Does anybody know what a 88 twin cam with carb is like, I am looking at a 1999 softail springer with 88. Any info would be helpful.

Thanks

 

A lot of guys in here swear by them. Don't want to mess the electronics. Some have even swapped from EFI to carb.

 

My Night Train has a 88 with a carb. It is a great motor and moves the bike around just fine. What questions do you have?

 

I swapped from EFI to carb the first time I was on the road and had to have it plugged in to diagnose a no-start problem.

I don't usually care one way or the other but if you're 1100 miles from home and have some issues you might be looking at a tow/hotel bill.

Factory carb'd bikes are very reliable BUT that all depends on how well the bike has been taken care of.

 

You may need to do some more checking on what the guy has. The 88 Twin Cam motor wasn't used in Softails until 2000.

 

My 2000 carbureted TC88 has been absolutely
bulletproof.
Has 203 cams. Slight lope at idle.
Doesn't sound like a loud air compressor like the
wife's 03 FI model.

Speaking of cams. The bearings were updated and
the one chain shoe (the rear one wears faster I believe)
was 1/3 worn at almost 10K miles.

But as prev stated, no TC's in the Softail line till 2000.
There were a couple running around here in late 99.
I could see our DMV registering it wrong.

 

The Twin Cam 88 motor was introduced in 1999 on a few selected models. During 1999, both EVO's and TC's were produced. The TC became standard in 2000. From 2000 through 2006, TC's were produced in both Carb'ed and EFI models.

I have an 02 Fatboy which is Fuel Injected and an 03 Night Train Carb'ed. The TC 88 Carb'ed is very reliable and easy to tune to maximize performance. It does however still utilize electronics in the form of the ignition module which controls among other things, the spark advance. The ignition module is located under the seat at the front of the rear fender. Same location as where today's ECM is located.

A Carb'ed TC 88 Springer would be a nice find if the price is right.

 

I have two carbed bikes and one efi. The carbed bikes are so much simpler to work on. If I were buying another bike and had a choice I would get another carb.

 

It's a 1999 softail springer with TC88, that's what the add says but cant get any info because of holidays. The VIN is also 1HD1BLY3XYY012621.

 

I just checked the VIN and it says 2000 model.