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Harley-Davidson V-Twin Motor
history.
Click on engine thumbnail for larger picture
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Harleys first v-twin 1909-1911
45-degree 49.5 cubic w/ 7hp |
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F-head:
1911-1929 |
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Flathead:
1929-1936The Flathead was named because of
the telltale flat vented tops that are recognizable at the top of each
cylinder head.
45cu
The engine proves to be so reliable that variations of it are available
on Harley-Davidson motorcycles as late as 1973.
(pictured is a 45" "R" 1932-36) |
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knucklehead:
1936-1947On the
eve of WW2, Harley-Davidson® introduced an overhead- valve
V-twin® with "knuckly" covers on the valves.
- Overhead valve EL-61cu 40hp
- Side valve-80cu
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Panhead:
1948-1965 New features are added to the 61 and 74 overhead
valve engines, including aluminum heads and hydraulic valve lifters
that supplied oil through rocker arms, the panhead hit the market in 1948,
named for the pan-like cover where the knuckles used to be. |
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1956
KHK K-Series
1952-53 K 45" 750cc.
1956-56 KH 54" 885cc
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1957 Ironhead
The
motorcycling public met a new motorcycle called the Sportster®. It
premiers as a 55 cubic inch overhead valve engine.
1959 XLCH
Sportster Engine |
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Shovelhead:
1966-1985 By
1966 the Panhead underwent still more improvements, the most noticeable
being the distinctive enclosed cylinder head in a sleek, slightly curved
top. At a glance this looks unmistakably like a shovel with the pushrods
resembling the handle of a shovel, and the head, the shovel itself. |
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Evolution:
1984-1999
In
1984 on the heels of a bold employee buyout of AMF, The motor company went
public and introduced it's now famous redesign of the v-twin. This radical
new design utilized styled square blocks to house the valves.
4-Cycle, 45 Degree V-Type, 1340cc, 80cu compression: 8.5:1,
Oil-bath diaphragm clutch and electronic ignition.
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1986
The Sportster® motorcycle line receives
the Evolution V-twin engine.
- 1986 - 883cc & 1100cc
- 1988 - 883cc & 1200cc
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Twin Cam
88TM: 1999-2006 & Twin Cam 88BTM
2000-2006
With numerous American motorcycle
manufacturers trying to surface and re-surface Harley-Davidson introduces
it's most revolutionary engine yet. The Twin Cam 88TM
gets its name from its two cams.
B= Balanced
1450cc |
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Revolution TM: 2001-present
Liquid-cooled, 1130cc, 115 horsepower. The Revolution
engine's basic configuration is a 60° V-Twin with dual overhead cams and
four-valve heads. It's a high-revving design, with a 9000 rpm redline. Two
velocity stacks housed in a massive air box allows it to breathe
aggressively. Electronic fuel injection system, modified for high
performance, and a new high-energy plug-top ignition coils.
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Twin Cam 96 2007-Present
Compression 9:2:1
EFI |
1st side-valve motor: 1926 - single cylinder.
1st side-valve twin: 1929 45" "D"
Side-valve motors made until 1973.
Racing H-Ds of the '20s were the "JD", "JDH" etc. single & twin-cam 1000 &
1200 cc IOE, and "pea-shooter" (21" 350cc OHV single), not side-valve. 1st
successful racing side-valve was the mid-1930s RLDR 45".
*Info from Harley-Davidson®
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