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’s the difference between a Shovelhead and a new Shovelhead?
A new belt-final drive gave quieter operation with no adjustment or lubrication needed. The new model also featured a redesigned frame and engine-mounting system, with the swing-arm bolting directly to the (also new) five-speed transmission. Several other upgrades included a spin-on oil filter.
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 was the compression ratio on a Harley Davidson shovelhead?
With a compression ratio of 8:1, the Big-Twin was fed by a Linkert carburetor. The 4-speed transmission was a separate unit. Both primary drive and final drive were chain. The Harley-Davidson Shovelhead motor saw numerous changes over its 17 years in production.
What kind of oil is in a 1975 Shovelhead?
Bought a 1975 Shovelhead a while back from a very shady character and among other things, when you start the engine, it starts puking tons of oil all over the floor. There is a braided metal line about 6-8″ long with a small filter on the end of it.
How did the Harley Davidson shovelhead engine change?
Among the initial changes in the evolution of the Shovelhead was the addition of an alternator, and a gear drive unit on the bottom end. The external timer ignition was replaced with mechanical breaker points and advance in the Shovel Head’s gear case.
Are there any Harley Davidson Shovelheads that are antiques?
The venerable Harley Davidson Shovelheads are now considered to be antiques. They were a good motorcycle that out lasted the sale of HD to AMF company in the early 70’s and went on to be repurchased by the employees and brought back to the leaders in the heavy weight motorcycle class. I like Shovels as they were the first Harleys that I owned.
What causes an oil leak in a Shovelhead?
The culprits can include worn head gaskets, the valve cover on top of the engine or the oil pump. The Shovelhead was equipped with automatic oilers in the primary and for the chain drive. These two systems have historically taken the blame for oil leaks.