Caming The 103
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
As side note: Very cool shop, all kinds of cool stuff hanging from the ceiling, old dragsters, race cars, and the back room had several drag bikes sitting on display. In addition to his engine building business he also drag races Harleys or at least used to. I'm not certain if he is still an active racer.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 543
Likes: 92
From: clinton CT
It is my understanding that Harley has put the 255 in the new 103's. I am running the 255's in my 08 and my buddy is running the 254e's in his 103 11' dyno tune on both he is running the screaming eagle race tuner and i am running the power commander. very happy with performance.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 342
From: Virginia Beach
Andrews 48, Woods 222, S&S 551, SE 255. All great torque cams for baggers.
I have had the 57h, and now have the 551. Both good cams, 551 gives you a little more grunt down low. Great for what you describe your needs are.
If you get a 222 and a Power vision from Fuel Moto it will come with a map already programmed. You can use your current exhaust.
If you get a 551 and a Power Vision from S&S you can down load a map from the S&S web site. You can use your current exhaust.
I have had the 57h, and now have the 551. Both good cams, 551 gives you a little more grunt down low. Great for what you describe your needs are.
If you get a 222 and a Power vision from Fuel Moto it will come with a map already programmed. You can use your current exhaust.
If you get a 551 and a Power Vision from S&S you can down load a map from the S&S web site. You can use your current exhaust.
Compared to a 2-1-2, I know you guys are comparing 103's mines a 96" but you'll get the point.
Like I said I spoke to Jamie and he said VH dresser duals really stuff the motor up and will hold the numbers and performance back....
79.5hp & 100.7ft-lbs
Like I said I spoke to Jamie and he said VH dresser duals really stuff the motor up and will hold the numbers and performance back....
79.5hp & 100.7ft-lbs
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
It is my understanding that Harley has put the 255 in the new 103's. I am running the 255's in my 08 and my buddy is running the 254e's in his 103 11' dyno tune on both he is running the screaming eagle race tuner and i am running the power commander. very happy with performance.
Isn't the 254E just updated version of the 255s? I thought the 254E cams are a little easier starting but shift the start of the power band a few hundred RPM to the right and roll off a little later than the 255s. Guys that have ridden both say that can't really tell much of a difference between the cams.
Banned
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,492
Likes: 10
It is my understanding that Harley has put the 255 in the new 103's. I am running the 255's in my 08 and my buddy is running the 254e's in his 103 11' dyno tune on both he is running the screaming eagle race tuner and i am running the power commander. very happy with performance.
Mark
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 309
Likes: 4
I was waiting for this ;-) Cams shape available power. Heads make power. Compression makes power. Exhaust makes power, as well as a bunch of other stuff. I had a really educational discussion with the guy that did my head work, also one of the top engine builders in the area. He was very firm on this, cams do not make power they push the power band around one way or the other. Some cams perform down at low for torque and others at high RPM. The reason he likes the 204s for heavy touring bikes is because they have a broad flat power band with a lot of torque. He then took me to his dyno and pulled up dyno sheet after dyno sheet and showed me tunes with various cams and showed how the total output never changes just moves the available power around. The guy knows what he is doing. I am just a backyard mechanic, admittedly one that has built a lot of engines over the years but certainly I am not knowledgeable enough to challenge a proven engine builder that makes money off of engines he builds winning races. He also said he only uses Harley cams. They put way more R&D into cam profiles than any after market company has the financial resources to accomplish. Then he started in on bit of a rant about why he did not like various after market cams. I took this part of the discussion with a grain of salt. I have been around long enough to know every engine builder has their preferences and reasons why.
As side note: Very cool shop, all kinds of cool stuff hanging from the ceiling, old dragsters, race cars, and the back room had several drag bikes sitting on display. In addition to his engine building business he also drag races Harleys or at least used to. I'm not certain if he is still an active racer.
As side note: Very cool shop, all kinds of cool stuff hanging from the ceiling, old dragsters, race cars, and the back room had several drag bikes sitting on display. In addition to his engine building business he also drag races Harleys or at least used to. I'm not certain if he is still an active racer.
So by your statement above a stage 1 (fueling box/high flow ac/exhaust) would produce the same maximum HP/Torque as the stage 2? (stage 1 with cams added). I'm going to need to see dyno sheets to believe that. Different cams do move the power band left or right without question though.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
So by your statement above a stage 1 (fueling box/high flow ac/exhaust) would produce the same maximum HP/Torque as the stage 2? (stage 1 with cams added). I'm going to need to see dyno sheets to believe that. Different cams do move the power band left or right without question though.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Denver
I had the andrews 48 on my 2012 FLHX 103. I loved it. Good low end torque. I later switched to the andrews 57H. That cam is good as well but the power curve is further to the right which means the torque is at a higher RPM. I may go back to the 48H.