Lifters too ...
Cams are shot
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 19
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From: illinois
Cams are shot
So today i was changing the cam chain tensioners on my Road King and discovered my my cams are scored and pitted. They are the SEH203 cams. I'm at a loss now because they need replaced but I want to bump to the next size up without changing springs. I'm looking at the S&S 509 or the Wood TW6. Interested in what other's thoughts are on the matter.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 650
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From: Sierra foothills
Most likely not enough compression for the 6. The 509 might be a good fit. However, being it's a MM fuel injection system, how are you going to tune it? Getting hard to find tuners who will touch them nowadays. Options start getting expensive. Cam swap to different not exactly plug and play.
By the way, if replacing cams, also replace lifters. Also inner cam bearings if they were not already replaced with full complement type bearings.
By the way, if replacing cams, also replace lifters. Also inner cam bearings if they were not already replaced with full complement type bearings.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 19
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From: illinois
its a 2001 with 35k and some change. I'll take some pics tonight. The reason I don't want to put them back is the pitting. The light scuffing seemed normal but the pitting bugged me. I think whoever put it together forgot the lube.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: illinois
Most likely not enough compression for the 6. The 509 might be a good fit. However, being it's a MM fuel injection system, how are you going to tune it? Getting hard to find tuners who will touch them nowadays. Options start getting expensive. Cam swap to different not exactly plug and play.
By the way, if replacing cams, also replace lifters. Also inner cam bearings if they were not already replaced with full complement type bearings.
By the way, if replacing cams, also replace lifters. Also inner cam bearings if they were not already replaced with full complement type bearings.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 650
Likes: 351
From: Sierra foothills
Okay then, I would be looking at the S&S 509. Or maybe Andrews 21. As has been said, for the Wood 6, you will need a lot more compression than you now have. - Meaning head work or pistons or both. Otherwise it would be softer off the bottom than you have now. A Woods 6 and a S&S 509 are WAY different cams.
Call those tuners up and ask their opinion. If one says Woods 6 in a basically stock 88", find another tuner. Either that or spend a lot of time above 4,000 rpms
Call those tuners up and ask their opinion. If one says Woods 6 in a basically stock 88", find another tuner. Either that or spend a lot of time above 4,000 rpms
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,763
Likes: 2,597
From: san antonio
+1 on the 509; maybe the best bolt in for the TC88. New lifters, Johnson Hy-Lifts from WFO Larry; Toyo/Torrington B148 inner cam bearings also a good idea.
Last edited by djl; Jul 31, 2023 at 06:03 PM.