What is the lowest safe idle RPM for a 96" motor? I have 255 cams and a PCIII. Are there oil pressure concerns at say 800 RPM? I'm still searching for that old harley sound!

SP

 

Get a carbed Evo if you want that "old Harley sound".

 

900-1100 should be the standard idle RPM, I would not go lower then that.

 

+3 on the above comments.

 

Yup 900 is the lowest recommended RPM because of oil pressure concerns.

 

That's what it takes!

That's the best reason there is.


BUT, I also find that about 1,100 RPMs keep the charging system putting out the correct amount at an Idle.

 

You could swap in some SE-204 cams and it might sound better to your ear.

If you want that real harley sound, forgo $5000 in upgrades to you street glide and buy your self a nice shovelhead.

 

That would get the job done. Our TC's don't have enough flywheel weight to stay running at rpm's a shovelhead is happy, anyway.

 

No oil pressure worries at low rpms but TCs should idle at the high end of the recommended range, say 1100rpms to keep the battery charged. You will never get the choppy idle with the 255 cams. If you want that idle, install a set of SE204s. It won't sound like a shovel but it is as close as you will get. Your exhaust also makes a difference; a 2:1 will sound different from 2:2.

 

Its the overlap that makes it sound the way it sounds.
Evo with an EV27 cam sounds pretty good, too, but its hard to beat the sound of a shovel.

You really should run a shovel at 900 rpm or above, too, but many idle them down low. I idle my 75 around 900 (footshifter) and my 76 (handshifter) around 1000.