I will be breaking into the cam chest on my 2000 Springer as soon as I have all the replacement parts together. This bike has a six speed tranny, 40 mm CV carb with Screaming Eagle CNC ported heads which have been honed out twice to 113 ci. It has compression releases. It also has S&S tappets and S&S adjustable push rods. It currently has Screaming Eagle 266 cams. I don't know what kind of valve springs it has. The numbers I have seen is that these cams, which are no longer made, are about mid range when compared with today's performance cams . My mechanic believes that because of their high cam lobes, the SE266E cams may be making the constant noise. My plan is to go back to stock Harley cams (25534-99A and 25544-00A). I am 71 years old, and at my age, I am not looking for extra power or performance. Besides, with one foot in the grave, and the other on a banana peel, I only want my bike to go a little faster than my wheel chair. But the question is...do you all think this bike will accept the new cams without falling to pieces?

 

Not possible to answer without knowing the compression ratio. Do a compression test and see what the numbers are. That should tell you something. Guessing the stock cams won't work. But you have plenty of other options

 

So many sources for the noise, could be something else, like heavy springs, lifters, pushrod adjustment. I don't know if the 266 cams are known to be noisy.

 

Highly unlikely it's the cams. Be an exercise in futility replacing them chasing a noise.

 

Thanks for the responses. First chance I get, I will have my mechanic do the compression test. Thus far, I have chased this elusive noise down, to no avail. New adjustable S$S pushrods, new S$S tappets, new Feuling oil pump, new Feuling cam plate, new Feuling hydraulic chain tensioners, new valves, new valve sleeves, Rocker Lockers, multiple oil changes. I gave this bike to my daughter on my death bed last year when I had the big one (she doesn't ride), but I am still kicking, so I may just have to live with it.

 

One quick question...I understand that compression ratio and cylinder compression are two different things. What will each number tell me? I can do the compression myself test by renting the tool from an auto shop, but I have no clue about the ratio part.

 

The CR really doesn't matter at this point. It's used as a means to achieve an acceptable CCP when building an engine. It's the final CCP that matters. It's the result of the CR, cams used, ring seal, etc. A CCP between 180 and 220 is generally considered good. 180 might be a bit low and feel a little sluggish at low rpms and 220 will require a spot on tune or be prone to detonation at certain rpms. 190 to 210 would be best.

 

Are you certain about the parts installed? A 113" would have 4.065 "bigger bore" cylinders x 4.375 stroker flywheel setup, weird to have a stock 40MM CV carb, and the HTCC CNC heads required a specific piston used to get the advertised CR. That kit was advertised @ 10.5 compression, and the SE266 cam has a 58° intake close, so CCP reading would be ~180#. If you put stock cams in that combo, your CCP would jump to ~205#, with potential detonation/heat issues.

 

Prior to the latest work, my bike was a 107 ci. It had SE CNC ported heads. (that is how I bought it) Afterwards, my mechanic, whom I trust and works exclusively on Harleys, made it a point to tell me several times that my bike was now a 113 ci. This work was necessary after a valve sleeve came loose and caused some damage. The heads had to be sent from California to Texas to have work done. I don't know if anything was done to the cylinders or pistons. When I bought the bike, it originally had a 45 mm Mikuni. I changed it to a 40 mm CV carb after the latest work.

 

IF you are interested I have a good set of Andrews TW-26 cams that are designed for increased low and mid-range torque which makes riding, especially 2-up, more enjoyable. $125 plus the ride. Fits twin cam engines up through 2006.