Yeah I am leaving the duals on for now. After 4 different exhausts Im liking these quite a bit. I'm hoping the 103/555 makes up for any low-end loss I may have. Not that it wouldn't perform better still, but the stereo exhaust note makes me smile too.

I can't wait 'till this mod is completed and I can move on to something easier like TIRES !!!
SC

 

I don't blame you one bit! I wouldn't give up my true duals for a few more ft. lbs. either. If I was that concerned about peformance I wouldn't be riding a Harley.

 

When i posted on the first page I was trying to give advice that might keep this thread form turning into a 255 slam fest. Oh well...

The following post illustrates why I wouldn't want, and didn't pick for my pending cam swap, 255's:

To a very large extent, I don't care what power my bike is making at 2000 rpm. Making power at that engine speed isn't good for the POS crank in late model twin cams as far as I'm concerned. I would like any cam I choose to perform at least as good as stock at that level, so that as I accelerate through that level, the bike runs smoothly. But to cruise at that level expecting appreciable power? No, I wouldn't.

I cruise above 2500 almost exclusively. Most mild cams that I would recommend (SE204, Andrews 37, S&S 510, SE 254e, Woods 555) will match or beat a 255 at 2500-2700 RPM and beat it soundly all the way to the rev limiter.

Here's a Woods 555 vs. 255 dyno run done on the same bike on the same day. Bike had pipes, A/C, and tuner. Nothing else. The 555 matches the 255 at 2700 and spanks it from there on:

http://jackpotmufflers.com/images/se255vstw555.jpg

Heck the 555 is probably the most "radical" of the cams I would suggest or own and it still makes great low end torque.

There's nothing wrong with the 255. If you've got one and like it, great. For me, it makes TOO much torque, TOO far down the powerband where I don't want it and gives up TOO much everywhere I ride.

I'd rather adjust the final drive to limit my time under 2400 rpm and have a cam that "comes on" shortly after that.

iClick you make sound logical arguments for the SE255. Of the HUNDREDS of posts I've read on Harley cams the last several months your arguments for the 255 kept the possibility of me buying one bouncing around in my head for a long time. Heck, I even ran across at least one really old thread that showed Boogaloodude was planning to buy a 255 for a period of time. In the final analysis it's simply not the cam for me, and not one I'd recommend to many others, especially not to persons with compression at or over 9.7 or so.

 

Thanks for the response. Was just thinking of what kind of margin I'd have with adding a 4* advance gear to one of the cams with less clearance at TDC. Safe bet is to just check it.

I know there are various theories on adequate piston to valve clearance based on piston/cylinder head material, engine speed, etc.

 

great thread. Ocezam, spot on. Everhyone here: As someone ready to sock a 2 to 3K$ preformance upgrade on a 2011 FLHR--much thanks for opions. ben - e

 

For me the true duals didn't sound that much better on my bike than 2-1-2. Adding cams should change that though. Cam lope should be more pronounced w/ duals.


...

 

Based on what we see day in day out I think ocezam's post sums it up pretty well. We install cam's everyday and find the Wood's TW-555 and now TW-777's to be among the most versatile choices on the market. They fit well for most riding characteristics with exceptionally strong mid range, but they also perform great down low and in the upper RPM's as well. We have not only raw data, but real world feedback from the users from the many bikes we have installed them in. Also remember, your cam choice is only as good as the rest of your combination. Fuel Moto has the freedom to carry whichever cam's we choose and have had several very good manufacturers approach us over the years, and while we very well know there are plenty of choices out there that work very well, our direct relationship with Wood Performance has allowed us to not only provide great support on Bobby's products, but also work with him in developing new grinds such as the 555's and 777's.

 

I am not aware of any requirement where the 555 needs adjustable pushrods. In any event, there is nothing wrong with the adjustables. I prefer the Harley Tapered Adjustables which have been trouble free.

 

The TW-555 does have a different base circle than the stock cams. You will see the best results and quietest valvetrain using adjustable pushrods and setting lifter preload correctly.

 

Will you also need to add a SE compensator with this upgrade ?