Cams on a 96 motor?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 173
From: Watertown, CT
I just installed 551 Easy Starts in my bike along with a set of 2012 stock mufflers. I use a Screamin Eagle AC and PV1 from Fuel Moto. I'm really happy with the sound. Nice rumble and bark but not to loud. Waiting on an updated map before I take it out for a rip. Smells a little rich right now. Starts easier and I can definitely here the click at shut down from the compression releases. I used the stock push rods because I was also replacing the head breathers as well as modifying the rocker assemblies to hopefully cut down on the misting into the AC. Hardest part of the job was re installing the push rod clips. Blech. I will update after I road test it.
As far as performance I'm happy.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 88,847
From: Western South Dakota
Well the Wood 555 cam install was completed late yesterday by my local indy shop in Marin County and I'm now back home with my bike after a 30 mile ride across the Bay, over the GG Bridge, and through the City. As the shop was near my brother's house, he was kind enough to loan me his FXRS for the past week so I actually rode the little FXR across the bay this morning. Sure was nimble, but I missed the comfort of the King!
I'll start with my biggest disappointment, the idle sound. After listening to a few 96" bikes with 555 cams on YouTube, I expected a little more lope. My engine does sounds quite different now, but it's not very lopey, nothing like the 551s in the above vid. I'm a little surprised actually, as 242 degrees of duration ought to produce a nice lope, but I am not certain of the overlap and how that plays into the idle. Some of the 96" 555 cammed bikes on YouTube sound much lopey than mine.
I was warned that these cams don't sound lopey, so I'm not overly surprised and clearly idle sound wasn't one of my decision criteria. Idle quality/ idle stability is more important than idle sound (to me, but maybe not others), and the Fuel Moto tune I rec'd from Keith is pretty damn good with no weirdness at idle, no surging or chopiness at low rpm, and clean pull all the way through. The tune I have is from the 2010 96" 96hp/101ft lbs dyno chart on Fuel Moto's website, and the combo is exactly the same as mine-Jackpot Dyno tuned mufflers, Jackpot 2/1/2 head pipe, Stage 1 air cleaner, Power Commander V, and Wood TW-555 cams.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...ml#post7196446
I don't have any plans to put my bike on a dyno, the tune feels strong, and there's actually much less --almost none --decel popping vs. my previous Stage 1 tune, which had an occasional light decel pop when relatively cold.
The valvetrain is actually quieter than it was stock. My shop was very open to Fuel Moto's pushrod adjustment advice and they nailed it. I can hear a little new noise from the air filter (Ness inverted big sucker) and that is also pretty common with these cams. It's not a loud noise, and it's not audible at speed. Non issue in my book.
On the freeway, the bike felt much stronger (SOTP dyno?) and climbed past 80mph quicker than I've ever seen it do. The new power is very apparent, but delivery is actually more linear than I expected. Off idle torque feels similar to stock, but it builds nicely and doesn't feel like it's ever flattening. I didn't have any issues navigating some hills with stop and go traffic, again bike felt similar to stock right off idle, and pulled hard with some revs.
Midrange power also feels much stronger than stock, as was expected. If I never did another mod I could live with these cams forever, there seems to be no downside vs. where I came from (stock) and lotsa upside. Conventional wisdom says the 555s in a 96" are not as strong at Andrews 48s or the 222s down low, but since I've never ridden a bike with either of those cams I have no basis of comparison (other than stock cams). But I am planning one more engine upgrade in addition to cams, so the 555s are not yet optimized.
So, did the Wood 555 cams transform my bike? No, not really, but there's a very nice bump in power and I can enjoy the bike all summer with my new mods (Hogpro 18 wheels in April, cams in June) with zero regrets.
It's not ape **** crazy fast nor do the cams come on like a hard hitting turbo--I have a relatively fast 100 octane tuned turbo car, so I'm not really looking for a rocket bike.
If I do any additional engine mods, it would either be heads/compression or the FM 107 kit with stock heads / 10.25:1 CR. But probably not heads and big bore.
So there you have it. No disappointments, no giant hole in low end torque, no driveability issues. I'll call fuel moto and relay my observations to see if they want to tweak the tune, but otherwise, I'm good to go for the Summer.
I'll start with my biggest disappointment, the idle sound. After listening to a few 96" bikes with 555 cams on YouTube, I expected a little more lope. My engine does sounds quite different now, but it's not very lopey, nothing like the 551s in the above vid. I'm a little surprised actually, as 242 degrees of duration ought to produce a nice lope, but I am not certain of the overlap and how that plays into the idle. Some of the 96" 555 cammed bikes on YouTube sound much lopey than mine.
I was warned that these cams don't sound lopey, so I'm not overly surprised and clearly idle sound wasn't one of my decision criteria. Idle quality/ idle stability is more important than idle sound (to me, but maybe not others), and the Fuel Moto tune I rec'd from Keith is pretty damn good with no weirdness at idle, no surging or chopiness at low rpm, and clean pull all the way through. The tune I have is from the 2010 96" 96hp/101ft lbs dyno chart on Fuel Moto's website, and the combo is exactly the same as mine-Jackpot Dyno tuned mufflers, Jackpot 2/1/2 head pipe, Stage 1 air cleaner, Power Commander V, and Wood TW-555 cams.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...ml#post7196446
I don't have any plans to put my bike on a dyno, the tune feels strong, and there's actually much less --almost none --decel popping vs. my previous Stage 1 tune, which had an occasional light decel pop when relatively cold.
The valvetrain is actually quieter than it was stock. My shop was very open to Fuel Moto's pushrod adjustment advice and they nailed it. I can hear a little new noise from the air filter (Ness inverted big sucker) and that is also pretty common with these cams. It's not a loud noise, and it's not audible at speed. Non issue in my book.
On the freeway, the bike felt much stronger (SOTP dyno?) and climbed past 80mph quicker than I've ever seen it do. The new power is very apparent, but delivery is actually more linear than I expected. Off idle torque feels similar to stock, but it builds nicely and doesn't feel like it's ever flattening. I didn't have any issues navigating some hills with stop and go traffic, again bike felt similar to stock right off idle, and pulled hard with some revs.
Midrange power also feels much stronger than stock, as was expected. If I never did another mod I could live with these cams forever, there seems to be no downside vs. where I came from (stock) and lotsa upside. Conventional wisdom says the 555s in a 96" are not as strong at Andrews 48s or the 222s down low, but since I've never ridden a bike with either of those cams I have no basis of comparison (other than stock cams). But I am planning one more engine upgrade in addition to cams, so the 555s are not yet optimized.
So, did the Wood 555 cams transform my bike? No, not really, but there's a very nice bump in power and I can enjoy the bike all summer with my new mods (Hogpro 18 wheels in April, cams in June) with zero regrets.
It's not ape **** crazy fast nor do the cams come on like a hard hitting turbo--I have a relatively fast 100 octane tuned turbo car, so I'm not really looking for a rocket bike.
If I do any additional engine mods, it would either be heads/compression or the FM 107 kit with stock heads / 10.25:1 CR. But probably not heads and big bore.
So there you have it. No disappointments, no giant hole in low end torque, no driveability issues. I'll call fuel moto and relay my observations to see if they want to tweak the tune, but otherwise, I'm good to go for the Summer.
Road Master
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 769
Likes: 375
From: Bay Area
Yep, I guess it is. Much more enjoyable than the jump from stock to stage 1.
I did my second ride with the 555 cams this afternoon--Hwy 1 south from SF to Half Moon Bay Airport. For the first time since owning this bike (5 years), I bumped into the rev limiter. And that's with the RevExtender enabled (6200 per Fuel Moto). Without a tach, I'm not quite sure where to shift, I ran it up in 2nd and it never stopped pulling until I hit the limiter.
It is running a little rich, which is good, that's much safer than lean, and I'll put a few more miles on it before tweaking the PC-V map with Fuel Moto's help.
BTW, not saying this is a rocket by any stretch, but it does run a helluva lot better than it did with the stock cams.g
I did my second ride with the 555 cams this afternoon--Hwy 1 south from SF to Half Moon Bay Airport. For the first time since owning this bike (5 years), I bumped into the rev limiter. And that's with the RevExtender enabled (6200 per Fuel Moto). Without a tach, I'm not quite sure where to shift, I ran it up in 2nd and it never stopped pulling until I hit the limiter.
It is running a little rich, which is good, that's much safer than lean, and I'll put a few more miles on it before tweaking the PC-V map with Fuel Moto's help.
BTW, not saying this is a rocket by any stretch, but it does run a helluva lot better than it did with the stock cams.g
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 963
Likes: 145
From: Displaced hillbilly
I just installed 551 Easy Starts in my bike along with a set of 2012 stock mufflers. I use a Screamin Eagle AC and PV1 from Fuel Moto. I'm really happy with the sound. Nice rumble and bark but not to loud. Waiting on an updated map before I take it out for a rip. Smells a little rich right now. Starts easier and I can definitely here the click at shut down from the compression releases. I used the stock push rods because I was also replacing the head breathers as well as modifying the rocker assemblies to hopefully cut down on the misting into the AC. Hardest part of the job was re installing the push rod clips. Blech. I will update after I road test it.
Curious if the breather update and rocker mods did anything to the misting issue? I'm considering doing the exact same thing.
Thanks
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 908
Likes: 96
From: Red Deer, AB
Still raining here so I haven't a chance to ride. Therefore I can't comment on the misting into the breather.
As an update I forgot to mention I measured my crank run out at. 0004. Pleasantly surprised. Also S&S replied to my inquiry about a possible map for the 551's. Unfortunately they no longer supply Dynojet maps.
I will update once this Flippin weather stops and I can get out for a ride.
As an update I forgot to mention I measured my crank run out at. 0004. Pleasantly surprised. Also S&S replied to my inquiry about a possible map for the 551's. Unfortunately they no longer supply Dynojet maps.
I will update once this Flippin weather stops and I can get out for a ride.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 908
Likes: 96
From: Red Deer, AB
Got out for a couple of rides on my bike. Runs strong and no more oil misting into the air breather. A little hiccup is that it doesn't like warm starts as in it spins over but doesn't fire. Have to look at my maps more.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 963
Likes: 145
From: Displaced hillbilly
Did you upgrade the oil pump or cam support plate??
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