Cam suggestions
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,870
Likes: 498
From: Alberta
Consider that you do not have compression releases on your bike. How far do you want to go with this motor? Last four sets of cams friends and I have had installed have all been S&S E-Z starts; much nicer on hot hopped up engines...no kickback, no aftermarket starters, cables, batteries etc. All directed at the symptom of hard starting, not the cause.
Last build I had done was on my 96" 08 Fat Bob. I tour a lot (don't like the FLH's, BTW) and went with the HD 103 drop on cylinders, cast pistons and S&S E-Z start cams. Perfect for me. I think they have 110 kits that drop on now, too. I'm NOT a believer in headwork; unless you are going for a higher RPM engine or all the way to 110 it's a lot of money. Check out some dyno sheets as well...a lot of claims will be made but I prefer to see a dyno run. Also; I purchased a SEPST for tuning. They're discontinued by HD but still out there. In conclusion; HD has most of the parts you'd want...nice when you travel far from home to have a combo that over 800 dealers are gonna be familiar with, rather than another shade tree aftermarket concoction.
Last build I had done was on my 96" 08 Fat Bob. I tour a lot (don't like the FLH's, BTW) and went with the HD 103 drop on cylinders, cast pistons and S&S E-Z start cams. Perfect for me. I think they have 110 kits that drop on now, too. I'm NOT a believer in headwork; unless you are going for a higher RPM engine or all the way to 110 it's a lot of money. Check out some dyno sheets as well...a lot of claims will be made but I prefer to see a dyno run. Also; I purchased a SEPST for tuning. They're discontinued by HD but still out there. In conclusion; HD has most of the parts you'd want...nice when you travel far from home to have a combo that over 800 dealers are gonna be familiar with, rather than another shade tree aftermarket concoction.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 259
From: Northstreet, michigan
i still ill think it's high. Before I installed my 117 kit I was curious what HD charged. They said 8 hours for everything in the kit, but no tuning. That includes the Pistons/cylinders, cams/lifters/pushrods, throttle body, injectors, and everything else that is included in the kit. Cams alone are not that difficult or time consuming. And if you only do cams, they will likely cut the pushrods and install adjustable rods so they don't have to pull the rocker boxes and valve train. They want more just to do cams than the HD dealer wants to do the whole damn kit. I'd do it yourself or find a different shop. Just my opinion
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 128
Likes: 4
From: Massachusetts
any other suggestions on books/sites I can read up on?
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 362
Likes: 22
From: New York
My opinion and my opinion only. For the amount of money you will end up spending and the hp/tq you will gain, It's just not worth it. If you like to ride aggressive, get yourself a metric sport bike. Dollar for dollar, you will get more out of the metric. Again, just my .02 cents.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,756
Likes: 951
From: Out West
Good information and help here on some options.
https://www.fuelmotousa.com/p-29474-...ley-store.html
https://www.fuelmotousa.com/rt-4076-...bore-kits.html
https://www.fuelmotousa.com/p-29474-...ley-store.html
https://www.fuelmotousa.com/rt-4076-...bore-kits.html
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 128
Likes: 4
From: Massachusetts
My opinion and my opinion only. For the amount of money you will end up spending and the hp/tq you will gain, It's just not worth it. If you like to ride aggressive, get yourself a metric sport bike. Dollar for dollar, you will get more out of the metric. Again, just my .02 cents.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,830
Likes: 7,968
From: poway
What you you want to understand. Theory? What is required of a cam change for an HD? Or you you simply want to pick a cam that works well in more motorcycle and move on?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 128
Likes: 4
From: Massachusetts
theory and the cam change
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,830
Likes: 7,968
From: poway
For easy read on theory, this is one of the best.. Can't get the book new tho..
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/deskto...&idiq=19161104
Another that is way more technical is:
For the cam change, the service manual..
One thing to add, is that when changing the cam you will need to add a tuner of some sort that allows you to change the fueling and timing. depending on how things go, you might want to find someone to do this for you..
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/deskto...&idiq=19161104
Another that is way more technical is:
For the cam change, the service manual..
One thing to add, is that when changing the cam you will need to add a tuner of some sort that allows you to change the fueling and timing. depending on how things go, you might want to find someone to do this for you..
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 128
Likes: 4
From: Massachusetts
For easy read on theory, this is one of the best.. Can't get the book new tho..
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/deskto...&idiq=19161104
Another that is way more technical is:
https://www.amazon.com/Internal-Comb...Z3X56BWDKBBHS0
For the cam change, the service manual..
One thing to add, is that when changing the cam you will need to add a tuner of some sort that allows you to change the fueling and timing. depending on how things go, you might want to find someone to do this for you..
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/deskto...&idiq=19161104
Another that is way more technical is:
https://www.amazon.com/Internal-Comb...Z3X56BWDKBBHS0
For the cam change, the service manual..
One thing to add, is that when changing the cam you will need to add a tuner of some sort that allows you to change the fueling and timing. depending on how things go, you might want to find someone to do this for you..