Cams advice
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 216
Likes: 15
From: Tucson
Cams advice
I've spent most of the afternoon researching the forums and the Internet for different options on cams so now I'm looking for some input from the forums. I'd like to add some torgue and improve performance in the low to mid ranges. When the cams go on I'll be running a 2011 Fat Bob (or Fat Glide as it is now I guess) with a Ness Big Sucker, Fuelpak, and Thunderheader 2-1. I rarely if ever ride 2 up and prefer longer rides on the highway as opposed to stints around town. 510 cams have been recommended but does that sound like it would be effective for the kind of riding I have in mind? If not what would you recommend? Thanks in advance!
clown
clown
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 121
From: Mpls, MN
I don't know the big Harley motors enough to help ya, but I'm going through the cam choice thing now too.
I'm asking the local builders if they have a few minutes and see what they say, also calling a few of the cam manufactures and asking them for help and lastly doing a search on this forum.
Be easy if there were only 3 or 4 cam grinds to chose from, unfortunately there's probably hundreds.
So you get to look at what each grind/manufacture has to offer and see which fits your riding style.
Maybe narrow it down to just a few, post what you've come up and maybe someone here has run one of them and can help?
The guys at S&S have been really helpful fwiw.
Al
I'm asking the local builders if they have a few minutes and see what they say, also calling a few of the cam manufactures and asking them for help and lastly doing a search on this forum.
Be easy if there were only 3 or 4 cam grinds to chose from, unfortunately there's probably hundreds.
So you get to look at what each grind/manufacture has to offer and see which fits your riding style.
Maybe narrow it down to just a few, post what you've come up and maybe someone here has run one of them and can help?
The guys at S&S have been really helpful fwiw.
Al
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Des Moines, IA
That cam is high on my list, I've heard positive things about it but very few details nor have I seen a dyno chart for it yet.
What's your riding style? Is your motor stock otherwise? Did it add torque at low revs, high up, throughout? Sorry to barrage you with questions, but I'd love to hear some details from an actual Dyna owner.
What's your riding style? Is your motor stock otherwise? Did it add torque at low revs, high up, throughout? Sorry to barrage you with questions, but I'd love to hear some details from an actual Dyna owner.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 216
Likes: 15
From: Tucson
AllenW, that sounds like a good idea.
Butterballs, I would also like to hear more specifics about yours and your riding style. I forgot to include it in my original post but I like to get up and down on the throttle if I'm going through traffic. I want that boost when I gun around some joker blabbing on his cell phone in the lane next to me, which is where I looking to improve the most. Hope that makes sense.
clown
Butterballs, I would also like to hear more specifics about yours and your riding style. I forgot to include it in my original post but I like to get up and down on the throttle if I'm going through traffic. I want that boost when I gun around some joker blabbing on his cell phone in the lane next to me, which is where I looking to improve the most. Hope that makes sense.
clown
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
There used to be a table that compared the characteristics of various popular cams for the Twin Cams (there was also a table for single-cam Evo motors) at Nightrider dot com ... the last time I looked at the table it was rather out of date and did not feature popular recently-offered cams on the market ... another source for cam comparisons is Big Boyz head porting website ...
For an excellent tutorial on the subject, see http://www.harley-riders-guide.com/h...dson-cams.html
It has a wealth of information on things like lift, duration, overlap, etc ... that hopefully will aid in your decision-making process ...
It is common to set a goal based on metrics like horsepower or torque ... especially when you start looking at dyno charts ... but, you don't ride a dyno chart ...
I posted some gouge on cams (with a lot of data) at a thread over here ... https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...-and-data.html
Post #10 particularly illustrates my point about peak horsepower ... it comes at a point in the RPM curve where you will almost never experience it (unless you are going to be drag racing your bike) ...
Good luck with the decisions ... BTW ... based on what you've said, I'd recommend the Andrews 21 ...
R/
'Chop
For an excellent tutorial on the subject, see http://www.harley-riders-guide.com/h...dson-cams.html
It has a wealth of information on things like lift, duration, overlap, etc ... that hopefully will aid in your decision-making process ...
It is common to set a goal based on metrics like horsepower or torque ... especially when you start looking at dyno charts ... but, you don't ride a dyno chart ...
I posted some gouge on cams (with a lot of data) at a thread over here ... https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...-and-data.html
Post #10 particularly illustrates my point about peak horsepower ... it comes at a point in the RPM curve where you will almost never experience it (unless you are going to be drag racing your bike) ...
Good luck with the decisions ... BTW ... based on what you've said, I'd recommend the Andrews 21 ...
R/
'Chop
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 848
Likes: 0
From: Lake Jackson, TX
After looking into this subject a few weeks ago. I will be going with the S&S 583 easy start cams. Great low to mid range torque.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 159
Likes: 2
From: Ontario, Canada
That cam is high on my list, I've heard positive things about it but very few details nor have I seen a dyno chart for it yet.
What's your riding style? Is your motor stock otherwise? Did it add torque at low revs, high up, throughout? Sorry to barrage you with questions, but I'd love to hear some details from an actual Dyna owner.
What's your riding style? Is your motor stock otherwise? Did it add torque at low revs, high up, throughout? Sorry to barrage you with questions, but I'd love to hear some details from an actual Dyna owner.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 290
Likes: 2
From: wayland ny
I was going to go the cam route but after talking to my local dealer yesterday I've decided to go the stage 2 big bore. In the end that's what i wanted anyway if i wait until winter they will do it for $1300. I may install the kit myself it will save me about $500 in labor, but then again if I let them do it and something is wrong it's on them to fix it.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 637
Likes: 3
From: Iowa
I'd recommend Andrews 48 h. I have an andrews 26 in my bike and wish I would have went with the 48. I'm still not sold on the easy start cams with something than moves in and out when the drive train should develop it's own wear pattern.