For Bikers

[Busher]

I know the M8 got a well earned terrible rep largely caused by a bad oil pump.... and a misunderstanding of how much crankcase pressure the M8 makes vs the Twin Cam. I own one of the first.

But an oil pump upgrade and external crankcase vent (Trask) has made the engine Bullet Proof.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

on the twin cams Hydro tensioners fix that problem for the most part. The big problem IMO is when HD stopped using the tapered bearing on the crank. I believe that was 03?

You'll see WAY more tensioner and chain issues than you will crank issues. There's nothing you can do to eliminate plastic chain tensioner failures. They wear, and they become brittle. You can use extremely good oil. You can use extremely efficient oil coolers to keep the oil temperature down. But eventually, the plastic tensioner will wear, and it will become brittle, and fall apart.

You can install the S&S gear drive kit, IF you don't have too much runout on the crank. That eliminates the tensioner failure.

[knorB]

You'll see WAY more tensioner and chain issues than you will crank issues. There's nothing you can do to eliminate plastic chain tensioner failures. They wear, and they become brittle. You can use extremely good oil. You can use extremely efficient oil coolers to keep the oil temperature down. But eventually, the plastic tensioner will wear, and it will become brittle, and fall apart.

You can install the S&S gear drive kit, IF you don't have too much runout on the crank. That eliminates the tensioner failure.

I'm running the screaming eagle kit with the upgraded oil pump. So far so good on a punched out 88.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

I'm running the screaming eagle kit with the upgraded oil pump. So far so good on a punched out 88.

The plastic coated tensioners have a finite life span. I don't know that any oil pump will resolve those issues. It's quite literally a limitation of the materials used in their construction. Normal use/riding with good maintenance allows most to get 20,000 miles or more from them. They're not terrible to change. If they're swapped out at 15,000 to 20,000 miles, most will never experience any failure.

[knorB]

The plastic coated tensioners have a finite life span. I don't know that any oil pump will resolve those issues. It's quite literally a limitation of the materials used in their construction. Normal use/riding with good maintenance allows most to get 20,000 miles or more from them. They're not terrible to change. If they're swapped out at 15,000 to 20,000 miles, most will never experience any failure.

It's a definitely a consumable in my opinion. It's easy to pop the cover off and swap so no biggy.  I have gone to using redline products also.

[bj229r]

I have a '62 Pan, and a '99 Roadking (Wasn't really looking for the RK, best friend left it to me, could never get rid of it) It had 55k when I got it about a decade ago, pretty sure the cam chain tensioner thing had never been touched, had never heard about the other stuff. Buddy took at apart...pieces of the thing were laying in the bottom of the case. As I can tell, you're supposed to deal with them every 25k, so I had the stock setup put back, as I'll prolly not ride the thing 25k before I can't ride anymore. I'm hoping the original owner had the other things taken care of....

And the Pan? I ride it from VA to FLA once a year, all it does is go

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

I have a '62 Pan, and a '99 Roadking (Wasn't really looking for the RK, best friend left it to me, could never get rid of it) It had 55k when I got it about a decade ago, pretty sure the cam chain tensioner thing had never been touched, had never heard about the other stuff. Buddy took at apart...pieces of the thing were laying in the bottom of the case. As I can tell, you're supposed to deal with them every 25k, so I had the stock setup put back, as I'll prolly not ride the thing 25k before I can't ride anymore. I'm hoping the original owner had the other things taken care of....

And the Pan? I ride it from VA to FLA once a year, all it does is go

Pretty much how it is. Making it to 55,000 miles without blowing up tells you it's not terrible.

[Busher]

To diverge a bit, Polaris spent some dollars developing what they call the "Power Plus" engine.. first in a 108 and then offered a 112CI. The engine was designed, tested  and created by Swiss Auto.... a subsidiary company of Polaris. I have no idea if the production engine is made in Switzerland and is imported; or if Polaris now makes the engine in Spirit Lake Iowa. All the writings about this engine suggest that it's a valid rival for the Goldwing flat 6 both in power and reliability.
What baffles me is why a company would invest so much time and money in R&D and shortly after sell it off to a relatively unknown private equity company.

[icepac]

Smooth engine.

[Busher]

Smooth engine.

One of Honda's masterpieces. If that's yours you are one lucky gent. That's a collector's item now.

[bj229r]

Needs more cylinders

[Busher]

Needs more cylinders

Nah... it just needs a PHD mechanic to balance 6 carburetors.

[bj229r]

I wish this forum had the ability to do LOL's

[The Fugitive]

I wish this forum had the ability to do LOL's

Your so funny!