engine ?
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 634
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina
engine ?
I ordered my 103 stage 2 kit with 255 cams yesterday. My question is should I get new heads or machine the stock heads? Would the headwork or new heads make that much of a difference? Would the money spent on heads be worth it? I am no engine guy, I just want more power when I need it (passing and riding 2up). I have a 2010 deluxe with V & H BSL's, SE pro super tuner, and SE air filter.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 712
Likes: 55
From: Punta Gorda, Florida
I ordered my 103 stage 2 kit with 255 cams yesterday. My question is should I get new heads or machine the stock heads? Would the headwork or new heads make that much of a difference? Would the money spent on heads be worth it? I am no engine guy, I just want more power when I need it (passing and riding 2up). I have a 2010 deluxe with V & H BSL's, SE pro super tuner, and SE air filter.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Head work will make a pretty big diff for the money. BUT
U need to do some research. then call some builders that does porting. They need to know what Ur build is and what U expect.
Any good build has to have all the pieces fit together.
Also I've read that the SE head are OK, but for the money most good porters that rework Ur heads are Usually preferred by members in here.
Its amazing what one can find in the computer when one does a search.
Look through these links, U'll learn a bunch.
https://www.google.com/search?source...1&bih=633&bs=1
Also check to see if Ur cam pick is correct for head porting, most that do head work is for the uppper mid-high RPM's to really shine, Ur SE 255"s may not be a good choice for that.
.
U need to do some research. then call some builders that does porting. They need to know what Ur build is and what U expect.
Any good build has to have all the pieces fit together.
Also I've read that the SE head are OK, but for the money most good porters that rework Ur heads are Usually preferred by members in here.
Its amazing what one can find in the computer when one does a search.
Look through these links, U'll learn a bunch.
https://www.google.com/search?source...1&bih=633&bs=1
Also check to see if Ur cam pick is correct for head porting, most that do head work is for the uppper mid-high RPM's to really shine, Ur SE 255"s may not be a good choice for that.
.
Last edited by oct1949; Nov 6, 2011 at 07:57 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,109
Likes: 9
From: Connecticut
I would do the heads thats where performance comes from, air in air out. Did mine last year and not looking back like a whole new bike again. Not sure about the cams, depends on how you ride. If you are one that doesn't like to rev the motor then they are a good choice I have 204's and with the 103,heads and tunning it works great over 100ftlbs from 2500 and goes up from there peaking around 110, flat curve and just pulls good
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 634
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina
The 255s are what come with the kit I ordered. I have done a search on here and found good info. I asked about SE259 cams and was told that those were more of a mid to high range cam. I think the 255s would suit my riding style better, low to mid. I want passing power when I need it and of course for riding 2up. Im 160lbs and my wife is 125lbs. To me , my bike seems sluggish when riding 2up. I dont like to ride fast. 80mph is tops for me. I prefer to ride 55-65mph. I dont want to do this and later wish I had done headwork. Again, all this engine stuff is foreign to me. This is why Im asking the experts on here. Thanks again.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 712
Likes: 55
From: Punta Gorda, Florida
The 255s are what come with the kit I ordered. I have done a search on here and found good info. I asked about SE259 cams and was told that those were more of a mid to high range cam. I think the 255s would suit my riding style better, low to mid. I want passing power when I need it and of course for riding 2up. Im 160lbs and my wife is 125lbs. To me , my bike seems sluggish when riding 2up. I dont like to ride fast. 80mph is tops for me. I prefer to ride 55-65mph. I dont want to do this and later wish I had done headwork. Again, all this engine stuff is foreign to me. This is why Im asking the experts on here. Thanks again.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
The 255s are what come with the kit I ordered. I have done a search on here and found good info. I asked about SE259 cams and was told that those were more of a mid to high range cam. I think the 255s would suit my riding style better, low to mid. I want passing power when I need it and of course for riding 2up. Im 160lbs and my wife is 125lbs. To me , my bike seems sluggish when riding 2up. I dont like to ride fast. 80mph is tops for me. I prefer to ride 55-65mph. I dont want to do this and later wish I had done headwork. Again, all this engine stuff is foreign to me. This is why Im asking the experts on here. Thanks again.
The 255's are great cams for heavy touring bikes with full gear and 2up.
They do tend to start falling off around 4300 rpm's.
Ur BS longs are not helping U any under 3000 as they don't usually make TQ till around 3000 rpm's
With a Softy there's a bunch of cams that will work well, and just adding cams will make a huge difference.
I go 280 and wife is 130 and we ride 2up 95% of the time, Like U said about not enough Power even with a STG 1, the 96er is under powered for using 6th, IMO.
But when I added the Andrews 26 cams we can now pass easy in 6th running at 60 mph without downshifting.
The bike has MORE TQ and can pass/accelerate better than it used to in 5th at 55mph. And thats without Head work.
U'll for sure get more TQ with head work but just doing the cams will make a big difference.
Here's the dyno of my stock 07 VS the STG1/cams Dyno's
And I still have stock headers and Rush slip-ons.. Because I love the sound, knowing I'd get more TQ in the lower end with some good 2-1` pipes.
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 634
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From: North Carolina
Thanks for all the good info guys. Much appreciated. I am definitely doing my homework on this.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Japan
For my money, I'd go with Fuel Moto's 107" kit w/Wood 555 cams and level B head porting service, which will yield over 110hp/120tq easily. With the SE 103" kit and 255s only, you might pop the 100tq mark.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Read the suggestion on crankshafts below.
http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/h...e_upgrades.htm