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Engine Mechanical TopicsDiscussion 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.
Hi all, been sculking around the site for a while and have got some really good tips and tricks to dress up my bike, thank you all for that.
I'm pretty much sold these 204 cams as I thought there were a straight fit, tune and run. The HD storesays and installation does not require any head work or performance valve springs, although the PDFinstall instructions say check piston heights, and beveling valves for clearance.
So a few questions to everyone who has fitted these cams into 103B ci
Did you check or have piston to valve issues?
Did you need the extra Cam Spacer Kit (25928-06)?
Last, these are hydraulic roller cam followers right, what service intervals would you have to check or replace them with these cams. The reason I ask this is, with my car I have solid rollers and I didn't realized I be changing
them every 5000 miles before the needle bearing collapsed and trash the engine.
Welcome from oz brother! A mate of mine has 204's in his 96er softail they area bolt in cam not much more lift than astock cam just some decent duration.It will pick up bottom -midrange power and give it a nice idle.I have 211 se in my 103 but these work better with more compression same lift as 204 just more duration.
Another area I don't understand...I too have done a s*** ton of homework on the 204's and folks always comment on how you should go with cams with a bit more lift. However, I've also found a ton of homework and articles that stock heads don't flow any additional over .500" of lift...so...why go any more if there's no gain to be had? Like you, everything I researched pointed me to the 204! If the heads don't flow any more, there's nothing but additional strain on the valve springs and components by going with a cam with additional lift.
I did the same as you back in 2000 and decided to put the SE204 in my new 88b engine. Never been sorry. It uses all stock components and gives a good bit more bottom end torque. The increased overlap also will increase your exhaust note as well. IMO, a good cam choice.
Another area I don't understand...I too have done a s*** ton of homework on the 204's and folks always comment on how you should go with cams with a bit more lift. However, I've also found a ton of homework and articles that stock heads don't flow any additional over .500" of lift...so...why go any more if there's no gain to be had? Like you, everything I researched pointed me to the 204! If the heads don't flow any more, there's nothing but additional strain on the valve springs and components by going with a cam with additional lift.
The SE204s are a mid range came and, IMHO, an underrated cam. Having said that, I think it important to adjust your thinking about head flow and lift. True that the '07 and later heads flow better than the previous heads; however, just because flow flattens out at .500" lift doesn't mean that nothing is happening at .550" lift. If a head is flowing 125cfm (@ 10"H2O) at .500" lift still but goes flat is still flowing 125cfm at .550" lift.
Having said that, I ran the SE204 in a 95" cam with a set of heads that didn't flow much more than the late stock heads and that motor made 104TQ/94HP. Had I invested in more than a "velocity" port job with larger valves, I would have seen better numbers. The SE204 has 8* advance ground into the profile which makes it a tuning challenge in a higher compression motor. However, tuned properly, the 204 is a great bolt in option with a wicked "hot rod" idle. I helped out a guy a couple of years back with this same combination and convinced him to install a set of 1.7 ratio rockers to help out with the lift and he saw in increase in TQ/HP, more on the HP side, from a small investment of time and $$.
I think you will be happy with the 204 but it will require a good tune. JMHO.
He will see more. My 95"er made 104TQ/94HP; figure 103"er will get close to 110TQ/100HP with a good pipe and tune. It's all in the tune.
I agree if he gets a tune and not a dealer flash, which is was assuming, and the b motors counterbalanced with that heavy tire and wheel. Doesnt mean a whole lot but is does show effects on the dyno. But yes its gonna run fine, no worries at all.
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