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Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound????

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farmallkid From

01-23-2005 15:36:58

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I have had people tell me that the reason why harleys have that nice sound, is cause the valves are not set right or something. I was just wondering if any of you know if this is true, cause i have a hard time believing it. I think if you had the valves set wrong on a farmall, then it would sound like crap or not run right. If you want a bike sound. throw a big chrome pipe on a 9!!!

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Sven

01-24-2005 08:34:37

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to farmallkid From ONT., 01-23-2005 15:36:58

The best sounding motorcycle is not a Harley, its a NORTON! A Norton sounds like a lion's roar.

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farmallman

01-24-2005 06:59:51

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to farmallkid From ONT., 01-23-2005 15:36:58

I have an idea. forget Farmall and go to Johnny Poppers:) Can"t argue with the 2-cylinders

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Sharky

01-24-2005 05:03:33

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to farmallkid From ONT., 01-23-2005 15:36:58

The result of inferior engineering on both, the Harley and the JD. Never heard a right running Farmall sound like that!

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lee

01-24-2005 06:26:06

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to Sharky, 01-24-2005 05:03:33

I'm not swapping no Farmall motor into my Harley real soon.

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sharky

01-25-2005 05:03:27

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to lee, 01-24-2005 06:26:06

It'll run better if you did, and won't leak near as much oil....

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NEsota

01-23-2005 22:16:23

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to farmallkid From ONT., 01-23-2005 15:36:58

Have never owned a Harley but there was a time I thought that I understood the reason for; POTATO...POTATO...POTATO..., after reading the posts I'm not sure that I did. Here is the way I thought it was, when either plug fires the other one does too. With the 4 & 6 cylinder GM engines useing 2 & 3 coils respectivly, each coil connects to two cylinders and fires these plugs simultanously. Each plug fires twice during its' four cycles. Firing, both on the start of the power and intake strokes. They sound like other fours and sixes because firing at the start of the input stroke there is nothing there to explode. On a Harley because the cylinders are not on the same plane when either cylinder fires on the power stroke the other one may contain combustables and fireing them causes a disrution.

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CPNSix

01-23-2005 18:47:05

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to farmallkid From ONT., 01-23-2005 15:36:58

"If you want a bike sound. throw a big chrome pipe on a 9!!!"

No kidding. I spent a long time away from tractors. During that time I couldn"t figure out where I"d learned to love the sound of a good engine. Last summer I brought home a WD-9. I knew right away why I love them both, my 1943 WD-9 and my 1987 FLHTC

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Hobo,NC

01-23-2005 17:42:37

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to farmallkid From ONT., 01-23-2005 15:36:58

Harley sound is different why I am not zackly sure will go along with replies. I kin tell ya that a manual handle bar spark advance has a lot to do with it cuzz ya could retard the timing and not depend on springs to do it. I Have had Harleys and changed out the advance springs in the distributor to get that sound. Newer electronic spark advance types don�t have it.
Retard the timing and you kin git most enny engine to go thump..... thump..... thump....thump

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Hugh MacKay

01-23-2005 17:18:58

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to farmallkid From ONT., 01-23-2005 15:36:58

Mitch: The truth is you anit going to get that M to bark like a Harley. The Harley is truly one of the most beautiful sounding engines of our time. I even shutt my Farmall down just to listem to a Harley go by.

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Allan in NE

01-24-2005 06:56:50

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to Hugh MacKay, 01-23-2005 17:18:58

Hi Hugh,

I live on a main feed route to Sturgis, S.D. Believe me, there is nothing "pretty" about the way a Harley sounds.

I'm seriously considering stocking up on a few rolls of piano wire. :>)

Allan

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lee

01-23-2005 16:41:26

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to farmallkid From ONT., 01-23-2005 15:36:58

A good Harley motor can thump, thump, thumpity thump out over a hundred horses now days. Not too shabby really.

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fdew

01-23-2005 15:53:06

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to farmallkid From ONT., 01-23-2005 15:36:58

The reason for the sound is the odd one crank pin V design it gives a very uneven exhaust (It is also the reason why a Harley vibrates so

A piston fires. The next piston fires at 315 degrees. There is a 405-degree gap. A piston fires. The next piston fires at 315 degrees. There is a 405-degree gap.

See http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question325.htm

A good running Farmall will always sound smooth because it is. A in line 4 cyl engine just can't help it. The in line 4 is also very nicely balanced.

Frank

How stuff (Harley) works.

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Tom in PA

01-23-2005 18:49:32

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Check out the link to How Stuff Works in reply to fdew, 01-23-2005 15:53:06

Check out the link in the previous post. It will explain exactly how and why Harley engines lope at idle. Both rods are connected to the same throw of the crank, and one is slightly longer than the other. Harleys do vibrate at idle, but above 1800 rpm they are quite smooth. Harley's newest engine, the Twin Cam 88, is much smoother than the older HD engines but retains the lopey idle. I ride a 2003 Superglide with a TC88 and I love it. I rode over 5000 miles this summer with absolutely no problems. No oil leaks either. Harley has that solved. Their newest version of the Twin Cam 88 is the 88B model. It is the first balanced Harley engine. It is only available in certain models. My father-in-law and brother-in-law both have Twin Cam 88B's. They are PERFECTLY SMOOTH and have absolutely no vibration at all, yet they retain the lopey and distinctive Harley idle. The "family" both ride injected HDs, mine is carbureted. Overall I find the Harley Davidson to be a machine of excellent quality, and their mechanicals to be first class.

Regards,
TOM

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PAULIH300

01-23-2005 18:24:35

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to fdew, 01-23-2005 15:53:06

When Weber was developing HDs EFI system,they tuned it to run too smoothly(they believe in smooth running machinery).HD officials ordered them to mess up the timing of the injectors to make the engine lope.The Italians couldnt believe it,but they followed orders.

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Doug in OR

01-23-2005 15:49:22

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to farmallkid From ONT., 01-23-2005 15:36:58

The Harley sounds the way it does because there is 630 degrees before the number 1 cylinder fires again after the number 2 cylinder has fired. This is similiar to why the JD sounds the way it does - Only the JD has 540 degrees between when the number 2 cylinder fires and until the number 1 cylinder fires again.

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ebbsspeed

01-23-2005 16:53:38

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to Doug in OR, 01-23-2005 15:49:22

Doug, you're right on the 540 degrees on the JD twin, but a little off on the Harley measurement. fdew has got the right sequence and timing of events for the Harley. The Harley actually has a more evenly spaced firing order than the JD twins do. In the case of my little JD "B", you can hardly hear the second cylinder fire until the tractor has a little load on it. On my Harley, I've got the idle slowed down quite a bit, and it's got kind of a "three hits and a miss" type of idle, which I've noticed quite a few of the older shovels and pans have.

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chip man

01-23-2005 15:42:55

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Re: Harley davidson myth\Farmall sound???? in reply to farmallkid From ONT., 01-23-2005 15:36:58

If a harley's valves are not set right, then they are hard to start and run like crap. the reason for the distinctive sound is from the uneven timing between the power (sound) pulses.

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