For individuals that are in interested in Shovelheads engines, this article covers some of the basics concerning the engine and some info on Harley Shovelhead repair. Shovelhead engines are a V-twin engine type produced by Harley Davidson Motorcycle Company from your year 1966 to 1985. This engine design was first based on an engine referred to as Panhead. One of the differences of these two engines is that a shovelhead is made up of more powerful pistons and cylinders and also a “modified” look.
The shovelhead engines received their name because of their unique look through the box covers. The rocker box carries a similar resemblance to 2 coal shovel heads. It was how the “shovel head” name began because of these engines. In the middle of the sixties, Panhead engines were first manufactured to fit the Sportster choppers. With time Panhead engines lost popularity and quickly became unfashionable as Hd started making bikes which prescribed more horsepower and resilience.
During this period shovelhead engines enrolled into the scene with new designed top-ends. These new designs provided more power and acceleration. Unfortunately, most motorcycle experts today claim that the shovelhead engine weight detracted through the power and speed leading to many Harley shovelhead repair jobs in the mid-sixties. Actually, the shovelhead engine was designed for outboard motors for boats. However, the design did not work in moist air or water.
Across the 1970’s a few changes were conducted that have helped fixing a few problems demonstrated through the shovel-head model in the sixties. However, even this Harley shovelhead repair was can not catch the bikes up-to-speed. This was due to the “government regulations” that mentioned that choppers were not permitted to go past a maximum speed of 90 miles-per-hour.
Another interesting fact about the shovelhead engines relates to that if an engine featured a FLH (Electra-Glide Package) it was an engine made for law enforcement bikes. This feature was also known as a “Police Option”. This feature managed to get a bit simpler for just about any police members to push cars off a road and make up with the moving car.
Additionally, with certain Harley shovelhead repairs the FLH (Electra-Glide package), allowed engines to turn over for a longer period of time and still allowing the bike to idle. This selection was made for the heavier bikes, which made it a bit harder for average riders to brake instantly or move.