HarleyTechTalk

Need help deciding what bolt in cam to buy. Stock 96B motor with Big Radius 2-1 exhaust and PCV. Most of my riding is 2 up. I'm looking for something to come on at a lower rpm than stock and still pulls hard all the way to the rev limiter. I ride very aggressively so I'm looking for the best performance I can get at this time. Thank you for any help.

Andrews 57 would be a great cam for that.

That's one one I've been leaning towards. I've got a buddy with them in a 103 streetglide. Wasn't sure what they'd do in my lighter smaller cubed bike.

Andrews 48 would be the1

I have installed a few SE204's and those folks have been extremely happy.

If you're not doing the heads, 48 would work pretty well.

What you're asking for is a bit hard at 96".........

Quote from: MCE on September 20, 2015, 04:57:26 PM
If you're not doing the heads, 48 would work pretty well.

Bingo

Quote from: TorQueInc on September 20, 2015, 05:12:31 PM

Quote from: MCE on September 20, 2015, 04:57:26 PM
If you're not doing the heads, 48 would work pretty well.

Bingo

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm not doing heads at this time due to finances but they will probably get done eventually. Why the 48 over 57's? I haven't seen any dyno sheets on the 48's do they still pull hard at the to end?

Quote from: Vwk68 on September 20, 2015, 10:59:59 AM
Need help deciding what bolt in cam to buy. Stock 96B motor with Big Radius 2-1 exhaust and PCV. Most of my riding is 2 up. I'm looking for something to come on at a lower rpm than stock and still pulls hard all the way to the rev limiter. I ride very aggressively so I'm looking for the best performance I can get at this time. Thank you for any help.

that's a tall order

SE204 with a .030 head gasket would boogie, as would the 48

And for what it's worth I'm changing to adjustable push rods if that opens up the options any.

Quote from: Vwk68 on September 20, 2015, 06:52:27 PM
And for what it's worth I'm changing to adjustable push rods if that opens up the options any.

Adjustable s make the install easier (rocker boxes don't have to come off) and allow you to precisely
set the lifter preload. 48s are better with stock compression and will give you better lowend grunt over
57s.

If you're planning on doing the heads later, you could use 57's but your low end will suffer in the meantime.
Only you can make that call. Hope that helps.

Have a nice night. 

On the Cams.....

Look at the intake close and see SOME of the difference.... 551 closes at 19*... VERY Good compression cams... (low end torque)
48's intake closes at 29* (Mainly stock closes at 30*) GOOD for your lighter bike and IF using .030 head gaskets and even better 103"
255 cams close early at 25* holding IN more compression for Low end torque...

57 close at 38* big difference from the 48's and the 255's... You need More compression to bring that cam UP to where it will run good...
Compression = Power.....  Lost Compression from a cam needing it = SLUG... Unless you Increase the compression... 57's need a compression increase... going bigger cubes (103) helps... Heads ported n Shaved +cc smaller, using a .030 head gasket will help Big Time...

THEN someone will say Why Not Use This Cam...  I think you get my drift here... 

signed....BUBBIE

THAT is the difference just Looking... Cams are DIFFERENT Besides the intake close... So No complaining about just looking at the intake close PLEASE...

Say you want a cam that closes intake at 40* or 51*.... You need to REPLACE/BOOST compression by a BUNCH to use them...

Looking at the intake close HELPS tell you what type of cam it is used for......

Advance the 57's +4* and when you do the heads you can take it out. It's $50. for the sprocket. I ran the 37's in my 96" Fatbob and it got soft on the bottom when I did it. I did the 30T pulley and it helped it some but it took the +4* advance and a .030 HG to get the compression right.

Thanks for allthe info everyone it's greatly appreciated!

Ok guys I've got a little change in my plans. I now have the money for headwork and feel like it's a no brainer to do it now and cut out a trip to the dyno. So question is who to use for the headwork and is the 48 still going to be my best cam.

You'll still want some early torque if you ride 2up with stock gearing. Gonna keep the big radius?

Quote from: MCE on September 20, 2015, 04:57:26 PM
If you're not doing the heads, 48 would work pretty well.

Quote from: Vwk68 on November 14, 2015, 12:56:13 PM
Ok guys I've got a little change in my plans. I now have the money for headwork and feel like it's a no brainer to do it now and cut out a trip to the dyno. So question is who to use for the headwork and is the 48 still going to be my best cam.

If you have money for head work do a 103 first go with a bigger cam.. 57 or 54.. 0.030 headgasket..

Yes I'm keeping my big radius 2-1's and I just have a hard time justifying a big bore until I need to freshen up the top end.

Quote from: Vwk68 on November 14, 2015, 06:41:57 PM
Yes I'm keeping my big radius 2-1's and I just have a hard time justifying a big bore until I need to freshen up the top end.

If you are against freshening up things, then why freshen up the heads?

For the performance. In my opinion a bigger bore with poor flowing heads isn't going to perform nearly as it should. When I go big I want to go all out, and unfortunately that's not currently in the budget.

Quote from: Vwk68 on November 14, 2015, 07:18:21 PM
For the performance. In my opinion a bigger bore with poor flowing heads isn't going to perform nearly as it should. When I go big I want to go all out, and unfortunately that's not currently in the budget.

You'll get more performance out of a longer cam and BB than heads and a mouse cam... It's easier to add heads later if desired then add a bore kit.. The 06 - up heads are not that bad.. You might have an argument on doing heads only on an 88 ci motor as their heads sucked.. But still early ones with wisecos or the SE 10.25 and a Andrews 44 (not 48) or Andrews 50 would smoke a mouse cam and cheap ported 88. Higher dollar heads might give the 95 / cam a bit of a run..

Quote from: Max Headflow on November 14, 2015, 05:46:47 PM

Quote from: Vwk68 on November 14, 2015, 12:56:13 PM
Ok guys I've got a little change in my plans. I now have the money for headwork and feel like it's a no brainer to do it now and cut out a trip to the dyno. So question is who to use for the headwork and is the 48 still going to be my best cam.

If you have money for head work do a 103 first go with a bigger cam.. 57 or 54.. 0.030 headgasket..

I am not expert but I have read countless posts and the dyno charts . Max is giving you good advice here. Money spent on gain in my option is just like what was suggested . A while back a similar question was asked. I have not seen , may have missed it an example of a 96 inch engine with ported heads and cam shaft replacement that was a decent gain for the money.  A lighter bike can get by with more camshaft. There are examples of the 57 and a plus 4 gear in the dyno section that worked well compared to the stock 96 engine. This is a great forum to get advice and save you grief. When I first got my Harley I asked a few Harley mechanics or were suppose to be one. One wonted to install gear drive camshafts in my 07 road king. The other mentioned dual exhaust.  I was lucky enough to find this web sight.  Jim

Quote from: Max Headflow on November 14, 2015, 05:46:47 PM

Quote from: Vwk68 on November 14, 2015, 12:56:13 PM
Ok guys I've got a little change in my plans. I now have the money for headwork and feel like it's a no brainer to do it now and cut out a trip to the dyno. So question is who to use for the headwork and is the 48 still going to be my best cam.

If you have money for head work do a 103 first go with a bigger cam.. 57 or 54.. 0.030 headgasket..

Dollar for dollar the larger displacement is the way to go if you have allocated more funds to the project. The gains from 7 more cubic inches will be close to the same with the improved heads, and depending on the head porter you use, and the cost will likely be less. Doing the heads before the big bore, if that is indeed in your long term goals, is kind of putting the cart before the horse. The larger displacement motor will respond more favorably to the same or larger cam and you can decide easier on a 'best for you' cam if you know what the size of the engine will ultimately be. A lot of cams will work well in a 96 or 103, but your path of least resistance to a good running motor will be to put cubes before heads (and I am a huge proponent of quality headwork).
All motors respond well to improved cylinder head flow, but I'd want the biggest motor I could afford to put those better heads on.
And all else being equal, the larger motor will make more power/torque... and make it sooner - especially with a bump in compression.