Zippers Red Shift 575 Cams
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 37
From: Monroe, Louisiana
I just had Zippers Red Shift Cams with the dual piston Red Shift Chain Tensioners installed in my stock 103. No head work. New valve springs and push rods. OMFG it's a totally different bike!!! Night and day difference!! The sound is awesome and performance unbelievable.. Seems to come on about 2200-2500 RM and I haven't found enough interstate space to see where she runs out. I am highly impressed with these cams. Hard to believe it makes such a big difference.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 143
From: Santa Cruz
I would think they really need some compression and headwork to shine... Too much duration for stock compression and way more lift than stock heads can use. But if they make ya happy that is all that matters. Springs are a great idea with .575 lift.
Last edited by 0ldhippie; Dec 12, 2013 at 12:05 AM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
From: Harrisburg, PA
I want to hear your thoughts after they are installed. What are you doing for the tune?
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 395
Likes: 11
From: Oklahoma
They are definitely worth putting in to your list of options. I'm still very happy with them in my setup.
I've got the 657's in my softail and the valve train noise is brutal. My Dad's 49 John Deere A is quieter. Been that way for over 10k miles and the bike pulls like a ****.
Good choice with Zippers.
Good choice with Zippers.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 37
From: Monroe, Louisiana
If you have some good lifters, the right springs, tapered pushrods, and clearance around the spring retainer if you use standard springs and not the beehive springs, you shouldn't have much noise. It is all in the combination. If the springs are too weak the valve lifter will actually run off the end of the lobe at maximum lift. It will also let the valve bounce on the seat too much and make noises. It will beat the seat out in short order and not seal right. It only does this at higher rpms. The tapered pushrods are for the higher lift cams as the pushrod will touch the tube at the top at high lift. The non-tapered valve springs like the beehive will let the retainer touch the edge of the valve cover and make noise. Lot more to getting the goods out of a cam with high lift than just sticking it in. The stock lifters may hold up for several thousand miles without clicking. They will eventually give up and start losing there prime and start ticking or knocking. Some motors have more lifter bore clearance than others and this may be ok when stock, but with higher lifts and stronger springs this will be a problem with lifters holding their prime. If you put the right combination together there is no reason for any particular street cam to make noise.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 575
Likes: 4
From: SouthWestern Ontario
I Would Use Zipper's 575 Cams Again
Not claiming they are the best ever but I do like them alot and have no regrets. I installed them early last spring along with several other upgrades listed in my signature line. Never felt the need to have it dyno'd or estimate my gas milage but the bike just runs great with a respectable increase in low end torque and great pull throughout the RPM range. The slight increase in valve train noise isn't noticed by anyone but me and I am not concerned or bothered by it in the least. It was a perfect combination, using the ThunderMax tuner with "autotune". No need to bring it to anyone else and pay them for what I can accomplish myself, to my utmost satisfaction, I might add. These few mods made my relatively inexpensive bike into a most enjoyable cruiser that I am planning on riding many more years. Good luck with your install!