What You Need To Know About The Twin Cam 88

Would you go with the gear drive system or upgrade to the hydraulic tensioner?

Still went ahead and purchased a '02 FLSTS knowing the flaws. I can live with the upgrades needed because I like the bike and am willing to go that extra mile in order for the motor to live. In my opinion (everyone has one) the Heritage Springer is one of the best looking bikes any manufacturer has made to date.

Love your videos, man. I wish I would’ve seen your video before a rebuilt My 03 Road King with the S&S 98 kit. I spun the bearing and had to redo. Had a different shop put the Timkijn kit and same Andrews 37b cams with another set of 98 jugs. Put 7000 miles on it and I’m taking it back in to try to get diesel piping fixed and increase the 27 miles per gallon and may be quiet the rockers with some lockers. Dyno’d after rebuild at 100 Hp and 105 torque. Good runner just a little Chatty and poopy. My question to you sir, is what do you think about that gas mileage? I’m hoping we can improve. What are your thoughts please and thanks and keep up the good work.

Hi 👋, Guys, I have had the Softail Deuce, 88 them upgraded to 95, and a 2-1 exhaust system, ages ago, I left a comment, I thought my exhaust was a DND, but it wasn’t , I do apologise, I was going through some paperwork last weekend I came across the instructions for it,
I got the pipes from drag specialties , and it is made by Russ Tom it is still called a Boom Can and it certainly was, P/N DS- 202002/3 , if they are still available, this is a nice sounding pipe, over the years I have had a lot of comments, Ride Safe, Phil

I had a 05 TC 88 , I put 45,ooo miles on it without ANY problems! Okay, one compensater--thats all ! I can't believe it myself

I have a 2000 wide glide and was told the pinion shaft was out.004 . I've had 2 bearings fail on me. Is this two excessive? My tensioner lasted 30000 put hydraulic in it.

I have a 2002 Sotftail Standard, carbed TC88. Bought it new. It got a gear drive cam set, Thunderheader, & Chrome engine kit before it ever left the dealership. Just turned over 40K miles. Bought a 2014 Street Glide last yr which we love for the longer trips, but the Softail is still my favorite for a quick 50 or 75 mile ride. With the cam, carb, & Thunderheader it has a nice idle lope for sure

Will mufflers from an earlier 80 c.i. EVO fit on my newer carbureted '05 Wide Glide?

@GixxerFoo do the twin 88 when cammed. Have a odd exhaust sound. I have a 06 Electra glide. Just installed the S&s 585 east start kit Had it dyno tuned and just seems to have. A odd sound to exhaust when cruising. I’ve tried to find videos of but nothing but start up. Videos when my sounds like the rest basically

I installed some Feuling .525 reaper cams and was at -100 ftlbs of torque with just a cam change .

Double tapered timkin bearings on one side, sprocket shaft side to be exact , not both. FYI

One way to fix twin cam issues, STAY AWAY FROM HARLEYS.

It’s a bad engine to me if it has more than .003” runout . It’s even a worse Company for not recalling them and making necessary repairs .

I bought my 05’ Dyna not too long ago, and I know it’s got the 95CI upgrade kit on it. I know it’s got different pistons and heads, but not sure if the cam tensioners have been changed. Do the kits involve new cam chain tensioners?

I have a 2001 softail Deuce with 50,000 plus miles ! Its been spitting and sputtering running like shit ? any ideas ? I replaced intake seals and spark plugs but still acting up ?

so if Im hearing you correctly if you wanted to put and S&S full kit with a 509 or 510 lift cam you would need to change the bearing and it's called a timkin bearing? is that correct?

This is an old video, so I'd be surprised if I got a response. There are rather stringent parameters for runout when installing the gear-driven system to replace the cam chain tensioner. What happens if you install the gear drive and runout increases at the pinion? What causes runout increase in the first place? What's to prevent runout from increasing beyond acceptable tolerances after installing the gear drive?

Question about the crank shaft on the 99 - 02 88 ci. Is the crank bolted together or pressed?

Which bike should I buy? 98 evo or 2002 TC88 dyna? Maybe I should go into 2010 tc98?

I bought an '01 TC Fat Boy with 25K. I opened it up and the tensioner shoe has maybe a 16th to a 32nd of wear. I haven't gone past the outside shoe yet. Is it dangerous to assume the inner is in a similar condition to the outer shoe?

Hi 👋, I had 88- 1450- 1999 , DEUCE, I went to a 1550 at around 36000 , 2-1 D&D BOOM CAN , my bike was serviced regular, and it could certainly kick ass, Some of my fellow riders couldn’t believe the amount of power it to put down, out exaggerate and go away above anybody else’s bikes TopSpeed, I’ve been known to touch 135 miles an hour plus, Due to unforeseen circumstances, my ex female partner scam me for 10 thousands of pounds and I had to sell it in 2019. It was well over 55,000 miles on the clock, and it never let me down I like her a bitch,
PHIL FROM THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOULIN FRANCE,

70k before I replaced lifters and cam Chan tensioners

Now that I've changed out the tensioners to hydraulic and upgraded the oil pump in my 06 fatboy I feel good about my motorcycle as far as dependability. This is my last Harley, too bad I don't have the Timken bearing in my bottom end but I don't do much hotroding anymore seeing I'm 69 and have slowed down considerably. I was afraid of going to gear drive even though my runout was only 1.5k

I have a 2004 FLHTCUI that I converted to 95 cu in. (with the SE kit) around 2010. It had about 50k miles on it then and the cam chain tensioners were worn out. When doing the work to it I also changed out the tensioners to the SE kit with HD oil pump. I have about 81k miles on it now and it runs like a top. I didn't know about checking the runout on the pinion shaft when I did the work to it (I do all my own wrenching and have for over 50 years) but chose not to use the gear drive system because of the excessive noise. Your articles are very informative and easy to understand. Thanks for producing them.

Another excellent video. Thank you for giving me information about my 2005 Screaming Eagle 88 bored out to 103. I sure wish you could go through this bike and work your magic. What State is your shop in? Thanks.

👌

Sorry, kid, Harley engines are rubbish.
I've been riding for more than 30 years, and the Twin 88 is absolute shit.
Not only is the engine prone to breaking completely, (due to a design flaw from the factory), but Harley KNEW about the issue, and did absolutely nothing to protect or redeem the owners.

I stopped riding Harleys after this engine came out...and I am SO happy to have a Yamaha today instead.
- ANY Jap engine will ALWAYS be better than a Harley. 😂

You are so good with the information that you give.

110,000 on my 2004 and no issues yet

Had a 2003 88 in her that I had bumped up to 100 inches (4x4). Thing was very fast, blowing away stock 110 M8. Fun bike. Kept it for almost 9 years.

I love my 95" 2004 RK.....it has an awesome lope sound

Thanks for the info; I am looking at a 2005 FXD with 23000 miles on it. :)

If I wanted to, "do a little hotrodding"
I'd buy a Ducati. (I owned a Buell, but set fire to too many pairs of Levi's!)
My 88 will never be quick in the hotrodding world, but with my two torque wrenches, less than $100 in parts and 3 hours spare time, I can change the tensioners every 10,000 miles, just to be safe.
Putting the pig in a dress, when any 600 Crotch Rocket can blow most Harleys into the weeds, I'd rather spend a grand on better brakes, tires and suspension.
I always have a private chuckle at those guys that believe they have a performance machine. I sold Harleys for a few years and could not believe how much some buyers would spend on "upgrades" to make their new Garbage Barge have higher horsepower that they could boast about down at the DQ, HOG meeting!
I also owned a V-Rod.....lousy on the bendy bits, but it was brutally quick in a straight line.
But....if you have the spare cash and
ride a lot, why not!? Most trade in bikes we took in, had less than 3k per year on them and bucketloads of "upgrades". I guess some really do have money to burn.

I wished I seen this video before I just got a 2000 FatBoy with 52, 000 miles. There is no chin nose coming from the cam shift . I will planning on checking out the tensioner make sure it’s good. But I like to put add gear tensioner . Thank you for this video

"The tc88 is not a bad bike, it just has a few issues". Understatement of the day. Buy a low mileage pre-1999.

You just trying to sell some parts

As usual great info. I wasn't aware r of the timing lower end till this video, makes me more comfortable with my 02 RKC upgrades happening this winter. Fuelng cam plate, tensioner, oil pump, lifters, 543 cams. Hammer 98 inch kit 10.5 compression and behive springs kit. All I have left is headwork. Mild porting and spring setup. Looking for a recommendation?
Oh yeah one last thing. That shelf behind you is one quart of oil away from catastrophic failure! It sags more every video lol.

I have an 04 FatBoy with the 88TC. It had 40,000 miles on it when I bought it. 7 1/2 years later, it has 115,000 miles on it. I love my Harley. The MoCo, on the other hand, can gargle my nutsack.

have you heard of the 2003 Ultra classic bikes shutting off when they get hot?

I had my cam chain guides changed out at 37,000 miles when I had Andrews TW26 cams installed. I am the original owner of a 2006 Road King FLHR/I and have only used Amsoil in the bike since it was broke in. There was a little pitting on the pad surface but they had not yet even started wearing a grove into the pads. Other then the pitting they were like new...

My 2005 carbureted TC88B, that has been taken out to 98ci with high lift gear drive cams (Head Quarters HQ-0039G first, and now Wood TW-6HG), putting around 100 hp / 120 ft-lbs to the rear wheel, since 2006, just rolled over 350,000 kms (217,500 miles) on the original bottom end, and only now needs to be opened up to address an issue either with the crank, or the counterbalancer tensiong system. I've always consistent with maintenance, using full synthetic oils since her first oil change. 😁😁😁

Hey wow! Thanks for all the info, (and thanks to you) and comment info!
I'm in the market for a touring motorcycle, but I was afraid (watching your videos) of running across a twin-cam 88, without all of the upgrades to cam chain tensioners. I feel a little more confident now, (watching your great videos) than I did!
I can really only afford to do upgrades, but not buy a bike that is going to grenade on me because of my lack of knowledge! Thanks again!!
I'm subscribed!! (And "like" all of your videos! It's great to have a friend I trust, that backs me up, in reference to my Harley knowledge!)

Hey brother love you videos long time viewer, I have a 95 Cuban inch on a 2005 15th anniversary Fatboy my Indian store cams Andrews 37g fueling camp plate fueling high flow oil pump, at idle I have a clatter metal sound sounded like a diesel check compensator to have a little slack in chain thank you in advance

Wish this dude was my neighbor

Hi @GixxerFoo, I know this video is 2 years old, which, for internet standards is an eternity, but I have a doubt so, even "late", I'm gonna ask for your orientation. Hope I'm lucky enough to receive your attention.

I'm a owner of a 2002 carburated Softail Deuce which I love.
I bought it 10 years ago with just 6200mi on the odometer, now it has 60000mi. Last inspection of cam tensioners revealed that they were worn to the point where the metal was beginning to show. Luckly, the single side effect of that was that my stock cams suffered "scratches" on its lobbes. Well, I replaced them for used ones (they were perfect, showing no signs of use) that give me the impression that they are slightly more strong. At least the bike is running with much more oomph and, after 3500 RPM, the motorcycle awakes like a hungry (and angry) beast. I'm pretty happy with that.
I have a K&N washable air cleaner, Lockhart oil cooler and a pair of VH Shortshots. That V&H are great pipes indeed, but too loud and, besides the fact that I live in a residential area of a major city, I'm getting tired of so much noise on longer trips (about 3000 mi).
I'm thinking, therefore, to go back to the full stock exhaust sistem for its quietness.
Here (finally) follows the question.
If I'm correct and the newer cams that are now fitted on the motorcycle are, lets say, stronger than the stock ones, will the more restrictive stock exhaust be a problem for the bike? Do I need to stick to the more free flow V&H in order to keep the bike running ok?

All the best and peace from Brazil.✌
I have to add, you've got a new subscriber.

Hi, I am thinking of buying you bike. Mind if i tear it down to look at the tensioners. LOL

All I heard was that I am safe because I own a 2002 TC 88. And I can put a big bore kit on it without worrying about my crank. I just upgraded the cam chest with the new oil pump hydraulic cam chain tensioners, 525 fueling cam. My next move is a 98 inch big bore kit with some mild head work

I put around 35,000 miles on my 2002 low rider before the cam chain tensioners went out. All the sudden I started getting 57 mpg and their was a clatter coming from the lower end. I was on a long trip and didn't have knowledge or options on what to do. So I drove it quite a ways before I took it to the Harley shop. I had bought the 6 year extended warranty and this was a couple of months before it ran out. They replaced the tensioners and the oil pump. This would have been in 2008. Would the tensioners be identical, meaning the same crap, to the ones that came out? They said the job would have cost a little over $1000 back in 2008. I parked the bike at 45,000 miles 9 years ago and just got it running again. Should I have the tensioners replaced? Looks like it's beyond my skill level. What would the hydraulic tensioners cost installed?