evo?
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Jeffersonville, IN
evo?
I have an 88 Softail with a Sputhe 96" kit. I have ported and polished heads, Andrews EV59 cams, S&S Super G, V&H Short Shots and Stampede Single fire ingnition. The bike has great top end, but the hole shot sucks. I have thought about changing the sprockets to try to improve the bottom end. I have plenty of torque and HP. The bike acts like a deisel pickup with a "granny" gear. My father can eat me up off the line on a modified FLHS through first and most of second gear. Then I start pulling him lengths at a time. Any Suggestions on changes. I have 03 Electra Glide for my distance bike. Hunter
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Rochester, NY
The first thing that comes to mind is that you may have 'overbuilt' the engine for a stop light to stop light killer.
I don't have a clue what your torque or HP curve looks like, but I'll bet with the engine work you have done. Its asleep at the switch below 2500 to 3000rpm. A Harley is a heavy bike and needs to have a bunch of low end torque to get off the line in a hurry without frying the hide off the rear tire.
If you wind the engine up into its real power band your going to be smoking the rear tire instead of going anywhere fast.
I imagine the idea of reworking the engine for more low end torque isn't very appealing, or much fun.
So I suggest you look at maybe getting a more competition type slipper/lockup clutch. That way you can wind it up a bit and just drop the hammer. The clutch will slip a bit to get you moving without cooking the tire. Then as the rpm's go up beyond 2500 or so rpm, it locks up to deliver full power to the rear wheel.
I don't have a clue what your torque or HP curve looks like, but I'll bet with the engine work you have done. Its asleep at the switch below 2500 to 3000rpm. A Harley is a heavy bike and needs to have a bunch of low end torque to get off the line in a hurry without frying the hide off the rear tire.
If you wind the engine up into its real power band your going to be smoking the rear tire instead of going anywhere fast.
I imagine the idea of reworking the engine for more low end torque isn't very appealing, or much fun.
So I suggest you look at maybe getting a more competition type slipper/lockup clutch. That way you can wind it up a bit and just drop the hammer. The clutch will slip a bit to get you moving without cooking the tire. Then as the rpm's go up beyond 2500 or so rpm, it locks up to deliver full power to the rear wheel.
Last edited by In Memoriam Citoriplus; Dec 28, 2008 at 01:04 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Leander Texas
a dyno run will tell you and a dyno tune may fix it. I know mine was like that with no back pressure on the exhaust when I had 2.25 baffles and after changing to 1.75 I could feel a difference. I had flat spots until I had a dyno tune done and now it will take off at any speed
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Jeffersonville, IN
thanks
The suggestions make sense. I don't feel I am lacking torque or power. It has enough torque to take off in 3rd gear. I have 1 3/4 V&H short shots. It seems like first gear is very low and not very long and second is way too tall. I have to shift early in first and have to wind second before it really pulls. Third and forth are strong from start to finish and fifth is an overdrive. My friend's dad has a 94 softail and he says it is a dog off the line also. His is stock. I feel that I get jumped from first and half of second before mine comes into its own. I know harley has used different sprocket combinations for the front and rear. I am wondering if the combination on my dad's flhs would work better. I am not worried about touring on this bike anymore. I have a 03 flhtc for that and my wife is telling me I need to make room in the garage, so my sportster will have to go. It was my light to light rocket.
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