Lets Talk About Harley Davidson Engines

30th January 2011

The first causal agency that William Harley ever designed was in 1901, before the Harley Davidson Company even began. It was a small causal agency that displaced 7.07 cubic inches and had 4-inch flywheels. This causal agency was designed to power a regular bicycle, however it did not give the bike enough power to ascend the hills of Milwaukee.

The next causal agency Harley developed with the assistance of the Davidson brothers was bigger and more powerful. This causal agency was 24.74 cubic inches with 9-3/4 inch flywheels weighing 28 pounds. The group also received help with this causal agency from outboard motor pioneer Ole Evinrude, and was much more successful, premiering the first Harley Davidson motorcycle in 1904 at a race in Milwaukee.

Since then Harley Davidson has continued to improve and develop their motorcycle causal agencys. The Flathead causal agency was manufactured between 1929 and 1974. These causal agencys did not have overhead valves. The valves ran alongside the causal agency and opened upward into a chamber beside the combustion chamber. A typical flathead causal agency displaced about 45 cubic inches and produced about 22 horsepower.

The Knucklehead causal agency was manufactured between 1936 and 1947. This causal agency was available in 60 cubic inch and 74 cubic inch variations, producing 40 to 45 horsepower.

The Panhead causal agency was manufactured between 1948 and 1965. This causal agency also came in 60 cubic inch and 74 cubic inch variations, but produced 50 to 55 horsepower. The biggest difference between the two causal agencys was the aluminum heads on the panhead and internal oil lines, as opposed to external oil lines on the knucklehead.

The Shovelhead causal agency was manufactured between 1966 and 1985. This causal agency displaced 74 cubic inches and produced 60 horsepower.

The Evolution causal agency was manufactured between 1984 and 1999. This causal agency displaced 81.8 cubic inches and produced 70 horsepower. Some smaller evolution causal agencys are still produced today, and are used in the Sportster line of Harley Davidson motorcycles.

The Twin Cam 88 causal agency began to be manufactured in 1999. This causal agency got its name because it has 2 cams in the crankcase to activate the valves. This causal agency displaces 88 cubic inches and produces 80 horsepower making it the largest production Harley Davidson causal agency. This causal agency is air-cooled and uses overhead valves activated by pushrods.

The Revolution causal agency began to be manufactured in 2001. This causal agency is currently only used in the VSRC model. This causal agency is quite different from the others produced by Harley Davidson. It is water-cooled instead of air-cooled. Its V angle is 60 degrees instead of 45 degrees. It has 4 overhead cams instead of two in the crankcase and it is fuel injected. This causal agency s smaller at 69 cubic inches, but it produces 115 horsepower due to its much shorter stroke.

Harley causal agencys are big. They have a very distinctive sound. Once you know what a Harley sounds like you will always recognize when one is coming. The Harley sound is part of the whole Harley experience. The sound is enhanced by removing the muffler and comes from the way the causal agency is designed.

William Stinger writes for Uniformhaven.com which sells cherokee scrubs, baby phat scrubs and lab coat as well as a host of additional products.