Oh yeah, head work time
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 15
From: Bay area, CA
Robby make sure you torque the heads per cometics instructions if using a mls gasket. After the final torque let it sit a while and go back over the bolts in the proper order and torque and see if the bolts move at all. Repeat until the head bolts don't budge at proper final torque
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,410
Likes: 143
From: Palm Desert,CA
Robby make sure you torque the heads per cometics instructions if using a mls gasket. After the final torque let it sit a while and go back over the bolts in the proper order and torque and see if the bolts move at all. Repeat until the head bolts don't budge at proper final torque
It should be indeed, thank you!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,791
Likes: 57
From: N Texas
On the throttle body question, my head flow numbers are similar to Robby's at about 270 cfm on the intake.
I asked the guy that did my heads to measure the flow of the stock (48mm????) throttle body, and it tops out at about 245 cfm, so there is some restriction from the throttle body now and the heads can flow more air than the heads. How noticeable this would be in real life as opposed to on the flow bench is a different question as there are so many variables.
I am currently thinking about where to go with a new throttle body, what size etc. Currently torn between HPI and the SE 58mm versions - although I think the 58mm one might actually be a bit too big and decrease velocity.
I asked the guy that did my heads to measure the flow of the stock (48mm????) throttle body, and it tops out at about 245 cfm, so there is some restriction from the throttle body now and the heads can flow more air than the heads. How noticeable this would be in real life as opposed to on the flow bench is a different question as there are so many variables.
I am currently thinking about where to go with a new throttle body, what size etc. Currently torn between HPI and the SE 58mm versions - although I think the 58mm one might actually be a bit too big and decrease velocity.
A caveat for this is if you think you might go bigger in the future and need a bigger tb.
Last edited by HD Pilot; Jan 22, 2016 at 10:39 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,809
Likes: 2,549
From: UK
Trying to remember what year bike you have but I think it is pretty new but anyway you probably have the standard Dyna 46 mm throttle body. For a 103" to 107" engine build with headwork I would recommend a HPI 51 mm tb or the SE 50 mm, they will handle your heads no problem but will not be "twitchy" at lower power settings. I bought a used HPI 55mm and got a good deal on it but it is overkill during most normal driving - makes for an overly sensitive throttle response, not bad but not perfect either.
A caveat for this is if you think you might go bigger in the future and need a bigger tb.
A caveat for this is if you think you might go bigger in the future and need a bigger tb.
I'll keep an eye out for a deal on a 50 or 51mm TB. If I can get one cheap I'll make the swap, but right now it's not urgent. Reading around, it looks like a 50/51mm TB should flow more air than the heads can accept anyway, so any bigger than that probably isn't optimum anyway.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,809
Likes: 2,549
From: UK
Thanks for that. The bike is a '14 103" - and it's the stock TB that the bike came with.
I'll keep an eye out for a deal on a 50 or 51mm TB. If I can get one cheap I'll make the swap, but right now it's not urgent. Reading around, it looks like a 50/51mm TB should flow more air than the heads can accept anyway, so any bigger than that probably isn't optimum anyway.
I'll keep an eye out for a deal on a 50 or 51mm TB. If I can get one cheap I'll make the swap, but right now it's not urgent. Reading around, it looks like a 50/51mm TB should flow more air than the heads can accept anyway, so any bigger than that probably isn't optimum anyway.
So it looks like an ideal match to Robby's (and my) heads.
Robby - where did you find these at $319 - I might spring for one!
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Hanover, PA
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,809
Likes: 2,549
From: UK
They were done by a guy here in the UK who runs an outfit called Fast Lane Head Work. He's a top notch bloke who trained with Joe Mondello in the US. No CNC - all done by hand and all he does is Harley heads.
Here's what he did:
"The stock 2014 heads were received, disassembled, soda blasted and then reassembled and flow tested. The stock guides were removed and all ports were profiled including the short side radii, bowl, guide boss and throat areas. The port entrances were matched to the manifold outlets and the combustion chamber was polished. The intake seats were replaced to allow fitment of larger valves. New manganese bronze valve guides were fitted and a precision valve job performed consisting of five angles on the intakes and three angles and a radius on the exhausts. The stock valves were replaced with high flow forged stainless steel valves modified 1.94 intakes and 1.61 exhausts. All the seating faces were vacuum tested. The stock valve springs were replaced with high performance beehive springs which were set up to provide 175lbs pressure on the seat and 360lbs at 0.560 peak lift of the Andrews TW57 cam profile. The combustion chambers were machined to 86cc which gives a static compression ratio of 10:1 and a corrected compression ratio of 9.3:1 with 3.91 x 0.030 head gaskets. After final assembly the heads were flow tested with and without the stock throttle body and the results recorded. TDC and valve to piston clearances have been checked."
I even got the bike fired up tonight. It's raining here so no road test yet, but she fired right up and nothing went bang or clank. It sounds MEANER.
The top end was a bit noisy at first but seems to be quieting down after only a couple of minutes of idling. Need to go through my snagging list tomorrow and play with it some more.
I'll probably ride it for a bit once the weather clears up and then go back and re-adjust the pushrods as most of the valve train is brand new and may settle in a little.
Here's what he did:
"The stock 2014 heads were received, disassembled, soda blasted and then reassembled and flow tested. The stock guides were removed and all ports were profiled including the short side radii, bowl, guide boss and throat areas. The port entrances were matched to the manifold outlets and the combustion chamber was polished. The intake seats were replaced to allow fitment of larger valves. New manganese bronze valve guides were fitted and a precision valve job performed consisting of five angles on the intakes and three angles and a radius on the exhausts. The stock valves were replaced with high flow forged stainless steel valves modified 1.94 intakes and 1.61 exhausts. All the seating faces were vacuum tested. The stock valve springs were replaced with high performance beehive springs which were set up to provide 175lbs pressure on the seat and 360lbs at 0.560 peak lift of the Andrews TW57 cam profile. The combustion chambers were machined to 86cc which gives a static compression ratio of 10:1 and a corrected compression ratio of 9.3:1 with 3.91 x 0.030 head gaskets. After final assembly the heads were flow tested with and without the stock throttle body and the results recorded. TDC and valve to piston clearances have been checked."
I even got the bike fired up tonight. It's raining here so no road test yet, but she fired right up and nothing went bang or clank. It sounds MEANER.
The top end was a bit noisy at first but seems to be quieting down after only a couple of minutes of idling. Need to go through my snagging list tomorrow and play with it some more.
I'll probably ride it for a bit once the weather clears up and then go back and re-adjust the pushrods as most of the valve train is brand new and may settle in a little.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Hanover, PA
Hot damn, sounds like you got the works! I'm sure some of that noise will quiet down once it settles in and it gets out of the garage 
I'm a bit new to headwork specs but aren't 1.94 intake valves a bit big for the stock throttle body? Are you planning on an upgrade soon or will you be keeping the stock on? Cheers to your build!
I'm a bit new to headwork specs but aren't 1.94 intake valves a bit big for the stock throttle body? Are you planning on an upgrade soon or will you be keeping the stock on? Cheers to your build!