HarleyTechTalk

My Bike-07 EGC stock 96 Big Sucker A/C V&H Dresser Duals w/Rineheart slip-ons. Plan is to do no change to engine beyond changing cams. Riding style is mostly one up in town and 2 two up w/wife, looking to increase low end torque, rarely run above 5000 RPM, just looking to have the power when needing to make a quick pass w/o having to downshift. Since I have no experience working on V twin engines beyond fluid changes, I'm hesitant to attempt this change myself. Also since I will not be doing Big Bore is it worth changing to .30 head gaskets? Here is my dilemma and hoping you can help me choose, I have a list of cams either recommended by others or from reading threads online. Here they are in no particular order:
TMAN 525, 555
Andrews 26H, 48H
S&S 551, 570
Cycle Rama 575
Head Quarters HQ500
SE 204, 255
Crane HTC 300, 310
Kury TC-1

As you can see a lot to consider, So what do you think will give me the most bang for the buck, lowest cost, and a good match for sound with my exhaust?

Definitely will go with the Timken Cam bearings. Fuel Moto looks to have a good kit for 50 bucks, any suggestions where to get best deal on the cams would help as well. I have a TTS Mastertune, so will either try to dial it in myself or get it done on a dyno.

TIA

Chris
 

I like the Tman TR600SM cams drop in for your year , they are his new super max with the quite ramp design, they look really good.

For your style of riding I would look for a TQ cam such as the Woods TW5-6 or the Cyclerama 575 as a bolt in cam with stock compression and no other mods. Both of these cams are proven winners as bolt in cams.

IMO other cams like the Woods 555, Tman 555 or Andrews 54 all like a bit more compression than the stock 96" has.

Seems if 4000rpm is pretty much your limit I think get the cheapest one you can which most likely would be a used 255.

I have the 96 with only the SE 255 cams and they make the bike more rider friendly for lack of a choice of words.
The gearing for your 07 is going to affect your passing and up hill pull. They are geared to high.

Barney

No 37? Used cams......................like using an open condom.............

Quote from: boooby1744 on December 03, 2011, 08:11:30 AM
No 37? Used cams......................like using an open condom.............

whats wrong with using a used cam?.... the cams in your bike rite now are used cams?

If not touching anything else,  just cams I would go with the 255. BUT the lack of over lap in that cam choice would shake your wrists numb. Best bet is a wood 5-6. Lots of peeps love this cam for stock bikes. Also the overlap will smooth some of your engine shake. Do the 0.030 head gasket too, but also polish the chambers and might as well put squish grooves in while heads are off,  right

QuoteBUT the lack of over lap in that cam choice would shake your wrists numb.

Good point..

Max..

Pick up a set of 255s from one of the online discounters for about 225 bucks, or a set of used takeouts off ebay for 150.   Biggest bang for the buck for the stock 96 bikes, especially the 07-08 touring bikes with the crappy gearing. 

I'm not a huge fan of these cams, far from it, but for this application, figuring cost into the equation, it's pretty much a slam dunk. 

Do the install yourself, it's not that much more involved than doing an exhaust and air cleaner swap.  No mystery at all. 

Quote from: MaxHeadflow on December 03, 2011, 07:34:31 PM

QuoteBUT the lack of over lap in that cam choice would shake your wrists numb.

Good point..

Max..

Either one of yous:  13° overlap spec'd for those cams vs. -8° spec'd for stock cams.  So you're suggesting stock runs rougher than with 255s?

Nope. Max

I confess I'm a little confused, then, by your implications.  If a greater amount of overlap makes for a smoother-running engine than a low amount of overlap, then following the "trend", less overlap yet would further decrease the smoothness.  Is it something else you have in mind, and if so, what?  Really, I'm curious what you guys are suggesting.

Have a good look at the Andrews 48h - I love mine.
Pauly

A few posts here recommending the 255's, but based on reading I got the impression that the 255 would be a better fit in a higher compression motor. I'm thinking the 204's would be a better fit for me, plus I like that people are saying idle sound with these are awesome. Narrowing my choices down a bit to the following Cycle Rama 575, Andrews 26H or 48H, SE 204. Went through the dyno run section didn't see any sheets for the CR 575, anyone have one?

Quote from: jetlag on December 03, 2011, 09:03:46 PM
Pick up a set of 255s from one of the online discounters for about 225 bucks, or a set of used takeouts off ebay for 150.   Biggest bang for the buck for the stock 96 bikes, especially the 07-08 touring bikes with the crappy gearing. 

I'm not a huge fan of these cams, far from it, but for this application, figuring cost into the equation, it's pretty much a slam dunk. 

Do the install yourself, it's not that much more involved than doing an exhaust and air cleaner swap.  No mystery at all.

Would like to save dollars doing the install myself, not afraid of getting my hands dirty, but definitely would be nice to have someone there who has done it to guide me through the process. 

Cam Replacement on a Harley Davidson Twin Cam, including Pushrod Removal • J&P Cycles

Quote from: glens on December 03, 2011, 10:09:25 PM
I confess I'm a little confused, then, by your implications.  If a greater amount of overlap makes for a smoother-running engine than a low amount of overlap, then following the "trend", less overlap yet would further decrease the smoothness.  Is it something else you have in mind, and if so, what?  Really, I'm curious what you guys are suggesting.

If you are a poser you are correct, if you are a rider you aren't.

Max

On cam choice, if the the 255 is such a great cam then why is everyone pilling them out?  Max

Quote from: MaxHeadflow on December 04, 2011, 07:08:39 AM
On cam choice, if the the 255 is such a great cam then why is everyone pilling them out?  Max

I was wondering the same, maybe going to a big build?

we`ve taken out a few,replacing them with S&S .551`s

Quote from: prodrag1320 on December 04, 2011, 07:25:03 AM
we`ve taken out a few,replacing them with S&S .551`s

curious how the S&S 551 compare to the  SE 204, andrews 26 and the andrews 48. i thake it the 551 is a choice for the baggers?

Quote from: MaxHeadflow on December 04, 2011, 07:08:39 AM
On cam choice, if the the 255 is such a great cam then why is everyone pilling them out?  Max

Because they think they want less torque where they ride and more horsepower where they don't?  Who can say?  Probably Internet forum members following trends like lemmings.  Actually, who can say how many are really getting pulled as opposed to installed or just retained?

I'm glad at least one person I know pulled a set.  That way I could get them for $75, have the dealer install them in my new bike, have better performance over stock in exactly the places I run the engine on a day-to-day basis, and retain factory warranty on the engine internals.  Maybe in another year and a half I'll consider some other options.  Maybe.

The 204's are the ticket, they worked well in 88's 96's & will shine nicely in a 103 very similar bottom end performance with room to carry the line some to the right, they'll breath a tad better then the 255's at higher RPMs.

What amazes me are the many negative postings I read on the net pertaining to the 204 cams. Huge amounts of chit posted about the 204 and how they are only for light bikes and on and on.  Dam shame 

There is room at the top for many
The 37 and the 204s very old grinds still work awesome.
A higher lift trend is in motion and these oldies only have .500 or so lift so they get overlooked. They will run right with the best of them especially when the heads are stock.