Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Heads question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 16, 2012 | 11:28 PM
  #1  
fastbagger's Avatar
fastbagger
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 603
Likes: 14
From: AZ
Default Heads question

'09 FLHX stock, SERT tuned, SE/AC, supertrapp slipons. Want some more power. Was thinking of few options as I want to use all HD parts. Today I priced some OEM heads for 12-13 models that have the ACR's built in $800 for set. I want to either install heads and 255 cams and leave as '96, or also include 103 cylinders. Would heads work with either '96 or '103? Or more cost effective to have oem heads machined for ACR's? My main concern is the compression if I install cams and bigger cylinders thanks.
 
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2012 | 12:09 AM
  #2  
Desertwndrr's Avatar
Desertwndrr
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 344
Likes: 27
From: Southern Utah
Default

Do not pay $800 for a set of heads. I have a set in my garage that are from a stock 103 with ACRs that I would gladly take $450 for. I bought a set of new castings that we're drilled for ACRs for $300 that I sent off to be worked over. There are plenty of take off head sets to be had for a decent price.

Your heads are almost exactly the same with the only real difference being the ACRs. If you have a 96" and wanted the 255 cams, personally I'd just change the cams and leave everything else alone. My opinion is that the 7cu increase to a 103 is not enough to warrant a ton of money and the 96" does not really need the compression releases if you religiously start the bike in neutral.

That said, if you are going to change the heads and cylinders and cams, at least go to a 107, add a GOOD cam for that displacement and compression, and have the heads worked over by a professional.

Just my humble opinion.
 
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2012 | 12:11 AM
  #3  
Shredding rubber's Avatar
Shredding rubber
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,449
Likes: 8
From: Right about the middle
Default

Going from 96 to 103 isn't worth the money. If your going to change the bore go either 106 with S&S or a fuel Moto 107.
I went 106. I've got 107hp/115tq to the rear wheel. Mine was a 96.
 
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2012 | 12:17 AM
  #4  
PistonPuller's Avatar
PistonPuller
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,190
Likes: 5
From: Eastern Washington
Default

I have a 103 on my 09. Its just bigger cylinders and pistons with stock heads. Don't think there is a difference in heads between 96 and 103.
 
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2012 | 09:04 AM
  #5  
mgmmgm's Avatar
mgmmgm
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 6
From: Spokane, WA.
Default

Depends on compression, and cams....

I think the 96" motor was 9.2:1 compression, the factory 103 ( power pack) in 2011 was 9.6:1 the ACR's are nice especially with the SE255 cam I had installed.

For future engine mods, compression releases not a bad way to go. I did not get them and wished that I had on my 103 build I had done on my 07 fatboy which had 9.8:1 compression, heads by Baisley with their roller rockers, and a redshift 575 cams. it had hot start issues that compression releases would have resolved.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Booxr
Engine Mechanical Topics
15
May 2, 2016 09:00 PM
Shrink
Engine Mechanical Topics
7
Apr 28, 2015 03:56 PM
Improved700
Touring Models
32
Aug 6, 2014 07:01 AM
Garcou
Touring Models
4
Jan 5, 2011 11:43 PM
MoChrome
Touring Models
6
Aug 30, 2010 02:43 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:01 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE