Larger engine for Triglides

[rwhgme]

I have a dumb question, with all the problems with the lack of midrange punch of the 103, is there a way to put a larger engine in without a lot of modifications? It's either that or a new cam! Already have stage 1, air cleaner, new head pipes and mufflers. When hot this Trike has no guts, it can't maintain 75 in 6th on even a shallow grade. I will be dynoing the Trike Tuesdyay.

[pettifogger1]

The big question is what year is your bike? The 2011s had a gear change and they have plenty of grunt.

[sandrooney]

I think Harley makes a 120CI Motor.
SR

[trikermutha]

I can maintain 75 mph on hot days with no problem. And my bike is all stock except for the air cleaner

[msocko3]

I think Harley makes a 120CI Motor.
SR

You are correct, they make the 120R which would really be a hoot in the trike. I told my dad one day while were chewing the fat that I'd more than likely go with one of those if my 103 would ever take a dump. On the flip side if a person wanted the 103 to have more steam they could get there with some head work, decent exhaust and cams.

[eagle1]

HMO won' sell the racing motor to the general public, but that would be the ultimate power curve in a trike.

[trikermutha]

Bigger engine = more problems.

[1550vt]

Already been asked....but....what year is it? A bigger motor may not help a bit....unless you run it in the power-band it likes. This heavy trike does not like to lug-around at 2600-2700 RPM's in 6th. gear. The TC likes to run closer to 3,000.

[jimmy]

my 2011 has plenty of power stock

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

Bigger engine = more problems.

Not so. If its built correctly you will have less issues then a stock factory engine. My 117" can make more heat, but runs cooler then any stock Triglide with a 103" engine ( Cruising in 100 degree temps my oil temps stay at 210 ) . I also get the same fuel mileage as a 103". My 117" also make 130 ft lbs of torque @ 2400 rpms

While the 120" Harley is selling is a strong engine its still is built with the same press together flywheels that can sissor on you. The 120" has no warranty at all. Additionally the 03 and older twin cam engines harley use to put timeken tapered bearing in the engine. Now they come with INA bearings which are not full roller bearing.

For the money you would spend buying a 120" you could get more bang for your buck by taking your stock engine to a someone like TMan performance, R&R, Hillside or Barnetts have one of them put together a package custom built to your riding style and needs

[rwhgme]

Already been asked....but....what year is it? A bigger motor may not help a bit....unless you run it in the power-band it likes. This heavy trike does not like to lug-around at 2600-2700 RPM's in 6th. gear. The TC likes to run closer to 3,000.

Mine is a 2010. I understand the powerband is around 3000 rpm but even at that, it will still lose speed. Mind you, it has been 100 degrees here, and I know the Trike weighs 1200 lbs without me(I weigh 200) but I guess a cam and gear might be next. So much for the Moco 34 mpg city and 48 mpg highway.

[1550vt]

I (at this moment) have an older Twin Cam with the full Stage II kit, intake runner flowed and heads ported. It has the venerable old 5-speed in it and I cruise down the interstate at around 3150rpm doing 75 mph. That is exactly where this particular bike was designed to run when it was a 2-wheeler....3100 at 70. I get the same, or better fuel mileage running in 5th. at 3100 never bogging the old girl as the new TG's do. The TG (09 and 10) just will not pull 6th. gear.

Many have changed the output pulley to re-gear like MOCO did on the 11 model. Ask the MSOCKO boys....they know. I think you will have a much more comfortable running and feeling trike if you go ahead and re-gear it and it will cost a lot less than a motor job and will possibly even help your fuel mileage.

[rwhgme]

I know that somewhere on the forum the gearing has been discussed. Can you link me to what I need to tell the dealership, to finish improving what I have started? I am not sure which gear needs changed to match 2011 and newer trikes. Thanks!

[Greydog]

I have a dumb question, with all the problems with the lack of midrange punch of the 103, is there a way to put a larger engine in without a lot of modifications? It's either that or a new cam! Already have stage 1, air cleaner, new head pipes and mufflers. When hot this Trike has no guts, it can't maintain 75 in 6th on even a shallow grade. I will be dynoing the Trike Tuesdyay.

Do you have any kind of tuner on the bike? If you have only a free flowing exhaust and air cleaner you are running VERY lean and need more fuel to reduce engine heat and recover top end power. SE255 or SE259 cams will also increase your torque in the 2500 to 4500 rpm range which puts your normal operating range just about in the middle of the torque curve. I bored my 96" out to 103" and added the 255 cams, compression releases, Heavy Breather, SERT and true duals. She still runs pretty hot even with a 105" map but I have great power all across the band even riding two up.

[1550vt]

rw....PM msocko3. I know he has been through this. I have also, but in my case, I added some teeth to the output pulley, but you need to drop two teeth with a smaller diameter output pulley. The stock is a 32 and they replace it with a 30 tooth. It's not all that easy, but it still beats a motor-job. I am sure Mike will point you to the thread. I believe he has some pictures posted and can tell you how much difference it will make in performance.

[pettifogger1]

Yep, change transmission output pulley from 32 to 30.

[trikermutha]

Not so. If its built correctly you will have less issues then a stock factory engine. My 117" can make more heat, but runs cooler then any stock Triglide with a 103" engine ( Cruising in 100 degree temps my oil temps stay at 210 ) . I also get the same fuel mileage as a 103". My 117" also make 130 ft lbs of torque @ 2400 rpms

While the 120" Harley is selling is a strong engine its still is built with the same press together flywheels that can sissor on you. The 120" has no warranty at all. Additionally the 03 and older twin cam engines harley use to put timeken tapered bearing in the engine. Now they come with INA bearings which are not full roller bearing.

For the money you would spend buying a 120" you could get more bang for your buck by taking your stock engine to a someone like TMan performance, R&R, Hillside or Barnetts have one of them put together a package custom built to your riding style and needs

I have a 120 CU engine and it will put a stump out of the ground it is a strong engine but it gets hot. Plus the stock starter will not handle the larger engine for long or at all before it fails from the higher compression even with compression releases. Larger engines will not last as long as your stock engine.

[1550vt]

triker....up front and truthful observation. I am sure many on here appreciate your honest input.

In reality....you don't need a 125HP fire-breathing dragon to pull a TG, or any trike down the road. Why pop wheelies and snap drive belts. I don't know a soul that takes his 3-wheeler to the drag strip....don't even know if they have a 3-wheeler class in drag-racing.

It's a TOURING model. All it needs to be is properly geared.

[1852cc]

A motor built right, tunned right, will last a long time!

I had my 2002 Ultra motor built up:
113ci "stump puller" built specically for torque, Dyno'd 140 ft lbs at 3,000 rpm, Jims stroker crank, custom heads, s&s 585 gear drive cams and more.
When I traded it off for the 2009 RoadGlide/Lehman it had 85,000 plus miles, never a problem, and pulled a 12 ft long 400 pound trailer.

It is all about the tunning, wether stock or modified!

The 2009 RoadGlide/Lehman I have is a 96ci motor, with big sucker intake, se-255 cams, 4 inch SE slip ons, 1O row Jag cooler, ThunderMax tunner, and tuned right, heat not a issue, unless setting still. Pulls 6th gear without any issues, and get average 40 plus miles to the gallon.

It is all about the tunning, wether bone stock or modified, Harley shops can't tune there way out the door!

[Ironhorsepilot]

I have never had any problem with power on my 09, even running in 6th gear between 60 and 70. I usually don't put it into 6th until 70, but my husband wanted me to test putting it in at 60 to 65 to compare gas milage.
I did that on our trip just to make him happy and to my amazement, I had lots of power, even passing and going up and down hills, (not mountains, of course). Plus, my gas milage went up. I was stopping for gas every 100 to 120 miles when running in 5th. I figured I was getting around 25 to the gallon. Coming home from trip, doing it hubby's way, I was getting 35 MPG. I know, sounds screwy, but that is what it was, running mostly in 6th gear, around 2900 rpms. I didn't shift into 6th until I was running 3200 rpms and it settled to 2900, smooth as silk.

I wonder if it has to do with the weight of the driver. I weigh around 135 lbs.