Cam advice

[Curtisjames91]

So I'm ignorant and looking for some advice/knowlege I've got a 2015 flhtcul with the 103 a high flow intake and a 2-1 exhaust and am looking at putting a cam in trying to decide on a cam the recommended cams so far have been comp 3102, woods 555, star 577, Andrew's 48 I don't understand the difference in duration and lift but they are all within a few of each other from what I can find I'm not looking to change the jugs or pistons or anything else just want a cam to have some more pulling power vs now at 2k rpm's it feels like it's lugging pretty good and it falls over at 3500rpm. Any help is appreciated. 

[kd]

Any agressive throttle at 2,000 rpm is in fact lugging if in a gear too high for the speed.   How is it at 2500 - 2700 rpm in a lower gear?

[Curtisjames91]

It doesn't lug at those rpms and I've been trying to shift around 3500 to 4K to keep it happy but was told any of the mentioned cams would help out tremendously 

[harpwrench]

The 103HO should have plenty of torque in the rpm range you're asking about, maybe the problem is that it needs tuned better for the pipe

[Curtisjames91]

Definitely have plenty of torque in first and second in those rpm's but 3rd and on I have to rev to about 3500 and then pretty much after that you can feel it start tapering off. I live in the "hills" of southern wv so not much flat land around if that matters

[harpwrench]

What 2-1 is on it?

[FXDBI]

Does it  have electronic compression release? What's your plans for tuning?  Bob

[Hossamania]

Does it  have electronic compression release? What's your plans for tuning?  Bob

Along those lines, has it been turned for the air intake and pipe?
If so, how?

[Curtisjames91]

Not sure it's full length though and no baffles I put in a dk torque insert. It's tuned by fuelmoto power vision 4

[Curtisjames91]

Does it  have electronic compression release? What's your plans for tuning?  Bob

Not sure about that. It's tuned by fuel moto powervision 4

[harpwrench]

No baffle is a bad plan, it needs velocity through the muffler not a restrictor in the end of it

[Hossamania]

What brand and model of pipe is it?
Assuming it was just a flash tune based on info given to Fuel Moto?
As far as cams, I can't speak with great knowledge on them, but the 48 and 555 are good cams for what you're looking for, just need more knowledge on your current setup to make good cam suggestions.

[pauly]

Hi Curtis,
I had an Andrew's 48 in my 96 fxstc and could not have been happier. The tune is the important bit. Plan what you're doing for the tune and execute the plan after your chosen cam is installed.

Thanks
Pauly

[kd]

Does it  have electronic compression release? What's your plans for tuning?  Bob

Not sure about that. It's tuned by fuel moto powervision 4

If it`s a 2015 FLHTCUI with 103 it has the electric compression releases. You'll see the wiring going up under the rocker boxes from above the intake manifold. 

In your cam search I would recommend you look at the "school bus" cams.  You have indicared you only use the lower rpm. Look at low rpm stump pulling grunt that will usually have an intake close in the low to mid 30's or so ABDC.    Looking at a dyno sheet that the power and torque in the curve starts around 3,000 rpm will be disappointing for you.  You already have that.  When you find a cam that someone says is great, go to the Dyno Section here on HTT and search up that cam to see how / where it performs in the graph, what pipe, intake, compression and other endine mods. They'll be an important part of what makes that cam work.  Compare notes and if you need to spend to get there, do you want to or keep looking? 

For example the Wood TW 555 will need more compression where the Andrews TW48 may be happy at OEM compression and give you that low rpm power but it will be good to have compression releases for starting hot (which you do).

[Curtisjames91]

What brand and model of pipe is it?
Assuming it was just a flash tune based on info given to Fuel Moto?
As far as cams, I can't speak with great knowledge on them, but the 48 and 555 are good cams for what you're looking for, just need more knowledge on your current setup to make good cam suggestions.

It is just a flash tune. I called moonshine Harley and they are suggesting the star 577 but there isn't much info on it that I can find one of the guys I ride with has the woods 555 and I really like the way his bike rides it's almost identical to my bike but just not a low.

[Curtisjames91]

Hi Curtis,
I had an Andrew's 48 in my 96 fxstc and could not have been happier. The tune is the important bit. Plan what you're doing for the tune and execute the plan after your chosen cam is installed.

Thanks
Pauly

Thanks bud I'm worried the Andrew's will be to much low end and not enough mid range. What do you think of the mid range and higher rpm on yours?

[Curtisjames91]

Does it  have electronic compression release? What's your plans for tuning?  Bob

Not sure about that. It's tuned by fuel moto powervision 4

If it`s a 2015 FLHTCUI with 103 it has the electric compression releases. You'll see the wiring going up under the rocker boes from above the intake manifold. 

In your cam search I would recommend you look at the "school bus" cams.  You have indicared you only use the lower rpm. Look at low rpm stump pulling grunt that will usually have an intake close in the low to mid 30's or so ABDC.    Looking at a dyno sheet that the power and torque in the curve starts around 3,000 rpm will be disappointing for you.  You already have that.  When you find a cam that someone says is great, go to the Dyno Section here on HTT and search up that cam to see how / where it performs in the graph, what pipe, intake, compression and other endine mods. They'll be an important part of what makes that cam work.  Compare notes and if you need to spend to get there, do you want to or keep looking? 

For example the Wood TW 555 will need more compression where the Andrews TW48 may be happy at OEM compression and give you that low rpm power but it will be good to have compression releases for starting hot (which you do).

Ok thank you! I'm still trying to figure out what exactly duration and lift mean and find graphs and things to compare. I definitely don't plan on messing with compression or engine size really just want a bolt in cam to give me some more pull through the 3-5k range were I spend most my time riding in the hills trying to stay with the group.

[harpwrench]

You might check out the cyclerama 570-2 combos that Durwood posted in the dyno section here back in the day. I was beyond 103 bolt ins by the time it came out, but prior to that ran the CR575 which performed well too. But you need to sort out the pipe to make it run like it should. A decatted stock pipe with cvo mufflers and fullsac 1.75 cores would work well without dumping a bunch of money into it.

[Curtisjames91]

Got some more info it's a poor man's 2-1 decatted stock head pipe with a non stamped slip on that looks identical to the factory slip on without a baffle and a dk customs torque insert

[harpwrench]

That's killing it

[Curtisjames91]

What's killing it the exhaust or the insert?

[harpwrench]

The small single outlet going into the muffler doesn't flow enough, a proper 2-1 has a larger outlet/muffler inlet

[Curtisjames91]

10-4 I didn't realize it was any different I thought all the slip ons were the same size even on aftermarket head pipes

[pauly]

Hi again,
I'm a torque guy so would rarely go to 5k.
Having said that, I had no issues with lack of power. Maybe you want a cam for the 3 to 5 k range?

[Hossamania]

Hi Curtis,
I had an Andrew's 48 in my 96 fxstc and could not have been happier. The tune is the important bit. Plan what you're doing for the tune and execute the plan after your chosen cam is installed.

Thanks
Pauly

Pauly, your '96 is an Evo motor, I don't think Andrews makes a 48 for that motor. If they did, it would be a top end, high rpm cam. I had an EV46, top end cam.