Help needed with a Cam choice
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
You didn't say if you planned on doing other mods besides cams and that is important. The SE255's are excellent in a stock motor if you want the power in the 2000-4500rpm range and peak-HP isn't a big priority. The TQ curve in a stock motor is about as flat as you can get, with very even power throughout the RPM range.
Some will disagree, but I think almost anything else (with the possible exception of the Andrews 21H and 48H) will harm your low-end unless you plan on increasing compression, and with TD's it will accentuate the problem. I'm not willing to give-up any low-end power, so the choices for me were very few. OTOH if you don't care what happens below 2500-3000 rpm you have a number of good options including the SE204, TW6-6, and TW555, to name a few--and all of these will produce more peak-HP than the 255's. Adding a 4° advance gear will pull your TQ curve to the left about 300 rpms with the 6-6's at the expense of some top-end loss, and I would expect similar cams to work the same. Don't even consider it with the 255's, though. The ideal cams for you all depends on where you want the power to come in and how many other mods you plan on doing to the motor. The choices increase greatly if you bump the compression up a bit, like around 10:1. Do that and the cam choices are much more plentiful, IMO. If I was going to increase my compression to 10:1 or thereabouts I would put the SE204 or TW6-6 high on my short list. The 255's with flat-top pistons (HD Stage II) are real TQ monsters, but I wouldn't go that route without installing at least one CR, as some complain of hot-start problems because of the high CCP this combo generates. I think they would be excellent in the new 103 motors with 9.6-9.7 compression.
I certainly wouldn't even consider the 211, 259e, 260, or similar grinds in an otherwise stock motor.
Some will disagree, but I think almost anything else (with the possible exception of the Andrews 21H and 48H) will harm your low-end unless you plan on increasing compression, and with TD's it will accentuate the problem. I'm not willing to give-up any low-end power, so the choices for me were very few. OTOH if you don't care what happens below 2500-3000 rpm you have a number of good options including the SE204, TW6-6, and TW555, to name a few--and all of these will produce more peak-HP than the 255's. Adding a 4° advance gear will pull your TQ curve to the left about 300 rpms with the 6-6's at the expense of some top-end loss, and I would expect similar cams to work the same. Don't even consider it with the 255's, though. The ideal cams for you all depends on where you want the power to come in and how many other mods you plan on doing to the motor. The choices increase greatly if you bump the compression up a bit, like around 10:1. Do that and the cam choices are much more plentiful, IMO. If I was going to increase my compression to 10:1 or thereabouts I would put the SE204 or TW6-6 high on my short list. The 255's with flat-top pistons (HD Stage II) are real TQ monsters, but I wouldn't go that route without installing at least one CR, as some complain of hot-start problems because of the high CCP this combo generates. I think they would be excellent in the new 103 motors with 9.6-9.7 compression.
I certainly wouldn't even consider the 211, 259e, 260, or similar grinds in an otherwise stock motor.
Last edited by iclick; Aug 4, 2010 at 10:19 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 723
Likes: 3
From: Greensburg Pa
I might of missed it but are you doing anything to the heads? If so I would look at T-Mans stage 2 touring heads. Give it some compression, and look at his 590's
I have been having great results with his products, and will be doing a stage 2 touring 103 on a 2007 road glide shortly
Also used his 555's on a stock 96" dyna/ tts tuned gave him 92hp 94tq
Currently just fired up a cvo ultra with 625's in it... Will tune it end of this week with a sest.
I have been having great results with his products, and will be doing a stage 2 touring 103 on a 2007 road glide shortly
Also used his 555's on a stock 96" dyna/ tts tuned gave him 92hp 94tq
Currently just fired up a cvo ultra with 625's in it... Will tune it end of this week with a sest.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 742
Likes: 4
From: Twin Cities, MN
You didn't say if you planned on doing other mods besides cams and that is important. The SE255's are excellent in a stock motor if you want the power in the 2000-4500rpm range and peak-HP isn't a big priority. The TQ curve in a stock motor is about as flat as you can get, with very even power throughout the RPM range.
The choices increase greatly if you bump the compression up a bit, like around 10:1. Do that and the cam choices are much more plentiful, IMO. If I was going to increase my compression to 10:1 or thereabouts I would put the SE204 or TW6-6 high on my short list. The 255's with flat-top pistons (HD Stage II) are real TQ monsters, but I wouldn't go that route without installing at least one CR, as some complain of hot-start problems because of the high CCP this combo generates. I think they would be excellent in the new 103 motors with 9.6-9.7 compression.
The choices increase greatly if you bump the compression up a bit, like around 10:1. Do that and the cam choices are much more plentiful, IMO. If I was going to increase my compression to 10:1 or thereabouts I would put the SE204 or TW6-6 high on my short list. The 255's with flat-top pistons (HD Stage II) are real TQ monsters, but I wouldn't go that route without installing at least one CR, as some complain of hot-start problems because of the high CCP this combo generates. I think they would be excellent in the new 103 motors with 9.6-9.7 compression.
Excellent info as usual...Thanks!
I've got the SE-255's from my initial 103" build and the bike ran great following the intial set-up. I added some head-work over the Winter and I just got the tune done today. (I know, I know!) Anyway, I'm pretty happy with the numbers! At ~ 10:1 compression, I'm getting some really fantastic Tq, with the HP approaching 100 using 2.0" baffles. I can't complain at all...
Last edited by Joker65; Aug 5, 2010 at 07:41 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 513
Likes: 3
From: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
I have a 103" in my Ultra and love my Woods TW-7h with the +4 cam gear. I haven't tried the SE 255's so I cannot comment but with my setup I have excellent throttle response throughout and the lopey idle sounds awesome! I contemplated headwork but Gary Wallace from Andrews assured me it would be of no benefit on a heavy touring bike riding 2-up so I passed.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 742
Likes: 4
From: Twin Cities, MN
I was a bit disappointed with the initial "numbers" from my 103" build, but riding it was very nice!! I was much younger then! 
So, I was told the heads would bring the numbers up, and really make the 255's come to life (by Doc). Now... I got over 16% increase in HP and more than a 10% jump in torque.
Next time, I think I'll save some $$$ and go with the Andrews 26 cams on a 96" motor, and just add pipes and an A/C!! My sister-n-law just had this done to hers, and she ended up with something inthe range of 88 Hp/98 Tq!! She's pretty happy too....
So, I was told the heads would bring the numbers up, and really make the 255's come to life (by Doc). Now... I got over 16% increase in HP and more than a 10% jump in torque. Next time, I think I'll save some $$$ and go with the Andrews 26 cams on a 96" motor, and just add pipes and an A/C!! My sister-n-law just had this done to hers, and she ended up with something inthe range of 88 Hp/98 Tq!! She's pretty happy too....
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Al/FL
How about the new 254e cam. This is out of their new HP Cat.
"SE -254E C am Kit
This cam provides great low-end torque along with
good midrange. A good “all-around” cam, the SE-254E is a good match for a Dyna, Softail or light T ouring bike
- R oad KingŽ, Street G lideŽ or R oad G lideŽ Custom -
when the aggressive rider desires a little more top-end
horsepower. In a 0-60 sprint or 1/4 mile drag race, the
SE-254E-equipped model would pull ahead of an identical
model with a SE-255 cam."
"SE -254E C am Kit
This cam provides great low-end torque along with
good midrange. A good “all-around” cam, the SE-254E is a good match for a Dyna, Softail or light T ouring bike
- R oad KingŽ, Street G lideŽ or R oad G lideŽ Custom -
when the aggressive rider desires a little more top-end
horsepower. In a 0-60 sprint or 1/4 mile drag race, the
SE-254E-equipped model would pull ahead of an identical
model with a SE-255 cam."
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
I have 10.5:1 compression with old cvo 103 heads
and I love my 259e cams what kind of compression
are you runing
and I love my 259e cams what kind of compression
are you runing
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Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,310
Likes: 1,079
I'm not so sure you're going to be happy with the 255's if the compression remains the same and you keep the TDs. I had 255s (stock) in my 2010 SEUltra 110 engine. Out of the crate it produced 77hp and 100 ft-lbs.
Unless you're going to give up the TDs or build some compression with pistons/headwork, I'm afraid the 255s probably won't generating a satisfying outcome. In addition, these cams "run out of steam" (they are done at 4-4500K) very quickly but since you seem to shift early and quickly this may not be a very big deal to you.
Unless you're going to give up the TDs or build some compression with pistons/headwork, I'm afraid the 255s probably won't generating a satisfying outcome. In addition, these cams "run out of steam" (they are done at 4-4500K) very quickly but since you seem to shift early and quickly this may not be a very big deal to you.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 10
From: Oh
Same here, only my stock heads were reworked. Don't put in SE259e cams without bumping up compression, they won't be as good, IMO. My bike pulls very hard.