The SE 255 is one of the best smog cams you can get, not many after market companies make smog cams, the 255 has the smallest intake duration 211 and earliest intake closing of any cam out there, it is what it is, put a TW 222 or SE 204 in your bike right after you rode it with a SE 255 and you would not put the SE 255 back in your bike.

 

Doing the SE stage 4 kit with 259 cams, we'll see how she pulls when it's done

 

I know Jerry is looking for input on the cam choice and has received some good advice. I wouldn't be able to add much to what has already been offered so I will go another direction based on some of the "void the warranty" comments I have read in this thread.

In regard to installing cams or other performance enhancements, I wanted to comment on the warranty voidation dialogue (I know voidation is not a word, but...). True, thanks to the MM act, it is the legal burden of the dealer to "prove" (in court) that the installation (by someone other than the dealer) of whatever (parts other than HD) caused the customer issue and HD and the dealer is therefore not responsible. Unfortunately, I've never seen a judge nor jury at an HD dealership sitting around waiting to weigh legal arguments, listen to expert witnesses, and render a verdict based upon the customer protections outlined in the MM act. And it would be very unusual for a customer to take an HD dealership to court over a trivial problem (monetarily speaking) in a motorcycle engine that may or may not be the fault of the customer. I can understand a class action suit based on a large scale manufacturing defect that is causing runability or safety issues. But the single-event issue that is created when the dealer's service manager says "Sorry, not covered since it's not HD parts and we didn't perform the installation" is all too common and leaves the customer with little to no leverage unless he takes it to the next step. Personally, I have yet to hear of a single case where a customer has taken an HD dealer to court for denial of warranty service based on cam swaps, head work, header systems, tuners, or other performance enhancing modifications. Maybe there has been such a case, but I am certainly not aware.

So what is your next move? You can buy a whole engine or two with what you have to pay attorneys these days at anywhere from $200 to over $400 per hour. And trust me, with the backlogs in our already slow court system, a single case is guaranteed to last for at least a year or more. So in the end, we lose regardless of the MM act because the legal system is too slow and expensive for most of us to utilize. And those that might choose to utilize it would tangle only with a single local dealer. The remainder of the HD network would care less and go about business as usual.

So in reality, and that's where we exist, that service guy essentially has to prove nothing when he's talking to you unless denial of warranty service is eventually brought to court, which, for all the reasons mentioned and more, probably won't happen.

Problem is, when you have to depend upon the dealer to install this kind if performance upgrade, you get meticulously backed into a corner by his opinions and narrow HD options. And in the end all of this is usually underpinned by a statement such as "And we will warranty the parts if we install them". Remember he wants to sell you all of the hardware that he possibly can and then charge you for installing it. And if he is going to warrant it, then I would get something to that affect in writing on the receipt or in your service records. But get it hard-copy so it can be taken home and stored with your bike records. There is no guarantee that the installation of Screamin' Eagle parts will keep your warranty intact, especially if you do the work yourself. Just ask those that have been down that road.

There are some really good dealers/service depts out there that understand that the HD is the most highly modified motorcycle on the planet. They certainly encourage that with all of their aftermarket parts. But they are quick to warn that some of these performance parts are not "street legal" and intended for track use only. What a crock.

Some of the better dealers don't get bent all out of shape trying to witch-hunt your bike. They will know if it doesn't sound stock. It's pretty easy to determine that without even looking. And they know where to look for the tuners, etc. And they know the lope of the stock cams versus the sound of a different cam. Nobody is fooling anybody. It's best to be honest when asked. You will sleep better.

So I would say to you that you should perform your upgrades and get your bike as you like it. Don't lose any sleep over the warranty. Your dealer will either honor it or he won't. Either way, the sun will come up tomorrow and it may be a good day to ride....maybe to a new dealer!

 

imho,i don't think you can beat an andrews 48h in a 96" motor.

 

I have 08 with se big bore kit and 255 cams , with a perfect tune its amazing. My best friend bought a 2013 flhx and he wants to buy the S eagle III with the 259 cams and my questions is : he need to buy a screamin eagle heads with acr or the new 103 comes with acr .? Factory acr it's enough ? I heard all new 103 don't have any issue with the high compression cams because now comes with factory acr , that's correct ?

 

+ 1 on that cam bearing upgrade. My stock '06 SG is down at 32k with inner cam
bearing failure. Got it early and not much hurt other than the oil pump thanks to
that red oil pressure light at idle.

 

The SE 255 is an EPA approved cam but only for the 110 motor. It has not been tested or approved by the EPA for any other Harley engine. SO don't let all these smog cam reports scare you.

That said...I run the 204s for the reasons previously given. I think you will be happy with either.

 

If nothing else do some internet research on cams. Overlap, lift, all kinds of good reading. Overlap duration has much to do with smog cams as I understand it. Cams IMO are somewhat complex in nature. They must be fitted to one's style of riding. I would think if you are going to have problems on the road, it is not going to be due to a properly performed cam change.

 

See if someone will let you ride a bike with the se255s and a good tune. I have them in a 96, good choice for a 2 up touring bike.

 

i recently sold my 08 streetglide with the 259-e cams, 10.5 c.r. all the goodies, and it pulled really well. fast forward to now,....i just got the 204's along with the 1.75 rockers, screamin eagle factory c&c ported heads,vance & hines pro pipe, port matched intake manifold, cleaned up the casting flange in the throttle body, and it dyno's at 114.81 ft lbs of torque and 104 hp. there's a 1" hole bored in the baffle of the pro pipe so they could use the sniffer for the dyno tune. it's borderline too loud with the hole in the baffle so i'll be removing the baffle and welding a plate to close the hole in the baffle. i'll build a few more ft lbs of torque and lose a couple of hp by welding that hole closed, but that's okay. cheaper than getting an amp and better speakers, huh? for a harley touring bike, it pulls really strong from off idle all the way up to 6,000 rippums if anyone's interested, they can reference my dyno sheet through accessing my posts concerning the 204's. the high ratio rockers made a lot of difference with the build. i'm very happy with how it runs. so my advice would lead towards the 204's. i believe compression releases are recommended. can't remember, but i had them on my stock 103 heads and now on the s.e. factory c&c ported heads.