changing cams worth it?

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Dec 31, 2018 | 08:54 PM

#21

23Seven

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 2,385

Likes: 1,442

From: Brentwood

Quote:

Originally Posted by cike

Thanks for the offer on the cam bearing tool. My Indy mechanic is also a friend and said that he would let me use his if I decided to do it myself. Lately it seems like everytime I have put a tool to a bike it has not went well.

I did this last year and my bike is running great.

Buy a shop manual and use it.
Stop and ask questions if you’re not sure.
S&S has a good video on cam change.
Torque wrenches are a must don’t guess.

I almost screwed the pooch when I was adjusting Pushrods. Let them bleed down before turning the crank. I could have bent a valve or maybe something worse but got away with no damage. Just bringing this up so my mistake isn’t repeated.

Dec 31, 2018 | 09:14 PM

#22

Bafflingbs

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2015

Posts: 2,659

Likes: 925

From: Maryland

Quote:

Originally Posted by 23Seven

Give Jaime a call at Fuel Moto... I got my Powervision Tuner, Cams, Lifters, and Pushrods from them and couldn’t be happier with what he recommended and the customer service that followed the purchase.

Ditto! But I think I would first do a good 2-1 pipe. See if that’s enough. You’ll get a great boost from that alone. Cams are good, lifters and bearing are a great thing. But, if I were to do it again, I’d get the pipe first, then I would concentrate on a whole package that increased my compression a bit. Even if it’s a basic package. Fuel Moto has some great low priced packages, for either a 107” or 110”. Or, just change your pistons to 10.25/1 or 10.5/1, and cams. If you do decide to do cams only, your best choices for stock compression are Andrews 48 (least expensive), Cyclerama 570-2’s (best performance) or Woods 222’s (most expensive, close performance to the 570-2’s)

Jan 1, 2019 | 04:58 AM

#23

NELS

Road Warrior

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 1,343

Likes: 173

From: Watertown, CT

I couldn't agree more about the tune after a cam upgrade. I installed 551's in my '10RK and used a canned map.Took it to the dyno man and leaving grabbed a handful in a slight curve and damn near lost it. Suprised the *hit out of me.
Downside = low gas mileage.

Jan 1, 2019 | 08:56 AM

#24

Tn.Heritage

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 3,917

Likes: 184

From:

Look, there are a lot of different opinions on cams but if you want a good solid cam I'd go with the andrews 48's, plenty of low end grunt with great mid range. I personally think the 551's are a waste of money unless you bump up the compression in your engine till around 10.1 or more, you want need that style of cam.
The 48's along with a good tune will make leaps and bounds difference over the stock cams.

Jan 1, 2019 | 09:34 AM

#25

seanl

Road Master

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 769

Likes: 375

From: Bay Area

Quote:

Originally Posted by 23Seven

+1. I also had a very good experience with my Fuel Moto and a cam upgrade. Wood 555s, new lifters & pushrods, and a tune for my PC-V. Initial tune was a little rich at idle but Fuel Moto cleaned that up very quickly! That was almost 18 months ago. This year I'm going to have the bike dyno tuned by RC Cycle in Hayward, CA as I believe that even the best canned / tweaked tune can be improved upon with a full dyno session.

And to answer the original question, the cam upgrade was definitely worth it to me, really transformed the bike with all that added mid-range power. As always, cam choice should be dictated by both engine combo AND riding style.

Last edited by seanl; Jan 1, 2019 at 09:40 AM.

Jan 1, 2019 | 11:02 AM

#26

Notgrownup

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 24,656

Likes: 9,114

From: Snow Hill, NC

Any tuner can throw a bunch of fuel at a bike and give you power but that's not what a good tuner will do, you have to have a package that delivers everything...From the A/C, Cams, Fuel management and exhaust...
I have a very conservative tune in my 07 with a transplanted 103HO and had true duals and recently installed a E series 2 in 1 exhaust set up and I have a completely different bike now... It solid hauls the groceries...I could get a tune where the fuel is dumped at it and get a bit more but I want both decent mileage and power, Fuel Moto had that map for me... I also have a map dedicated to the 2 in 1 that I haven't installed yet so I might be leaving something on the table...
Bottom line is... Are you sure you are taking the bike to a good tuner or somebody that is just throwing a base map at it and dumping fuel just to get power... and what did you want...

Jan 1, 2019 | 11:37 AM

#27

RevBlk

Road Master

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 908

Likes: 96

From: Red Deer, AB

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tn.Heritage

Im curious about your comment as S&S says these cams are a only good for 9.1 to 10.1 CR. And 96 to 106 Cu in. If your experience is different I'd sure like to hear about it as I'm contemplating a big bore but don't want to change cams again.