Cams
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 10
From: Suffolk, England
It tends to be diminishing returns for more money when chasing HP on a Harley. Stage-1 on a late Dyna might net you 10HP. Cams might find another 5-8HP.
Best advice I can give (and you will find it repeated by many engine gurus) is not to over-cam. Its so tempting to think if the cams' name has a bigger number in it, has a bigger lift, or is described as an 'aggressive' (as opposed to milder) cam then surely it must be 'better'. In the majority of cases this isn't true. These things often describe a cam that puts the peak power exactly where it is of least use to most Harley riders i.e. 5000rpm+.
Just look at the rev counter on your next ride and see that you will ride the vast majority of time at 2000-4000rpm. Buy some cams that suit that. An already torquey engine will get more so and you will love it. Over-cam and you will lose working-level-RPM torque and so rideability.
Best advice I can give (and you will find it repeated by many engine gurus) is not to over-cam. Its so tempting to think if the cams' name has a bigger number in it, has a bigger lift, or is described as an 'aggressive' (as opposed to milder) cam then surely it must be 'better'. In the majority of cases this isn't true. These things often describe a cam that puts the peak power exactly where it is of least use to most Harley riders i.e. 5000rpm+.
Just look at the rev counter on your next ride and see that you will ride the vast majority of time at 2000-4000rpm. Buy some cams that suit that. An already torquey engine will get more so and you will love it. Over-cam and you will lose working-level-RPM torque and so rideability.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,382
Likes: 4
From: Kennewick, WA
It tends to be diminishing returns for more money when chasing HP on a Harley. Stage-1 on a late Dyna might net you 10HP. Cams might find another 5-8HP.
Best advice I can give (and you will find it repeated by many engine gurus) is not to over-cam. Its so tempting to think if the cams' name has a bigger number in it, has a bigger lift, or is described as an 'aggressive' (as opposed to milder) cam then surely it must be 'better'. In the majority of cases this isn't true. These things often describe a cam that puts the peak power exactly where it is of least use to most Harley riders i.e. 5000rpm+.
Just look at the rev counter on your next ride and see that you will ride the vast majority of time at 2000-4000rpm. Buy some cams that suit that. An already torquey engine will get more so and you will love it. Over-cam and you will lose working-level-RPM torque and so rideability.
Best advice I can give (and you will find it repeated by many engine gurus) is not to over-cam. Its so tempting to think if the cams' name has a bigger number in it, has a bigger lift, or is described as an 'aggressive' (as opposed to milder) cam then surely it must be 'better'. In the majority of cases this isn't true. These things often describe a cam that puts the peak power exactly where it is of least use to most Harley riders i.e. 5000rpm+.
Just look at the rev counter on your next ride and see that you will ride the vast majority of time at 2000-4000rpm. Buy some cams that suit that. An already torquey engine will get more so and you will love it. Over-cam and you will lose working-level-RPM torque and so rideability.
On the other hand I chose a cam, head work, big bore, etc. that kept my low end torque higher, and gave me a tremendous boost on top. It took a lot of money and a sacrifice on gas mileage, but this baby screams.
It's all about what you want. I'm used to crazy overcammed engines, but this set-up isn't that radical. Still, it might be too much for some.
If you aren't into all out performance, then staying with a mild cam is always the conservative way to go. For just putting about town it makes a bit more sense, too.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,166
Likes: 4
From: la
The T Man 555 torqster is a good one for the 555 lifts, if you want to go to the edge with the higher .575 lifts the Wood TW5-6 and Cycle Rama 575 are both getting good reviews.
Last edited by paul s; Apr 26, 2011 at 08:09 AM.
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Sep 24, 2012 06:14 AM
