Ordered the S&S 585 gear drive for my 04 Fatboy tc 88 carb. Heads are getting ported and new springs. Going up to a 95 on stock jugs. Around 10 compression. Kinda torn here though.. seems like a 50/50 thing the more I read.. half make me feel like the engine is going to blow up if I do, and the other half make me feel like that if I don't?? LoL Seems like a good thing to do, or am I risking more trouble than it's worth going with the gear drive cam kit?

 

Why would a correctly installed gear drive be any problem at all? I don't understand the blow comment.

 

Now worries if the work is done properly and gears fitted per spec; gear driven cams are the way to go. I hope your tech checked crank runout before installing the gear drive setup; should be no more than .003" for gears. You should also be replacing the inner cam bearings with upgraded Torrington 148 full compliment bearings. Depending on mileage on the lifters, you might wan to replace them as well although the "B" lifters in the '04 models are good hardware.

Of course, you will need to rejet the carburetor; slow, main and drop the raise the needle a tad. Should be fine and fun to ride.

 

Better check all the important stuff ....

 

Just trying to be a little humorous. Pretty new to working on Harley's. Not an issue though. I'm good with a wrench. I'm doing the work. Been doing a lot of reading on it.. just seems there's a bunch that don't think it's a great idea. Makes me a bit nervous. Probably more so the effect on the crank and how the gear drive can me more stressful on it because it's pressed. Some say it's a good idea to get the crank welded? But if it's just a proper installation issue, that wont be a problem. I do know about the crank runout, will measure it.

Going to have it dyno tuned when I'm done also.

 

There are advantages ( minimal ) to a gear drive setup but the crank has to be true.

 

as long as run out is within specs,you`ll be fine.you don't want to run the S&S 585`s at 10.0-1 though,bump it up to 10.5-1+.if you want to stay at 10.0-1,go with S&S .570`s

 

[QUOTE=prodrag1320;15615505]as long as run out is within specs,you`ll be fine.you don't want to run the S&S 585`s at 10.0-1 though,bump it up to 10.5-1+.if you want to stay at 10.0-1,go with S&S .570`s. Read this twice carefully. Big difference in performance and happy ***.

 

Get your comp to 10.5:1....

 

Yes.
At 10.0 cr and with S&S .585 cams, that engine will be a turd until say 3500 rpms, and even then it won't produce well.
10.7 cr is not out of the question.
DAS Performance, Drakett, Mass, tuned one of our 98"/S&S .585/Stage III Heads to 120 hp not long ago....10.72 cr.
Scott