Harley-Davidson Milwaukee-Eight Engine

by Oakley

Harley-Davidson Milwaukee-Eight Engine

My observation, is that Harley is returning to the single cam, concept, as they used to use on the pre-Twin Cam Era, i.e. EVO, Shovelhead, Panhead, engines. They have eliminated the inboard roller chain drive (inside the cam support plate), and have an easy to access, outboard roller chain drive. That is a positive development.

However, the con on this is that they have retained the pesky, PLASTIC cam chain tensioner, which is a wear item, and has to be periodically inspected and replaced or risk cratering the engine. With the increase in power and displacement, it is going to be putting a lot more power demand on the single roller chain drive, which has a propensity to stretch over time and can negatively affect cam/valve timing. I wonder if this added power demand, will wear out the cam chain tensioner, sooner, rather, than later. It remains to be seen. I wonder if they have retained a pressed-together crankshaft which can twist out of true, as they have been known to do, on the Twin Cam engines, on a hit or miss, basis, and can crater the engine, or if they have a bolted together, stronger crankshaft, as on the pre-Twin Cam Era, engines, which is a superior design.

Harley-Davidson Milwaukee-Eight Engine

It also seems that they have one of the two spark plugs, inside the rocker box, and one spark plug, outside the rocker box, for easy access, when changing out the plugs. One will have to take the rocker boxes off to change the inboard spark plug, which involves a lot more work than having both spark plugs, outboard the rocker boxes. A positive is that H-D has gone to a 4 valve per head arrangement and the 2 spark plugs per cylinder arrangement, which will be much more efficient than the single plug, arrangement and the 2 valve per head, as on the Twin Cam engines. A larger charging system is a positive, as well as locating the stator, as far away from the heat of the crankcase, as possible. A con is that the starter is still located behind the hot, rear cylinder, instead of locating the starter, in front of the engine, where, it would stay a lot cooler, and would last longer, over time. A positive is a shorter primary drive, which brings the compensator and clutch basket closer together, and lessens chain travel. I wonder if they have retained the auto, primary chain tensioner, which on the later model Twin Cam engines, caused an increased pre-load on the chain and had an propensity to wear the inner bearings and compensator out. It remains to be seen if they tensioner is automatic or manual adjustment. A positive is the larger diameter bore and stroke, which will produce more torque than the Twin Cam engines, and will move the bike effortlessly down the road. Overall, it is a larger, more powerful, more efficient engine, and that is a good thing.

Haley’s are cruisers, I get that .. .they aren’t sporty when it comes to handling and cornering I get that. Harley’s make loads of torque I get that but I what I don’t understand is that the company sacrifices performance and technology to maintain looks and sound. When you see this engines tiny and almost pointless cooling system it’s clear that rather than make a water cooled engine that actually works, they would rather build the engine to produce a sound and look by keeping it air cooled more or less. Rather than change the bikes geometry and weight distribution to make it ride better … they would rather retain its dimension to keep it looking the same and not dare effect sales.Says a lot about the customers when they are more interested in how the product looks and sounds rather than how good it actually works. The V-Rod is probably the best bike they have, the company is getting rid of it (October 2016 should be the last of the V-Rods) .. probably because customers don’t want to buy it, they are stuck in the past and want the same old bike and engine designs.