Do they go long kilometres like over 100,000?

Are they are strong motor? 

There are some really cheap ones around, as people are dumping them to upgrade...  A Friend needs a cheap ride, what do we tell him about the Evo Motor? 

Thanks in advance, Cowboy

G'day Cowboy,
I've got a mate with a 1992 Softail, It's his only transport (has never held a Car licence).
Bike has had the top end refreshed once, he's done over 330.000 K's and it goes hard.
I got a 1989 Heritage which had done 130.000 and thrown a gudgeon pin, the owner sold it as is.
I bought it and I've rebuilt the motor and expect to not touch it for at least 100,000.
Mind you my reason for getting it was the ability to work on it myself.
My 2 cents.
Regards,
Cris.

 if it's a 91 model or later make sure the inner cam bearing is replaced with the earlier type torringtin B-138 before 50,000-60,000klms  & keep the oil very clean

Thanks Guys...

I got to thinking about it because I saw someones sign off  "See no Evo, hear no Evo"...

It sounds like the Evo reputation is good, great!   Actually, in my day when all we had was 74's they were making drag bikes out of them, "Strokers" that started at 80 c.i.  So I can understand that 80 inch is enough idea...   Mind you, I am Blessed, 40 years later than my 74' Shovel, to be running a 110 c.i. CVO for my main ride.

Thanks for that,  Cowboy

I like the Bling, but I always have like particularly chrome all the way from Rocker Boxes to Inner Primary and all the rest you can do, all done as far back as my 66 Shovel in a rigid frame...  Now, I have an Ultra, still chromed inner primary as well,  and I sometimes ride with the local Hoggies, and they are not the Yuppie sorts so time changes....  I ride most good weather days and some in the rain, to work, about 20,000 kms a year..  Last Sundayhe HOG rode out west, over Mt Mee, and from Redcliffe back to the Sunshine Coast in dead downpour rain, about 45 of us, so no not Yuppies anymore... Just saying........... 

What I do miss is the old days where with a kick start, not just anyone COULD own and run a Harley...  In my day you had to be a fair Mechanic sort of a person to read what was going on with your engine and learn to start it the IT WANTED to start... Now days all you do is hit the button and away She goes... On the other hand I am 60 this year, and that reliable transport value without a battle is really important as you get older..  I guess that is why there are two Hogs in my stable, an old Shovel Kicker, S&S, FLH, all chromed up and my new one... 

It is all good, but I get it now why the 'See No Evo' routine.  I bypassed all of that Evo with a 1973 AMF Shovel, which was not a bad bike, swingarm, glide front end...  Wish I had kept my 66 Shovel ridgid, but could not afford two bikes in those days, and I thought a kicker was the ONLY way to go..  Then I grew up...    

Thank for the advice on the Evo motors. 

 

 

it's funny ,  that i have 2 basket case shovel motors for sale a 1973 & 1974.     1 has new KB pistons bored & honed  , complete  both motors  i can't sell them even for as little as 1200 bucks each  both have rev sert  papers , gives me the shits nobody wants  & 74 c.i. old shovel anymore  ive had these 2 for year's  maybe  1 day ?

Alright DaddyRacer,

I'll bite the bait.....  I have an unknown motor I bought with the bike, something to tinker with as I am a fan of the old Shovels and am very satisfied when I can kick start mine...  My tinkering local rider bike, this Shovel, is done up in all the old Panhead early Shovel style, heads casting is 07/66 so a 66 or 67 set of Shovel Heads, chrome rocker boxes and just about everything else.  But it is sitting on an aftermarket lower end drag motor type.   I would rather have the original lower cases, so answer a few questions for me please:

Is your motor fully assembled?  Have the Flywheels been trued, or balanced or both?  I seem to remember my 1973 74' was the AMF cone motor with the points in the cone, where my first Shovel Love was a 66 with the distributor on the side a genny Shovel. 

I am fortunate to have a new 110' CVO Ultra for all the distance travel, my old Shovel is just for a bit nostalgia and local stuff.  I am good for 600-1000 kms on my 110' CVO, where I am stuffed after a couple hundred on this old Shake and Bake...  Here it is, just considering making it more authentic to the early Shovels, it has the Pan early shovel fold up fender in the rear, pan/shovel chromed drum brake, four speed low geared Police Special tranny, done up like an early Shovel... Unfortunately, the Drag motor lower end is 1983, if I had a 73 or 74 HD lower, I am thinking I could re-register it as such and have a pre-compliance bike without indicators or noise restrictions... ???

 

hi the motor does not  determine the year of the bike  the RTA goes off the frame #  year number etc   on the 70's models the last 2 digits  is the year e.g. 1974 would end in H4  1973 = H3 etc   same for the motor & frame  before 1970 there was no frame #  only engine ,                 what brand are the engine cases , ? ,      both of these motors are disasembled  but all there for those bucks , 1100 is the lowesti can go ,

Alright, thanks for that, guess there is no point unless I get an older frame... I wanted to get back into the Zero compliance older bikes before mid 70s I think..

On this bike the lower end is a Delkron drag motor lower per calling them.  I don't know what shape it is in..  I am embarrassed to admit that it has been so long since I owned one, I did not even recognize the non genuine lower cases when I bought it..  I have had four Twin Cams in the past many years and just did not recognize it looked a bit funny until I was working on the linkage..  Back in the days when I had Shovelheads, you really almost never saw non-genuine cases, as least not me anyway.   The only way I know how tell what shape it is in, is to pull the heads and jugs, and measure the side to side play on the rods in the Old School style with a flat engineering ruler ...  

 Maybe I will just buy an older scooter running and switch over the bits I like on this...   I really like the old Genny Shovel look like my 66 had. 

Could you send me some photos through of these engines mate?

Thanks

 i will try & have some pic's put up but i have too get some help as i am very limited in the computer . i don't have a mobile ph  or watch or credit card ever ,         iam living in the 70's

daddyracer56, what happened to the shovel motors??? still selling????

yes , had these donks  for years  i forget how long about 15 i think , i have not had the time too post any pic's as i have to get someone too help me  as  i hardly  can send & email  i'am not that good on the computer,    i don't even have a mobile ph or a watch  or even a credit card

                                                                                    I"AM LIVING IN THE 70's

 Hi daddyracer56, 

Are there any obvious problems with the shovel motors that you have? I would love to know more!

you can message me if you like

Dave

 both of these motors are basket case's , 1 is pulled completely apart the other pulled down too   short block  in normal lingo cam chest & oil pump + heads off , both  motors complete , 1 has new Keith black pistons & rings bored & honed ready too fit, + also i have a spare set of shovel heads  as well  i will put the heads in the for sale section the heads use to be worth 500+ in the 80's  ?

 Thanks, how would I get hold of you, and when would be a good day and time to call?

Dave

 anytime i am here all the time  , just pm me  for the ph #

Evo engines can sometimes be susceptible to oil leakage from the base gasket, usually when the engine is put under load when not warmed up.

i machine the bottom of the  cly barrell's to  true-up that surface + add a bit of squish as well + to-days gaskets like the JAMES brand do not have that problem any more rubber coated steel orange silicone based  base barrel + rocker box  + multi steel layered head gaskets  good value ,        it only took them X amount of years to get it right

How can you tell what year your evo is?