Engine Mechanical Topics Discussion for motor builds, cams, head work, stripped bolts and other engine related issues. The good and the bad. If it goes round and around or up and down, post it here.

Ideal compression for a 57h

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 28, 2014 | 06:31 PM
  #1  
ridedaddy's Avatar
ridedaddy
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 14
From: chatham il
Default Ideal compression for a 57h

I called Andrews today a spoke with a gentleman named Gary. I'm installing a set of 57h in my 103". I call regarding the ideal compression for that cam becouse they don't list any compression specs for this cam. I am on the fence as to if I should install a cometic .030" head gasket along with the cam install to boost the compression and get alittle more bang. Gary to my suprise actually recommended that I do not bump the compression up for this cam. He claims I will exceed 185psi cylinder pressure and I will only make the motor sensetive to pinging on a hot day or with a tank of bad gas. Do you guys tend to agree with this or is this advise on the "playing it safe" side? This didn't seem like great news concidering that is was also concidering doing a 107 kit which I planned to use cp 10.25 or 10.5 comp Pistons with.
 

Last edited by ridedaddy; Oct 28, 2014 at 06:38 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2014 | 09:51 PM
  #2  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default

I think Gary is coming down on the conservative side. I am 600 feet above sea level in south Texas; summers are hot here. Using my calculator, I would run the .030" head gasket; 10:1 static CR. That would put corrected CR at about 9.3 and CCP about 190psi which is about where you would be assuming 85-86cc chambers and a bit of negative deck height which is typical of the TC motor. If you get a bad tank of gas, the motor would likely ping just as bad at 9.8 static as it would at 10. The tune will also make a difference in the tendency toward detonation. I would not run the 57 at 10.5 static but that's your call as well.

There are plenty of 57 cam installs on this forum; maybe some of those guys will chime in on their setup. I have no first hand experience with the 57 cams but from what I read, I think you would be happy with the cam in either configuration.
 

Last edited by djl; Oct 28, 2014 at 09:55 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2014 | 04:07 AM
  #3  
Pigbacon's Avatar
Pigbacon
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Central Arkansas
Default

Hillside set my heads up for a 10.1 and I installed a .030 head gasket. I'm right at the CCP he mentioned and she runs great.

When I spoke to Gary he recommended not exceeding 10.1 ..... Wrong cam if you want higher compression. Great cam with mild compression. She does more than I expected her to.
 

Last edited by Pigbacon; Oct 29, 2014 at 04:32 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2014 | 07:47 AM
  #4  
zeke383's Avatar
zeke383
Road Captain
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 631
Likes: 17
From: Finger Lakes NY
Default

I ran my 57h both ways, stock hg and .030 hg). You will be happier with the .030, a bit more seat of the pants low end.
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2014 | 08:40 AM
  #5  
bajabob123's Avatar
bajabob123
Novice
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Default

I'm running 83cc chambers with the 57,s gives me 10.35/ 9.6 205 cranking good tune no ping running temp has never gone over 230*
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2014 | 03:26 PM
  #6  
ridedaddy's Avatar
ridedaddy
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 14
From: chatham il
Default

All good info thanks guys.
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2014 | 03:41 PM
  #7  
Melman's Avatar
Melman
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 420
Likes: 2
From: Bradenton,Florida
Default

I'm really loving the way my bike rides since I installed my 57H's. I'm running the stock CR which on a "wet head" is around 10.5 from what I've been told. I want to put a set of SE heads on but not until I get around 10,000 miles. At that time I will decide what gaskets I will use. I like my numbers but TN. Heritage has even better numbers than I got. I'm still playing with the idea of spending another $100.00+ to have another dyno shop do some tuning...just not sure if the money is worth a couple of extra H/P's!
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2014 | 09:45 AM
  #8  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default

Originally Posted by Melman
I'm really loving the way my bike rides since I installed my 57H's. I'm running the stock CR which on a "wet head" is around 10.5 from what I've been told.
Stock CR is 9.7.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 30, 2014 | 11:24 AM
  #9  
slyedog's Avatar
slyedog
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,789
Likes: 277
From: Hawkeye state
Default

Originally Posted by djl
Stock CR is 9.7.
A local builder told me real world was closer to 9.4 than the stated 9.7. Don't know the hard truth to that statement. When I put mine in Gary advised I did not exceed 10:1 From my research 10.25 is the highest w/o sacrificing performance of the 57 can.
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2014 | 01:28 PM
  #10  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default

Originally Posted by slyedog
A local builder told me real world was closer to 9.4 than the stated 9.7. Don't know the hard truth to that statement. When I put mine in Gary advised I did not exceed 10:1 From my research 10.25 is the highest w/o sacrificing performance of the 57 can.
Could be; every motor is different. I have seen TC chambers that are supposed to measure 85cc-86cc measure 89cc-90cc. I have seen deck heights run from -.003" to -.010". So of course there will be variances from one motor to another; some may actually show 9.7 or even a bit more but none will ever show 10.5 as Melman has been told; that would be too much for the 57.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:23 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE