Cam Upgrade ?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 22
From: Delaware
Just did the 255's. Im picking the bike up from the dyno shop Sat. I have before and after sheets that I will post when I pick it up. Very impressive numbers with just a cam change and good dyno tune.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,449
Likes: 46
From: Roswell, GA
Hi PhilM, with an intake close of 40 with the HQ 525 cam that would definitely result in better mid and upper rpm performance (so HQ says on their site) but possibly at the cost of bottom end TQ.... I could be wrong but from what I have read about bagger cams is that around 30 possibly up to 35 intake close is what makes good TQ down low, and isn't that what the heavy touring bikes need?!!
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 856
Likes: 3
PhilM's point (and HQ's reason for having an intake close at 40 on a cam recommended for '09 and '10 baggers) is that the newer bikes have lower primary gearing than the '07 and '08 96" motors, and the need for the earlier intake close is addressed through that lower gearing on the newer bikes.
Last edited by thewholehog; Nov 5, 2009 at 11:42 PM.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,449
Likes: 46
From: Roswell, GA
Well yes, to a degree...... but surely if you want peak TQ to come on as early as possible (particularly with a touring bike) then from what I have read an intake close of 40 stills seems a bit on the late side. I did a search on dyno charts and it seems to show this no matter whether an 07 bile or an 09 bike. But hey, I'm no expert, so correct me if I'm wrong.
In other words, instead of using a cam with an earlier intake close to provide more torque from say idle to 2250 or so rpms to get the bike moving, the lower gearing of the '09 and '10 bikes multiplies torque faster than the higher geared '07 and '08 models allowing the later intake close of the HQ 525 to provide more hp and torque over a slightly later rpm range than an earlier intake closing cam.
Last edited by Harleypingman; Nov 6, 2009 at 12:38 AM.
Banned
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: waldorf,maryland
This question ahs been asked alot lately, I did a HQ500 cam last winter with a FatCat pipe, good air cleaner, SERT with a good dyno tune and it makes 90HP and 93LBS of torque and there a lot of 103" that don't come near that.
I'm very happy with this set up, I'm just going to change the gear ratio a little and this is going to keep me happy for several years.
There are so many problems with hard starting using the 103" kits and the HP/Torque improvments are minimal unless you spend a lot of cashola!
I'm very happy with this set up, I'm just going to change the gear ratio a little and this is going to keep me happy for several years.
There are so many problems with hard starting using the 103" kits and the HP/Torque improvments are minimal unless you spend a lot of cashola!
Hey jag1886,
I have a build very similiar with my 203cams 90hp/100torq w/tru-duel rineharts but my question to you is i have thinking about the 2-1 fatcat and if i did in your opinion what would i gain or loose?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 6
From: Indiana
Well yes, to a degree...... but surely if you want peak TQ to come on as early as possible (particularly with a touring bike) then from what I have read an intake close of 40 stills seems a bit on the late side. I did a search on dyno charts and it seems to show this no matter whether an 07 bile or an 09 bike. But hey, I'm no expert, so correct me if I'm wrong.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 5
From: Michigan
Like someone said early on in this thread, use the search function and you will find a ton of threads recently about this. I did my cam only upgrade last spring after reading a thread by Iclick about the 255's. I am very happy with the improvement over stock. We will never have a unanimous decision here, so try to sift through all the posts about cams and make an informed decision. Here is the results of my cam swap, before and after the dyno tune
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 856
Likes: 3
It's not a question of being right or wrong. The engine will generate torque and horsepower regardless of the gearing. The HQ-525 simply takes advantage of the greater mechanically generated torque of the lower gearing in the '09 and '10 bikes to provide hp and torque slightly later in the rpm range than a cam with an earlier intake close.
In other words, instead of using a cam with an earlier intake close to provide more torque from say idle to 2250 or so rpms to get the bike moving, the lower gearing of the '09 and '10 bikes multiplies torque faster than the higher geared '07 and '08 models allowing the later intake close of the HQ 525 to provide more hp and torque over a slightly later rpm range than an earlier intake closing cam.
In other words, instead of using a cam with an earlier intake close to provide more torque from say idle to 2250 or so rpms to get the bike moving, the lower gearing of the '09 and '10 bikes multiplies torque faster than the higher geared '07 and '08 models allowing the later intake close of the HQ 525 to provide more hp and torque over a slightly later rpm range than an earlier intake closing cam.