Cam change report

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Oct 17, 2009 | 04:13 PM

#111

Taterdigger

Intermediate

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 43

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by patriotmc

Wow, this was by far the best thread and write ups I've yet discovered. I read everything I could on the web (iclick, I even saw your post on another forum that Jamie had not found any cam that would work for you. I was pretty discouraged until I found this discussion!).

Well guys, a lot of you are real handy or mechanical. I'm not and I live in MN, so to do this in a garage that is -20 degrees this winter is just not something I want to tackle. My dealer has a special on the 103 upgrade for $1650 this winter. However, I'm pretty sure that doesn't include compression release nor a dyno tune.

After reading this forum, I think the SE 255 only upgrade (I have SE II slip ons, SE A/C and SERT on my 07 Ultra) will give me the exact boost for my riding.

Those of you that got cams from ebay and a did the work yourselves, said the gains were well worth it. My question is: Is the SE 255 cam upgrade worth the money if the dealer does the work and I have to pay retail for the cams??

Thanks in advance!!

Thats a tough question. I guess it comes down to how much disposable cash you have. The performance I gained was well worth the three hundred bucks invested but if it would have cost double that and I'm not so sure.
With that being said, the type of riding I do and the area I like to ride in the cams are a perfect match with the AC, PCV and mufflers.
I've also learned during my short time on this forum that people are very passionate about their cams and which are the best ones to run. I just read through most if not all the threads, weighed the cost and jumped in.

Oct 22, 2009 | 05:08 PM

#112

iclick

Thread Starter

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 11,615

Likes: 50

From: Baton Rouge, LA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taterdigger

Thats a tough question. I guess it comes down to how much disposable cash you have. The performance I gained was well worth the three hundred bucks invested but if it would have cost double that and I'm not so sure. With that being said, the type of riding I do and the area I like to ride in the cams are a perfect match with the AC, PCV and mufflers. I've also learned during my short time on this forum that people are very passionate about their cams and which are the best ones to run. I just read through most if not all the threads, weighed the cost and jumped in.

I'd have to agree with Taterdigger. For $300 it's a great bang-for-the-buck upgrade--but if you let the dealer or an indy do the work and you must pay MSRP for everything I would have second-thoughts about the economy of such a project. My dealer wanted six hours labor, which is $450--then add $300 for the cams (MSRP) plus another $100 for sundries and you are getting close to $850. Had I found myself in that cost territory I would probably have stayed with the stock setup, which performed quite well with the Fuel Moto Power Package. To me the beauty of this mod is buying used cams on Ebay, DIY, and spending no more than $300 total. I think with some creative cost-cutting you could do this mod for $200, and in that price territory it gets a definite thumbs-up.

Oct 22, 2009 | 06:49 PM

#113

jag1886

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 4,112

Likes: 40

From: Boise Idaho

Well for $300 if you would have used a set of HQ500 cams you would have gotten a lot more for your money, you also have to be real careful with that jack the gas tank up thing you are recommended, I tried the same thing last winter putting a fairing on and the cheap plastic Harley fitting on the tank cracked and slowly dribbled gas all over the opposite side of the bike I was working on and I was in peril of the space heater blowing up my garage, lukely I can smell better than my wife and got it shut down it time and then did it the right way.

Oct 22, 2009 | 09:46 PM

#114

iclick

Thread Starter

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 11,615

Likes: 50

From: Baton Rouge, LA

Quote:

Originally Posted by jag1886

Well for $300 if you would have used a set of HQ500 cams you would have gotten a lot more for your money....

It depends on what you want out of the cam upgrade. With a 36° intake close using stock compression you will lose low-end TQ with the HQ500's, and that's what many of us don't want. YMMV.

Quote:

...you also have to be real careful with that jack the gas tank up thing you are recommended....

There's no need to get near the tank fitting. Raise it up in the front at the split and rear at the back bolt hole, and you don't need to do so enough to stress the fittings.

Oct 23, 2009 | 07:36 AM

#115

Dennis Murawski

Cruiser

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 207

Likes: 0

From: Dallas / Ft. Worth, Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by jag1886

you also have to be real careful with that jack the gas tank up thing you are recommended, I tried the same thing last winter putting a fairing on and the cheap plastic Harley fitting on the tank cracked and slowly dribbled gas all over the opposite side of the bike I was working on and I was in peril of the space heater blowing up my garage, lukely I can smell better than my wife and got it shut down it time and then did it the right way.

I also broke off the "cheap plastic Harley fitting" and had gas leaking out. The trick is to remove the broken fitting and the tank will stop leaking. It only leaks through the broken fitting, remove the broken fitting and no leaking.

Harley has improved the replacement fuel line with a metal fitting. I was hoping to buy just the original plastic fitting, but you must buy the whole assembly -- and it's not cheap. The only upside is the new design appears to be much sturdier.

When the parts guy gave me the new assembly, I told him he had the wrong part because it didn't look anything like the part I was holding in my hand. I even went to the showroom floor and found an earlier model used touring bike that had the same fuel line as the one I was holding and had him check the part number for that year. Same part number, same different design.

If you carefully remove the original plastic fitting before you move the tank, you should be fine. If you leave the fitting connected and move the tank a tad too much, you will be shopping for an new fuel line.

Oct 23, 2009 | 11:09 AM

#116

iclick

Thread Starter

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 11,615

Likes: 50

From: Baton Rouge, LA

How are you guys breaking the original plastic gas fittings on the tank? Is it by jacking up the tank and stressing the line or doing something else? I've raised my tank numerous times like for the cam job and running wires under the tank, and at least for the cam job the gas line was tight since I tried to raise it is much as possible. It never occurred to me the fitting might break, but I'll definitely be more careful with this in the future.

Last edited by iclick; Oct 24, 2009 at 08:29 AM.

Oct 23, 2009 | 04:08 PM

#117

Taterdigger

Intermediate

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 43

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by iclick

How are you guys breaking the original plastic gas fittings on the tank? Is it buy jacking up the tank and stressing the line or doing something else? I've raised my tank numerous times like for the cam job and running wires under the tank, and at least for the cam job the gas line was tight since I tried to raise it is much as possible. It never occurred to me the fitting might break, but I'll definitely be more careful with this in the future.

My '08 doesn't have a cross over tube so it was simple to just remove a few bolts disconnect the fuel line at the tank and remove the entire mess. I'm sure that no matter how careful I was I would have dented/scratched the tank. We call that "Homer Simpson" luck...
I'm guessing the connector on the tank is highly breakable since the HD mechanic told me to be careful with it.

Oct 23, 2009 | 05:07 PM

#118

brettnbama

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 5,131

Likes: 3

From: Woodstock, GA

iThink iClick should make a road trip up to AL to help me do my cam swap

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Oct 23, 2009 | 05:18 PM

#119

fuelmoto

Platinum Sponsor

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 7,287

Likes: 4,285

From: Little Chute, WI

We have decided to take our Jackpot "Power Package" a bit further and have got with Bobby Wood on cams. He is sending us some stuff that should complement the Hp/Tq on our Jackpot mufflers and we should have some cam testing completed in the next few weeks. In talking with Bobby I cannot believe how much he knows about these motors and more impressively is willing to share.

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