Cam upgrade help
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
Runnin 21's in my 88". Ran them for awahile with a stage one download only. Later installed a Dolbeck DFO to richen the fuel a bit more. It does perform better with the dfo, not necessary though. A 2n1 makes a nice noticeable bump also. Dont expect too much with just cams and TD's in an 88"...
fwiw - I would not do gear cams in my 06. I'd go newer cam plate, oil pump and hydro tensioners.
fwiw - I would not do gear cams in my 06. I'd go newer cam plate, oil pump and hydro tensioners.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 19
From: Illinois
The best thing to do would be to 1st, do your heads!! I know you don't want to hear that but it's true. Not just for the immediate benefits either. If you get the heads done 1st no matter what you do after that it will always benifit you each and everytime you do something else or new. Having said that I have a 95 kit with some other stuff and I run the SE 211's and it's so sweet! Good luck and would love to hear what you did and how it's working for you.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
Doing heads with bolt in cams such as 21, 26, 203, 204... is not needed. Especially with your 06 heads which are the same as later model heads. Maybe, although not necessary, deck them to increase compression.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 0
From: FLORIDA
Subscribed
Not to rob the thread but I think the op would benefit from this also
I am surprised to hear that a tuner is not needed with a cam change? I also am going to do the SE kit and likely the Andrews 21 or 26 and always thought I would need a fuel management system.
So some of u guys are saying the stg1 download which I have now is good enough?
Not to rob the thread but I think the op would benefit from this also
I am surprised to hear that a tuner is not needed with a cam change? I also am going to do the SE kit and likely the Andrews 21 or 26 and always thought I would need a fuel management system.
So some of u guys are saying the stg1 download which I have now is good enough?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,547
Likes: 7,153
From: Oxford, Nc
Subscribed
Not to rob the thread but I think the op would benefit from this also
I am surprised to hear that a tuner is not needed with a cam change? I also am going to do the SE kit and likely the Andrews 21 or 26 and always thought I would need a fuel management system.
So some of u guys are saying the stg1 download which I have now is good enough?
Not to rob the thread but I think the op would benefit from this also
I am surprised to hear that a tuner is not needed with a cam change? I also am going to do the SE kit and likely the Andrews 21 or 26 and always thought I would need a fuel management system.
So some of u guys are saying the stg1 download which I have now is good enough?
If there is not that much difference in the cam lift/profile from the stock cams that you're replacing, (and Andrews are pretty mild,) at least on my Stage II download included from the factory, I did not need any additional downloads / adjustments running the 26's that were replacing the stock 203's.
I only adjusted the idles ( cold and hot,) manually.
I only suggested taking it one step at a time. With the Delphi Injection, a tuner/additional download might still be needed. ( But maybe not!)
Last edited by Stiggy; Feb 6, 2012 at 10:48 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
A bolt in cam is well within the autotune range if you have an closed loop O2 sensor bike. '06 bikes w/o O2 sensors but with a mild cam, air cleaner, and pipes should probably have a tuner installed... a piggy back at least, in my opinion.
If you want your air cooled engine to last longer, keep the temperature lower than what the EPA does to it and that requires a tuner. If you trade it in every 20k miles then it's not as big a deal... except to the next guy.
I saw evidence of this when I just did my cams and cam chain tensioners. I used a piggy back tuned for mileage and performance together for quite a few years and had decel pop and summer overheating. I eventually changed to a richer mixture which fixed the decel pop and probably would have helped make the cam last longer. You could see the discoloration in the cam coating and the bearing journals were starting to pit.
Let's see... 10% on the fuel mileage over 60k miles vs. cost of new cams? At today's fuel prices it was probably break even <grin>.
C#
If you want your air cooled engine to last longer, keep the temperature lower than what the EPA does to it and that requires a tuner. If you trade it in every 20k miles then it's not as big a deal... except to the next guy.
I saw evidence of this when I just did my cams and cam chain tensioners. I used a piggy back tuned for mileage and performance together for quite a few years and had decel pop and summer overheating. I eventually changed to a richer mixture which fixed the decel pop and probably would have helped make the cam last longer. You could see the discoloration in the cam coating and the bearing journals were starting to pit.
Let's see... 10% on the fuel mileage over 60k miles vs. cost of new cams? At today's fuel prices it was probably break even <grin>.
C#
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
Subscribed
Not to rob the thread but I think the op would benefit from this also
I am surprised to hear that a tuner is not needed with a cam change? I also am going to do the SE kit and likely the Andrews 21 or 26 and always thought I would need a fuel management system.
So some of u guys are saying the stg1 download which I have now is good enough?
Not to rob the thread but I think the op would benefit from this also
I am surprised to hear that a tuner is not needed with a cam change? I also am going to do the SE kit and likely the Andrews 21 or 26 and always thought I would need a fuel management system.
So some of u guys are saying the stg1 download which I have now is good enough?
No doubt the bike would benefit from a real tune and you would feel the diff. I agree that richening the mix, cooling the engine down is good thing, hence I scored a DFO on eBay. However, the bike ran fine with cams and stage 1 download. Lots of people run them this way with a mild bolt in cam.
Lots of choices and opinions. Research and do what you feel comfortable with.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 312
From: Out of Commiefornia!
Looking inside the ports and dome it is obvious why a port and polish job is a good suggestion for a relatively cheap mod, IMHO.
Roger
