When did HD eliminate the Timken crankcase bearing?

[joelp34252]

The early twin cams had problems with the nut that holds the compensator coming loose. Harley fixed that on the six speeds but had other issues with the compensators. When the nut came loose with the timkens, the crank would rattle side to side but the Timkens could take the side thrust.When they went to the roller bearing in 2003, the roller was not made for side thrust and could blow a side out of the bearing if the compensator came loose. The roller bearing is actually rated much higher for radial load but is not very good handling side loading. When the comp nut came loose you would hear the noise but if your pipes were loud enough and your hearing was bad you might miss it. They only produced a few years with old style comp and roller bearings. I think it was 03-06 with possibly some variance, but dont quote me.

Joel 2001 FLHT
      1983 FXRT

[FXDBI]

I remember when the timken vs caged bearing/2002 vs 2003 thing first came about, lots of hand wringing, arm waving and hair pulling, but did anything ever really come of it??
Predictions were that there would be flocks of bikes laying on the shoulders of the roads all over America, travelers stranded everywhere, yet I can't come up with anyone I know who's bike has died a horrible death, and I know of several bikes over 100,000mi.

I personally know of a 113" that a dealership built that died a horrible death due to the non-Timken bottom end.  They were forced to re-do under warranty.

Please tell us How it was attributed to a non timken bottom end. Lots of big HP builds out there with out.
Was it rebuilt with a timken the 2nd time?  Bob

[BigT]

I had Darkhorse balance my M8 bottom end when I installed the 124" setup and we discussed if doing a Timken conversion was necessary. I still have the roller bearings.

[C-Cat]

Lefty Bearings in my 124 Twin Cam. Going to be building another this winter and also going to be no timken. I've had the screw heads break off not once but twice when I was running the SE timken Bearing.

[les]

I remember when the timken vs caged bearing/2002 vs 2003 thing first came about, lots of hand wringing, arm waving and hair pulling, but did anything ever really come of it??
Predictions were that there would be flocks of bikes laying on the shoulders of the roads all over America, travelers stranded everywhere, yet I can't come up with anyone I know who's bike has died a horrible death, and I know of several bikes over 100,000mi.

I personally know of a 113" that a dealership built that died a horrible death due to the non-Timken bottom end.  They were forced to re-do under warranty.

Please tell us How it was attributed to a non timken bottom end. Lots of big HP builds out there with out.
Was it rebuilt with a timken the 2nd time?  Bob

With a higher power engine, the sprocket shaft pulls sideways on the rollers and pushes against the sidewall of the bearing cage.  That sidewall is the weak part of the roller bearing.  Yes, when the dealership rebuilt the engine (warranty) they did the Timken conversion.