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Why not a potato sounding idle?

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  #11  
Old 03-27-2010 | 02:35 AM
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My carbed '04 Road King sounded like that when cold. Warm the idle smoothed out.

My '10 kind of has that sound. Thanks to the Woods cams...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuvZMCYnfUk
 
  #12  
Old 03-27-2010 | 02:42 AM
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you could always change the cam.
 
  #13  
Old 03-27-2010 | 02:49 AM
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The cam makes a big difference. Or cams if you got a Twin Cam. I got HQ500 cams and they make it idle like the old Panheads sound. Much better performance, too.
 
  #14  
Old 03-27-2010 | 08:10 AM
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its not a shovelhead
 
  #15  
Old 03-27-2010 | 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by 1sttinker
its not a shovelhead
Exactly,.. if you want the true harley sound, buy an old harley. Shovelhead, panhead and older. The Ironheads can sound pretty good as well, but I'd go with a shovel.
 
  #16  
Old 03-27-2010 | 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Cyphilis
Exactly,.. if you want the true harley sound, buy an old harley. Shovelhead, panhead and older. The Ironheads can sound pretty good as well, but I'd go with a shovel.
Nahhh, my wifes and mine old carb bikes all sounded good and the oldest was a 93. Mighter of fact, her 03 Sportster (carb., stage one) sounds super at idle.
 
  #17  
Old 03-27-2010 | 03:16 PM
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How does the motor create run enough oil through the engine when it idles the slow?

Beary
 
  #18  
Old 03-27-2010 | 04:44 PM
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The true reason that the Potato/Potato sound is missing is not due to the cams or any other reason other that the idle set at least 1000 RPM.

This began with the EVO that was made to such tight tolerances. This required the oil pressure to be higher in order to reach all of the places needed. It is even tighter with the Twinkie. The RPM must be kept at least 1000 RPM. If it was set lower, oil would not reach in all places needed.

The tolerances on the Shovel, Pan, and Knuckle was set to such a low tolerances that the oil could reach everywhere even when the RPM set as low as 600 RPM.

You can set the RPM lower with any motor with a carburetor. But in order to have the idle set lower with the EFI, you would need to remap it and this would require a custom mapping. If you set the idle below 1000 RPM on an EVO, or Twinkie, you run the risk of starving the motor of oil and causing major damage. Some have set their EVO or Twinkie at the low RPM, but they just shortened the life of their motor. They might not ride much so it did last years.
 
  #19  
Old 03-27-2010 | 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Ultra89Rider
The true reason that the Potato/Potato sound is missing is not due to the cams or any other reason other that the idle set at least 1000 RPM.

This began with the EVO that was made to such tight tolerances. This required the oil pressure to be higher in order to reach all of the places needed. It is even tighter with the Twinkie. The RPM must be kept at least 1000 RPM. If it was set lower, oil would not reach in all places needed.

The tolerances on the Shovel, Pan, and Knuckle was set to such a low tolerances that the oil could reach everywhere even when the RPM set as low as 600 RPM.

You can set the RPM lower with any motor with a carburetor. But in order to have the idle set lower with the EFI, you would need to remap it and this would require a custom mapping. If you set the idle below 1000 RPM on an EVO, or Twinkie, you run the risk of starving the motor of oil and causing major damage. Some have set their EVO or Twinkie at the low RPM, but they just shortened the life of their motor. They might not ride much so it did last years.
on my 96 ultra EFI I set my idle around 800 - 850 and it runs around 20 - 25 psi on the oil , it sounds better and not like I am trying to do a hole shot , is my motor getting enough oil
 
  #20  
Old 03-27-2010 | 07:11 PM
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Originally Posted by 1st 96 ultra
on my 96 ultra EFI I set my idle around 800 - 850 and it runs around 20 - 25 psi on the oil , it sounds better and not like I am trying to do a hole shot , is my motor getting enough oil
When the EVO first came out, Harley explained in the service manual the need to keep the idle above 1000 RPM or suffer permanent motor damage.
I have noticed that now they don't explain the need. This may be the case due to the newer EFI only and the idle is set by the mapping.
 


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