Hello, newbie here sort of... I do read these forums but seldom post. You'll have to forgive me if I'm posting this in the wrong section.

Anyway, I have what is basically a stock TC88B 2006 Softail Standard Inj. The only real upgrades I've done is a Cobra Prowflo air cleaner, and some VH 2 into 2 big radius pipes. I did have to add a fuel pack tuner at the time, to tweak the pipes so they didn't pop. Other than that nothing has been done performance wise.

As you know the FXSTI is not a heavy bike by any means. I'm preparing to change out the upper and lower rocker boxes to chrome. While I'm doing that I was thinking of replacing the tensioner shoes in the cam case. Well, since the cams have to come out I was thinking about upgrading the cams. I'm torn between the Andrews 21, 26 & SS 509. Many post here say the 26 is better suited to a lighter bike. others say a 21 will work just fine. My riding habits seldom see me going over 90 mph. The vast majority of the time it's 0-70. I live in the city, therefore it's a lot of stop and go traffic. When I do manage to get out of town, I prefer the two lane blacktops cruising along 50-70 mph. However there are times when I do have to hit the interstate and run 90 mph. I really don't care to go any faster than that, as it's a chore being buffeted by the wind at that speed and no windscreen. Therefore I'm unsure of what cam would suit me best?

I'm also torn whether to just do the Cyco show replacements or go to the extra expense of the cam plate upgrade. This matters a great deal because no matter what cams I select or is recommended. I have to buy them to fit one or the other, they won't work in both. Having said that I'm just uncertain if the upgraded cam plate is worthy of all the extra expense? I've got much of the needed parts in the way to just do the shoe replacements, I have the inner cam bearings, the gaskets, Cyco shoes, Baisley oil spring upgrade, etc,.. My only final expense would be the purchase of the cam itself. Obviously that would be the cheapest route, but is it the smart move? The bike has managed to get this far with it's original spring tensioners, What's another 20,000 miles and 13 more years? If I just do the shoe replacements and not waste the money on the upgraded cam plate.

I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts on my dilemma, especially on whether to stay with the tensioners or do the cam plate upgrade?
I'd also appreciate any input you might have on cam selection?

I don't intend to upgrade this to BB kit. Nor am I seeking to have big HP numbers up top. I'm wanting something with a little more get up and go in a more usable power range. Remember this is a stock 06 TC88B, it has the better heads with the beehive springs, but has that horrible EPA cam that came stock. I realize the big radius pipes are starving me of some TQ down low, but I'm not gong to change them out, I like the look. If they cost me a couple numbers in HP/TQ so be it. Still I think a cam swap will help livin' up this Bike a tad more than it already is. Something that provides a bit more power and torque below 5000 rpm. I'd imagine most of my time is spent riding in the 1500-4000 rpm range.

 

I believe your heads flow levels out around 0.500 or a little more, so that's a starting point for the 21 or 509 cam as you mentioned.

Let's be honest, with either cam you're not going to be running with a SE 110. You'll get a nice little bump and mellow Harley sound. I have S&S 509 and parts. I went with S&S cam as I had already had S&S parts and just stayed with that company. I'm sure I would be just as happy with the TW21 cam as both are drop-in cams.

I ride as you do and what I have works for me. You can search the forum for those cams and get a **LOT** of feedback. You can go to the vendors web site and read about cams. The 509 works form 0 to 5000, as I remember. As I said, it works for me,... so would the TW21.

Check your oil pressure with a gauge before you open it up to see where your TC88 is. The stock cam plate and pump is know to work well. Mine is pure stock with ~8psi at idle and 33 to 38 running.

There's been good success with Cyco shoes. I use them and waiting for a 10,000 mile report.

My friend has a 2002 Fatboy and just had to have gear drive cams... no matter what. His run-out was .003 so he was happy to run gear drive cams. There is no gear whine or anything gear noise. I'm happy with the Cyco shoes. He's happy with gears. Good to have choices.

Most here will not tell you exactly what to do, just give their thoughts and let you roll the dice.

You'll get some that agree and some disagree with me. But that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Good luck and don't be afraid to ask more questions and go your own way.

 

If you go with Andrews cams and want a potentially less expensive route to update your cam plate, pump, and chain tensioners then Andrews Conversion Cams are worth considering?

http://www.andrewsproducts.com/sites.../page_07_0.pdf

https://www.hotbikeweb.com/andrews-h...conversion-kit

 

Here's my 2 cents....

I have no experience with S&S cams, so I am not discounting them, just don't know anything about them...

The A21 cams are great in a stock 88ci engine, with a bump in bore (like a 95ci kit) the A26 cams seem to shine.... however, these cams are very close, and there are people who have a big bore w/21s and people with 88ci with 26s that swear by them....

I went with gear drive cams on my '01 Springer w/carb, and the '07+ cam plate conversion on my '03 Heritage EFI. The Springer is 88ci with A21s and the Heritage is a 95ci w/26s. Both run flawlessly, and with a bunch more pep than with their previous cams...... seat of the pants, both are fun rides..

For your tensioner upgrade, I have read a lot of very good things about the Cyco shoes. I put much less mileage on my Springer, than my other two bikes.... I was going to switch the shoes to Cyco shoes but, the runout measured .002 so I couldn't resist using a gear drive set up since I'd never used one before...

Additionally, while the added benefit of a better oil pump on the '07+ cam plate is nice, I don't know of any early Twin Cam street bikes that blew up due to lack of oil flow.....

Based on all I've read, if you're anticipating 20K miles in 13 years, go with Cyco shoes and don't look back... even with the poor quality OEM shoes, there were few reported failures under 20K miles....

Good luck with your decision & enjoy the ride...!

 

https://university.fuelmotousa.com/a...haft-shootout/

 

Oops....meant to post thie in the Dyna section.....sorry

 

Good Low to Mid Range Torque on the TW21's .. Quite happy with that set up on my 88 ..

 

1500rpm? Yikes. That's not much more than idle rpm. Might want to think about getting those rpm up to a more happy place. You have a light bike. Livening it up down there won't be much more noticeable than what you already have imo. Last thing you need is a torque cam. Just my of course. These motors are just getting warmed up at 4000rpm. I don't drop much below 3000 after up shifting. I know people think above 4000rpm is beating on it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Anything below 2000 is tho. My girl gets awnry if I don't redline her at least once every time she's out and spends 95% of her time between 3000 and 5000rpm running the 2 lane twisties.
if you're stuck on one of those 2 cams, go with the one that revs out higher.

 

https://www.feulingparts.com/sku/7220

I don't the difference between the 05 n 06, but this really woke up my 05. Money well spent, don't neglect to have her Dyno tuned when you're done.