255 cam in 96"
Tourer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: N.E. Ohio
Im on your side on this one...
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
I think most of the negatives we read about these cams originate from people who have never ridden a bike with them installed. I'm a believer because they gave me the power increase I wanted where I wanted it, and that isn't at the redline. Yes, they do increase peak-HP over stock cams, but that isn't their forte as you and I well know. I find that I don't need to rev mine past 4000 rpm, and 2˝ years after installing these cams I still marvel at the bike's ability to pass an 18-wheeler on a short straightaway at half-throttle in 5th gear.
Last edited by iclick; Sep 11, 2011 at 12:45 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 199
From: Vancouver BC
I am a little concerned with it being dead at 4000rpm my other thought was the woods 555 but it seems like a completely different animal.Any thoughts on the woods 5-6? I don't run my bike over 5k very often normally not past 4500 so I thought the 255 would be a good choice and it is pretty cheap.I'm just
tired of thinking about
it
tired of thinking about
it
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 5
From: Tennessee
No body "runs" along at 4000k but I run mine past it every time I am out!! I want power when needed!!! 255's DO NOT SUPPLY ANY POWER PAST 4000k ish rpm......if you drive like a grandpa and never want to hear the wonderful note of yer pipes then its a perfect choice.....but for me there worthless........... .02
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
From: State of Confusion, SE PA
Don't do that!!!
Do ya understand what LUGGING the motor means? What damage you have done to your rods and bottom end? Run the bike between 2500 an 3k.....just try'n to save ya some headaches...
255 cams work great in a stock 96. They would be one of my first choices, but there are a number of other cams that will work very well without sacrificing low end torque as compared to stock cams. SE203, SE204, Andrews 21 and 26, all of these will improve performance across the rpm band. I've not had any experience with the new SE254 cams, but they are designed to be torque cams, and shouldn't lose anything to the stock cams.
The Andrews 21 is essentially a stock cam with a little overlap, which will promote better cylinder fill, and more fuel means more power. The stock cams make do with no overlap at all, which cuts down dramatically on exhaust scavenging. It's so there's no chance at all of unburned fuel escaping with the spent exhaust gasses. Smog cams, in other words.
The Andrews 21 is essentially a stock cam with a little overlap, which will promote better cylinder fill, and more fuel means more power. The stock cams make do with no overlap at all, which cuts down dramatically on exhaust scavenging. It's so there's no chance at all of unburned fuel escaping with the spent exhaust gasses. Smog cams, in other words.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
sg34 check out the 255 cams and the 254e cams and all
the other SE cams right here
http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US...bmLocale=en_US
page 70 of 97
the other SE cams right here
http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US...bmLocale=en_US
page 70 of 97
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 900
Likes: 4
From: Wisconsin
That's odd, as there must be something wrong with my bike, as it certainly isn't "dead" at 4000rpm. Have you ridden a bike of this configuration with a good tune? Mine pulls all the way out to the 6200-rpm redline and has no flat-spots or indication of "running out of steam" or "hitting a wall." All dyno charts that I've seen show HP increasing up to 5200-5500rpm. OTOH if "dead" means they don't make as much peak-HP as most other performance cams, you are right--but I don't think a real-world ride on a well-tuned 96/255 will give you the impression that they ever "die" until they hit the rev limiter. Anyway, peak-HP is not this cam's forte, as they are designed to provide a meaningful torque increase in the low-end and midrange, and they do that in spades.
It needs to be also stressed that the OP has a stock 96" engine, and if he puts almost any other cam in that bike without a compression increase he will lose low-end performance. Exceptions would likely be the Andrews 48H and the S&S 551 "Easy Start" cams. If he doesn't mind a loss of low-end TQ and wants the emphasis to be at high RPM's, the SE255 cams are not the right choice for him.
It needs to be also stressed that the OP has a stock 96" engine, and if he puts almost any other cam in that bike without a compression increase he will lose low-end performance. Exceptions would likely be the Andrews 48H and the S&S 551 "Easy Start" cams. If he doesn't mind a loss of low-end TQ and wants the emphasis to be at high RPM's, the SE255 cams are not the right choice for him.
Jamie from fuelmoto tuned it.....so you determine if it was tuned correctly......
and in a side by side race....each with a 96, one with 255's and one stock, a stage 1 and you pick the pipe/s..........they will run side by side all day long out to redline......the 255's will pull ahead, maybe by a foot, but after 4000 yer gonna have a stock bike stay right with you all day long everyday......
My 103 with 255's cant out run a stock 96 with the same pipe and stage one....there dead nutz all day long.....
The problem with 90% of you guys is they go off what the rest of fella's have to say........go ride a bike with a 103/96 with a different cam in it and you will wake up.....granted its all in what you want......I rode a 103 with 555's in it (and if you look at a dyno sheet the torque curve is the same "shape" as a 255) and it will smoke a 255.....rode one with a 5-6, andrews 54 and one with 204's...........all have different characteristics and its up to you.......the 255, to me, isnt worth the time to put it in.....if they werent free I wouldnt of used them.....now it time to remove em and let this thing breath....
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Joe Kucinski
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 283
From: California, Md now Savannah, Ga
So does the change in the transmission gearing starting in the 09's play any role in possible different results that people might have that have the 08 and earlier year 96's? Is someone's 08 SG with a 255 going to respond differently than an 09 SG because of the difference in the transmission gearing?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
FM tuned it at their shop? May we see the chart? What were the numbers generated by the tune?
Or, did you install one of their maps? Who installed the cams?
Uh, okay. Never heard this claim before in many years perusing the forums. I guess all these other bikes, including mine, must be the exception.
Something is wrong. Bad installation, cam timing off a tooth--something. Who knows.
Who installed the cams? If it runs worse than in stock form did you ever suspect an installation error?
I have. It woke up the top-end but not in the range where I ride.
Mine is a 96", as is the OP's. I thought this was the topic of discussion. The 103 is another animal and there are other viable options for that setup which has higher compression.
Yes, I think you need something else.
Or, did you install one of their maps? Who installed the cams?
...and in a side by side race....each with a 96, one with 255's and one stock, a stage 1 and you pick the pipe/s..........they will run side by side all day long out to redline......the 255's will pull ahead, maybe by a foot, but after 4000 yer gonna have a stock bike stay right with you all day long everyday......
My 103 with 255's cant out run a stock 96 with the same pipe and stage one....there dead nutz all day long.....
Who installed the cams? If it runs worse than in stock form did you ever suspect an installation error?
The problem with 90% of you guys is they go off what the rest of fella's have to say........go ride a bike with a 103/96 with a different cam in it and you will wake up.....
granted its all in what you want......I rode a 103 with 555's in it (and if you look at a dyno sheet the torque curve is the same "shape" as a 255) and it will smoke a 255.
....rode one with a 5-6, andrews 54 and one with 204's...........all have different characteristics and its up to you.......the 255, to me, isnt worth the time to put it in.....if they werent free I wouldnt of used them.....now it time to remove em and let this thing breath....