Wiktor Wise
The Harley-Davidson Shovelhead engine was produced from 1966 to 1984, replacing the previous Panhead engine. The Shovelhead engine was ultimately fitted to all of Harley-Davidson's big twin motorcycles throughout its production. The engine gained its nickname from its rocker covers, which resemble an upside-down coal shovel. The 1966 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra-Glide motorcycle featured increased horsepower thanks to its new Shovelhead engine. The last year of Shovelhead production was 1984, though some leftover parts were used in 1985 models.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Harley-Davidson Shovelhead engine was produced from 1966 to 1984
- The Shovelhead engine was first introduced in the 1966 FLH Electra-Glide
- The Shovelhead engine was Harley-Davidson's response to the demand for more power
- The Shovelhead engine faced issues with oil pooling and consumption
- The 1985 FLHP police bikes technically featured the last Shovelhead engines
The Harley-Davidson Shovelhead engine was produced from 1966 to 1984
Throughout its production run, Harley-Davidson made numerous changes to the Shovelhead engine to improve power, cooling, and oil consumption. In the mid-1970s, Shovelheads were updated with an ""end oiling" flywheel, which continuously fed oil to the lower end from the oil pump, improving efficiency over the previous "side oiling" method. In 1978, the Electra-Glide became the first Big-Twin Harley to feature electronic ignition, and a larger 80 cubic-inch engine was offered on the FL touring bikes and FX series.
Towards the end of its production, Harley-Davidson made further modifications to address issues with oil leakage and engine vibration. In 1980, they introduced belt drive and a 5-speed transmission, and in 1981, they added a new oil pump and improved valve guides. Despite these efforts, the Shovelhead engine struggled to compete with the cheaper and more reliable Japanese bikes entering the market. Harley-Davidson eventually replaced the Shovelhead engine with the new 80ci Evolution engine in 1984.
The Shovelhead engine left a lasting impact on Harley-Davidson and motorcycle culture. It was known for its distinctive look and powerful performance, and it expanded the audience for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The Shovelhead's longevity, enduring through various historical events, solidified its iconic status in the motorcycle world.
Protect Electrical Connections: Use the Right Materials
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Shovelhead engine was first introduced in the 1966 FLH Electra-Glide
The Shovelhead engine was first introduced in the 1966 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra-Glide motorcycle. The Shovelhead engine replaced the previous Panhead engine, which had served well but was becoming obsolete, and many Harley-Davidson owners were demanding more power.
The Shovelhead engine offered increased horsepower, with the FLH now claiming 60 horsepower, up from 54 in the lower-powered FL. This was achieved by mating new aluminium "Shovelhead" cylinder heads to the iron barrels, which also gave the engine its name as the valve covers resembled inverted shovel blades. The Shovelhead engine also had a shallower combustion chamber, a larger valve drop for both intake and exhaust, better porting, and stronger valves and pistons.
The "Electra Glide" name signified that the bike had an electric starter, which had been introduced by Harley-Davidson in 1965. The electric-start system, along with factory- and owner-installed accessories, added weight to the bike, which now weighed nearly 800 pounds. Despite this, the extra power was appreciated by owners, and the Shovelhead engine gave Harley-Davidson a 26% sales increase during the early part of its timeline.
The Shovelhead engine was produced by Harley-Davidson from 1966 to 1984, although some sources state that there were Shovelhead engines in 1985 bikes, specifically the FLHP Police bikes. The Shovelhead engine was fitted to all of Harley-Davidson's big twin motorcycles throughout its production, and the FLH was also available with an Electra-glide package, which was used as a police engine. This package added weight to the motorcycle, making it faster and more powerful but harder to manoeuvre.
Home Electricity Voltage: UK Standard
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Shovelhead engine was Harley-Davidson's response to the demand for more power
The Shovelhead engine offered an extra 10 horsepower and had a shallower combustion chamber, larger valve drop for both intake and exhaust, better porting, and stronger valves and pistons. The engine gained its nickname from its rocker covers, which resembled an upside-down coal shovel. Despite these improvements, the Shovelhead engine also had several problems. Oil would pool in the crankcase rather than being pumped, causing the engine to overheat and negatively impact performance. This issue was due to the use of 1940s technology, where old stock Bohnalite pistons were fitted with single-piece oil scraper rings.
In 1971, Harley-Davidson released the FX Super Glide with a "chopper" look to bring more models into production. This broader appeal improved sales for the company. The FLH was also available with an Electra-glide package, used as a police engine. The added weight of the larger engine on motorcycles with the Electra-glide package made the bikes faster and more powerful but harder to maneuver.
In 1979, Harley-Davidson began to experience issues with the Shovelhead engine's electronic ignition units, which were prone to failure. As a result, many owners swapped them out for older point-ignition systems. In 1980, Harley-Davidson made several modifications to address oil leakage and vibration issues, including adding belt drive, a 5-speed transmission, and rubber motor mounts.
Despite these challenges, the Shovelhead engine played a significant role in Harley-Davidson's history, and the company continued to make improvements to enhance power, cooling, and oil consumption throughout its production run.
Why These Materials Are Poor Electrical Conductors
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Shovelhead engine faced issues with oil pooling and consumption
The Shovelhead engine was produced by Harley-Davidson from 1966 to 1984 as a successor to the previous Panhead engine. The Shovelhead engine faced several issues with oil pooling and consumption, which affected the engine's performance and caused excessive oil loss.
One of the main issues with the Shovelhead engine was oil pooling in the crankcase instead of being pumped, leading to engine overheating. This problem was attributed to the use of old stock Bohnalite pistons with single-piece oil scraper rings, a design that dated back to the 1940s. As a result, oil would leak into the valves and burn, causing excessive oil consumption. Many owners reported losing up to a quart of oil every 500 miles, significantly impacting the engine's performance and requiring frequent oil changes.
The adoption of unleaded fuels in the American market further exacerbated the issue. The vintage Shovelhead engines had non-hardened valve seats that were not compatible with unleaded fuel, leading to excessive wear and the need for frequent servicing. Additionally, the engines had only 10 fins for cooling, which contributed to overheating issues.
To address the oil pooling and consumption problems, Harley-Davidson made several modifications to the Shovelhead engine throughout its production run. Belt drive was introduced in 1980 to prevent oil leakage from the enclosed chain, along with a 5-speed transmission and rubber motor mounts to reduce vibration. In 1981, the company added a new oil pump, improved valve guides, and lowered the compression ratio to improve compatibility with lower-quality gasoline in the United States.
While these changes helped mitigate the issues to some extent, the Shovelhead engine continued to face challenges with oil pooling and consumption. Some owners resorted to using aftermarket parts and modifications, such as replacing the single-piece oil scraper rings with 3-piece versions and installing hardened valve seats, to improve oil consumption and engine longevity. Despite these efforts, the Shovelhead engine fell behind its competitors in terms of reliability and performance.
In summary, the Shovelhead engine faced significant challenges with oil pooling and consumption due to a combination of outdated piston design, inadequate cooling, and the adoption of unleaded fuels. While Harley-Davidson made efforts to address these issues, they ultimately led to the development of a new engine, the Evolution engine, which began to replace the Shovelhead in 1984.
Electrical Line Burial: How Deep is Deep Enough?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The 1985 FLHP police bikes technically featured the last Shovelhead engines
The Shovelhead engine was produced by Harley-Davidson from 1966 to 1984 as a successor to the previous Panhead engine. The Shovelhead engine was ultimately fitted to all of Harley-Davidson's big twin motorcycles throughout its production. The engine gained its nickname from its rocker covers, which resembled an upside-down coal shovel.
In 1985, Harley-Davidson produced a limited run of police Shovelheads with leftover parts. However, they ran out of 5-star shovelhead cases before completing the run. To finish the run, Harley-Davidson machined new EVO cases to accept the last few shovel top ends left. These bikes were built for Mexico City but never made it there. Instead, they ended up on the market.
The Journey of Electricity: Power Plant to Plug
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Harley Electra Glide Shovelhead was a motorcycle engine produced by Harley-Davidson from 1966 to 1984. The engine gained the nickname "Shovelhead" because its rocker covers resembled an upside-down coal shovel.
The Shovelhead engine was first produced as a successor to the previous Panhead engine. When it was first produced, the Shovelhead had a shallower combustion chamber, larger valve drop for both intake and exhaust, better porting, and stronger valves and pistons. This gave the new engine an extra 10 horsepower, along with a different appearance.
The Shovelhead engine was significant because it gave Harley-Davidson a 26% sales increase during the early part of its timeline. The Shovelhead engine was also important because it brought a broader audience to the motorcycle scene at the time and improved sales for the company.
