love your educational content
Thank you! I appreciate the support!
I really appreciate your content. I think we all do. Thank You. I love the insight and history of the tech. Keep it rolling our way. I think you should be at 100k subscribers by now!!! PS I like when you expose the corner cutting the co. made, and the FIX.
Torque and Horse Power are one thing but RPM's are a huge factor too .
Great that you've made the move and I pray you won't have any more strife. I noticed your sound is much cleaner too, lavalier mic?
Harley engines have sucked for 20+ years compared to Japanese bikes.
It isn't even a comparison.
I ride a '99 Heritage Springer evolution motor is bulletproof. She rides like a dream.
I'm going to stick with my carbureted Evo Electra Glide Standard.
I am a faithful viewer. You are a walking Harley encyclopedia Mr Gixxer! I guess my 2002 was the last year of the assembled balanced crank. I have not opened the engine. It runs soo smooth and reliable. I don't want to risk spoiling a reliable Harley. That's unheard of. Every Harley I've owned has suffered break downs.
You're 2002 crank are pressed. GixxerFoo keeps repeating this nonsense. Not just this video but also in other.
The fact are all Twin Cam cranks are pressed together starting from 1999.
I have a 2000 Dyna where I this winter changed my crank for a S&S crank 4 3/8" stroke. My old 88" OEM crank are pressed.
But you have the great Timken button end bearings though 😎
No Gixxer corrected me there. So much for hoping 2002 had something better in the drivetrain. On the other hand, the great Gixxerfoo hasn't revealed anything terrible about my year bike. Yet.
Anything made after the Evo is cheap crap, and I call them PlastiGlides®️.
I bought an '02 Softail Springer, but sold it after 2mos, because it felt like riding a Honda, the heart and soul of the machine was gone.
My '97 WideGlide is twice the machine the new ones are, but it still makes my '72 ElectraGlide look like a tank.
You couldn't give me a new Harley.
I love your perspective. I know Moving sucks ! about 7 years ago I got eviction notice on my BD & less than a month to find a place & move. I am set up now About 2000 ' A/C ( Florida) but its been rough. But im still here & going forward. EVO's ROCK!!!! Cant wait to see your shop
Why would you spend extra time and money on the bottom end? Shiny paint is the important thing.
Happy to your powering through, as always great videos and wish you continued success
Glad to see you back
I’ve been a follower for a good while now, you deserve way more subs.
Thanks for your content and valuable info
Thank you! I appreciate the support!
As long as Harley keeps using multi piece cranks, cam plates, and free air cooling, durability will always be sacrificed.
enjoying this channel a lot! keep it up man!
Still RIPpin dad's 81 fxwg Shovel 👌🤘 original motor 40+years old. The community appreciates ya Gix ✊
bought a new road glide recently. the clutch slipped terribly right out the box. got it home, rode around for a few days and had to put it in the shop.
I have a 2017 RG and put in the 114 kit right after I bought it. Talking about a domino effect! First the clutch basket exploded. Then the compensator went, followed by the transmission. Oil summing went nuts, so had to put in new oil pump and plate by S&S. Then the Harley Screamin Eagle cams went so new cam and lifters. Although is was expensive, I love my HP now and couldn’t ride a stock bike.😊
I got a 99 FXDL. Just put on a S&S 510 gear drive kit, thunder header exhaust and mikuni carb. Bike rips, dyno was showing 78 horsepower
Man oh man I miss my Evolution bikes! I shoulda never sold them! The twin cams were a disaster waiting to happen! Now I have the M8 and truthfully I quite like a lot. I have a 2017 model, that I took upon myself to fix the oil pressure issue. So far it's been a really reliable engine and in fact the 107" motor was just fine as far as I'm concerned. I don't need to go or accelerate any faster or better. It's a bagger, fast is relative to your destination. I didn't buy mine to race it that's for sure. But I did cam it up and with the S&S .475c cam and did a few other choice mods that kept it reliable. Getting back to the Evolution motors, I rarely if at all had issues with the motor itself, I did however had a terrible issue with the EV-1 cam that slowly disintegrated and took out my bottom end, thank god for Delcron! Evos are still my favorite AMF motor and Harley-Davidson was smart for keeping it as long as they did.
In addition to how you run your motorcycle, I believe in timely service intervals, all three holes each time with quality lubes and filter is key. Scrimping here is not saving at all, it ends up costing. And - don't despise that downtime, enjoy it, do it well, and be looking for changes and do it well! Connect with your bike, and seek out loose fasteners always! Check your tires, too!
When you keep charging more for less it's a thin line you walk and Harley seems to really stagger on both sides of that line. Most folks I know give A.M.F. the credit for the Evo and for me and alot of people I know judge other engines against the Evo. Reliability, cost and cost of upgrading. If not for the aftermarket supporting Harleys because of customers who are in love with the story of Harley and not the corporate side of it at all. The bikers, the tattoos and the bad boy look is what kept Harley and AMF alive and afloat. The very people Harley always tried to distance themselves from are the reason they're still here. If Indian had kept it together and stayed American owned they could have taken Harleys market share. They were around first anyway. Great vids, glad you post.
Keep up the good work GixxerFoo!
Gixxerfoo! Welcome back!
A bike that costs $20-35K should have Zero excuses when it comes to engine build quality. I have owned several new twinkie and M-8 Harleys over the years, but from here on out
I will buy nothing but big bore Evo bikes with proper Timkin bearings (and Zero crank end-play) from here on out.
The motor company deserves the bad rap they took over quality.
The fit and finish has improved dramatically in the past few years however.
It is ridiculous to consider spending $30K for a new bike when I can easily buy a show quality chopper with a big bore S&S Evo and custom paint all day long for under $8K.
As usual great show I always enjoy your info. great luck on your new place!!!! CT of WV
Sounds like a divorce to me. Been there got me a Hat. Went back again, got me a T-Shirt…. Pretty sure I don’t need any more clothing…. 😮
I had a 76 sportster which was a disaster, however my 76 flh liberty edition and my 78 flh 75th anniversary were frigging great.
Now onto the newer ones they have their quirks, but a twin cam is worth beefing up. Take Care Brother
- Love my twin cam.. An evo is in my future..
- put a flag up, Foo! You got space
- good to see you back
As a owner of both a evolution and a twin cam 103 ho , I will have to say I am very happy with both but when I took your advice and put the wood 222 cams and a thunder max tuner and tab full exhaust I am a big fan of the twin cam thanks for your vids that pointed me in the right direction as far as parts you are spot on thanks
Did you get your bike tuned? I have a twin cam too.. I like torque and mid range RPMs (don’t care about highest HP).. how’s your torque curve? I’ve watched all Gixxer’s vids, just curious of user feedback.. thanks
@@bullast2046 he is running a tmax ecm, which would tune the bike, running the same on my 04 ultra with a stroked s&s 113 and no issues so far
@@GBDunknRollCD I got that.. I’m wondering what the torque curve is like on a dyno tune.. is it good and steady, or a rise and peak.. the graph Gixxerfoo showed shows the latter..
@@bullast2046 that's because a more restrictive cam and head allows the air to flow faster through a tighter space at low rpms, you're going to lose torque under 3-3.5k and gain it above 4k. It's opening up the top end. The best way to get more torque down low for your "preference" is to increase displacement ie. a bigger bore or stroke
@@bullast2046 it all depends on what you have done to your bike, different cam lift and durations with change the curve drastically, find a cam to suit your needs when it comes to having power and tq come on down low and you should be happy
Congrats there Foo, you got at least the camera backdrop of your new creative work center organized. It’s just not the same as when we could take bets on that shelf behind you and if it was going to collapse by your next video! The suspense that used to add to your videos was palpable.
A lot of the Milwaukee 8 when you change the Fluids you will have metal on all 3 drain plugs including the engine. I put s&S 1200 KITin the 2021 883. The gear case was loaded with metal fragments from when the cases were machined and not cleaned properly.
Excellent video Gixxerfoo! Sorry to hear about your moving situations, but been there, done that. Looking forward to the new content! Love my Evos! ('95 Electra Glide Custom, '00 883 Sportster) Hey, decorating tip, bring back the firefighters calendar. LOL!!!
Nice one,every new video from you make me smile.Keep it up mate😊