What makes a Harley an Ironhead?

The ironhead was a Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine, so named because of the composition of the cylinder heads (Iron instead of Aluminium). The engine is a two-cylinder, two valves per cylinder, pushrod V-twin. It was produced from 1957 until 1985 and was replaced by the Evolution engine in 1986.

When did the Shovelhead engine stop being made?

The engine was produced until 1984, where the Evolution engine, which had aluminum heads and barrels, began to take over on most models. The engine could still be found in certain models such as the FLH in 1985, but was shortly replaced by the succeeding Evolution engine.

What was the horsepower of a Harley Davidson shovelhead?

The FLH engine, the hotter version, was rated at 60 horses at 5,500 rpm. The head was the only really new piece to this motor, as the company kept the iron barrels and bottom end of the previous Pan, as well as the generator.

How many cubic inches does a panhead engine have?

– Panhead, 1948-65. (First 61 cubic inches; later 74 cubic inches) – Blockhead, 1984-99 (All Blockheads have the same displacement of 80 cubic inches; they are also called Evolution or Evo. This engine is not to be confused with the Sportster Evo – same name, different engine)

How can you tell what year a Harley Davidson engine was made?

Check the 10th digit in the VIN. For engines that were made after 2001, the 10th digit reflects the last digit of the last year. For example, if the 10th digit of the VIN is “4”, the engine was made in 2004. Check the 11th character position for a “J”, “T”, “Y” or “K.” This letters signifies the plant where the Harley Davidson was manufactured.

What kind of engine does a Shovelhead have?

V= Engine Type L = 1340 Evolution M = 883 Evolution P = 1200 Evolution R = 1340 Evolution Fuel Injected V = Twin Cam 88 W = Twin Cam 88 Fuel Injected Z = 1130 Revolution V= Engine Type L = 1340 Evolution M = 883 Evolution P = 1200 Evolution R = 1340 Evolution Fuel Injected V = Twin Cam 88 W = Twin Cam 88 Fuel Injected Z = 1130 Revolution

What are the VIN numbers on a Harley Davidson shovelhead?

Frame ID Numbers – 2001 and Later 17 digit VIN on frame. Abbreviated VIN on engine. The legal VIN number is on the frame. Example: 1 HD 1 DJ V 1 3 1 Y 500001 1= Made in USA 5= Made for the Canadian market HD = Harley Davidson 1= Weight Class 1 = Heavyweight (901 cc and larger) DJ= Model Designation FL/FX Models

How did the Shovelhead bike get its name?

The first Shovelheads released came out with aluminum cylinder heads borrowed from the Ironhead Sportster but with a redesign and a ten percent bump in power. Rocker boxes replaced the valve covers and the visual similarity to coal shovels earned the new bike the name “Shovelhead.”

When was the Harley Davidson shovelhead engine retired?

Harley made the modifications necessary to bring the Shovelhead engine into a state of redemption prior to its retirement. By 1981 they had successfully relieved the issues. The Shovelhead was produced through 1984 before being replaced with the Evolution engine.

What makes a Harley an IronHead?

How can you tell a Shovelhead?

The Shovelhead Engine (1966 – 1985) The heads resemble the curve of a shovel, hence the name. This type of engine is the most difficult to identify because the shape does not resemble that of a traditional shovel. Instead it looks more like a coal shovel flipped upside down.

Is Harley IronHead reliable?

They are rudimentry and easy to work on and a well maintained one is as reliable as anything else. This is exactly my experience. Look at my sticky “IronHead Maintenance Schedule”. The IronHeads do require a lot more maintenance than virtually any other bike you may choose.

Are ironheads good motors?

Ironheads are as reliable as their previous owners make them. The reason a lot of them have so many problems is because over the years they have had so many different owners that may have boughten it as a first bike (because they are obviously cheaper than a bigtwin), thus a ton of the work done on them is done poorly.

Why are Harleys called Shovelheads?

The engine gained the nickname “Shovelhead” due to the look of the rocker heads having the appearance of an old coal shovel that was flipped upside down, giving the appearance of a shovel. While the engine did have problems earlier in its timeline, the new and improved motor gave Harley-Davidson a 26% sales increase.

Why are Harleys called knuckleheads?

The knucklehead is a retronym used by enthusiasts to refer to a Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine, so named because of the distinct shape of the rocker boxes. The engine is a two-cylinder, 45 degree, pushrod actuated overhead valve V-twin engine with two valves per cylinder.

What was the last year for the Ironhead Sportster?

1971 Sportster The last year of the 900cc Ironhead engine was 1971, and it was the first year of new engine cases.

What’s the difference between a panhead and Shovelhead engine?

Redesigned cylinder heads were aluminum versions of the Ironhead Sportster heads, and gave a 10% increase in power over the Panhead engine. Whereas the Panhead engine had valve covers, Shovelhead cylinder heads were covered by rocker boxes, which resembled upside-down coal-shovels.

What kind of engine does a Harley Davidson shovelhead have?

1966-1969 Shovelhead. The Harley-Davidson Shovelhead motor saw numerous changes over its 17 years in production. For the first three years, it ran a generator and kept the old kidney-shaped timing cover from the 1958-1965 Panhead. These 1966 to 1969 Shovelhead engines are sometimes referred to as a flat-side Shovel, or Pan-Shovel.

What’s the difference between an 80ci and 74ci Shovelhead?

The difference between a 74ci and an 80ci Shovelhead can be told the number of fins on each cylinder. The 74 motor has 10 fins, whereas the 80, due to a thicker base, has only nine. The 74ci motor was designed to run on premium leaded fuel, and the 80ci motor was designed to run on premium unleaded.

What kind of oil do I use on my Shovelhead?

Apparently it re-engineers oiling for the top end and oils similar to an automobile. Shovelhead owners, “clean up your act,” with JIMS®newvalve train kit. This totally re-engineered valve train kitwill enable you to oil your Shovelhead top end like anEVO.

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