Se255 cams need opinions/advise

[BOWHIKER]

Here is my dilemma , I talked to the HD tech who has many years experience on building v-twins , he is now the service manager . I asked him which cam he thought I should use and he said the se255 would really wake my bike up . What I have is a 09 night train , V & H big radius , se heavy breather and the HD reflash or remap as some call it . I know some will say I'm running lean but according to my plugs I'm looking good , hardly any decell poping . Here is my questions , 1st is it really worht the $700-800 bucks , 2nd is changing the cams going to cause any excessive wear on any other enginge components , 3rd do I need compression release now , I don't think I do but still want to ask . I'm not trying to turn it into a racer by any means but thought the extra torque might be nice . Also if anyone asks our gas here , premimum , does not have ethenol in it , the stations do sell gas with 10% ethenol but our regular and premimum do not contain any , so is it really worth the bucks ? I'm open to all opinions .

 

[67wizard]

Here is my dilemma , I talked to the HD tech who has many years experience on building v-twins , he is now the service manager . I asked him which cam he thought I should use and he said the se255 would really wake my bike up . What I have is a 09 night train , V & H big radius , se heavy breather and the HD reflash or remap as some call it . I know some will say I'm running lean but according to my plugs I'm looking good , hardly any decell poping . Here is my questions , 1st is it really worht the $700-800 bucks , 2nd is changing the cams going to cause any excessive wear on any other enginge components , 3rd do I need compression release now , I don't think I do but still want to ask . I'm not trying to turn it into a racer by any means but thought the extra torque might be nice . Also if anyone asks our gas here , premimum , does not have ethenol in it , the stations do sell gas with 10% ethenol but our regular and premimum do not contain any , so is it really worth the bucks ? I'm open to all opinions .

Can't say with just a cam change would be worth the money. But I went with a big bore kit 103 with se255 cams in my bagger and it really woke up. I ask do I need compression release also. On the net some say yes, but all shops and wrenchs I ask said no. I used the .045 head gaskets not the .030. So compression did not go up much.

 

[glider]

JMO When you change cams, the longevity of the engine will be reduced a bit because of the additional stress put on the valve train etc. I would prefer in most instances to just go to more displacement if it is more power you want.
I'm a firm believer in not opening up an engine after it leaves the factory. Too many times guys do a modification to their bike and something else goes south after the modification.
It's like a chain, it's only as strong as the weakest link.

 

[BUBBIE]

Here is my dilemma , I talked to the HD tech who has many years experience on building v-twins , he is now the service manager . I asked him which cam he thought I should use and he said the se255 would really wake my bike up . What I have is a 09 night train , V & H big radius , se heavy breather and the HD reflash or remap as some call it . I know some will say I'm running lean but according to my plugs I'm looking good hardly any decell poping . Here is my questions , 1st is it really worht the $700-800 bucks , 2nd is changing the cams going to cause any excessive wear on any other enginge components , 3rd do I need compression release now , I don't think I do but still want to ask . I'm not trying to turn it into a racer by any means but thought the extra torque might be nice . Also if anyone asks our gas here , premimum , does not have ethenol in it , the stations do sell gas with 10% ethenol but our regular and premimum do not contain any , so is it really worth the bucks ? I'm open to all opinions .

*****************************************************

Yes the SE 255's WILL give Torque. BUT I would go another direction using the SE 204 cams

The above answered,,,,and I KNOW I'm SPOT ON with MY answers here......

CAMS:

Because of your LIGHTER bike, Different riding styles on it.. I would NOT use the SE 255's,,,Only on a Heavy Touring bike.....

THE SE 204's are a much better cam for that Lighter bike as you (I) will ride that bike Different than the Touring...

Running LEAN and Decell popping :

YES you are Running LEAN ,, even with the HD download... EPA... TOO Lean and Need a TFI or a Gen 3 to make it run properly with the fuel needed...

On your 09, HD Shuts the Fuel Off when you leave OFF the throttle and that is the ONLY reason You don't Hear a pop... YES you ARE lean....

On the Cams,,, Use SE 204's for your style of bike/ride will make you Happier than the BIG lift Cams that the SE 255's have (.550) lift as compared to the SE 204's at (.508) lift...

I don't believe the cams are harder on the engine then the stock one..... the stock cam has a lift of .484 and the SE 204 of .508 and a wopper lift of .550 on the Se 255's.. (all 3 are Bolt ins)

The Thing that makes ME want the 204 cams in your bike is the Close of the intake valve being @ 34* and the stock at 30* and the 255's @25*....
Your bike being lighter and ridden differently than the Big Hogs... They Need to have the RPM range UP where You (I) would run that motor... So the 204's Hit a better Spot than the 255's do.....

I have talked with Many who have used the SE 204 in their bikes and HAPPY is what it IS...

The Only reason I went with the SE 255''s IS 09 FLHR IS A BIG HOG and I would NOT do the 255's in a Lighter bike.....

I had a Dyna and would Not of been happy with the Big Bikes Cam durations as compared to the SE 204's.... I think YOU also fit My style of riding... I don't Hot Rod BUT when I do twist the throttle on my lighter bike I want it to GO....

The SE 255's Peter Out a little Early on the RPM range for the lighter style bike and Ride.(better on a Big Heavy bike)


These cams (both) work Great in a 96" bike with out compression reliefs...

With all you have done to your bike , ADDING the SE 204 cams ALONG With a TFI or a Gen3 is a MUST......

Then your ride is Worth The Bucks....

signed....BUBBIE

 

[glazier]

JMO When you change cams, the longevity of the engine will be reduced a bit because of the additional stress put on the valve train etc..

Even just going from stock cams to the SE-203, which aren't much bigger than stock???

I'm a firm believer in not opening up an engine after it leaves the factory. Too many times guys do a modification to their bike and something else goes south after the modification.

I really didn't want to, but needed to since my cam chain tensioners were shot. Figured as long as they were out, lets upgrade the cams a little. Hope nothing goes south, cause I'm not that far from the border already.

 

[BOWHIKER]

Thanks , you guys made up my mind , i think i'll just go with a tfi and leave the cams alone , i was a little septacle about adding a tfi after seeing several post where people have had problems with them and then when they unplugged them things were fine .

 

[BUBBIE]

Thanks , you guys made up my mind , i think i'll just go with a tfi and leave the cams alone , i was a little septacle about adding a tfi after seeing several post where people have had problems with them and then when they unplugged them things were fine .

Most of the problems I've seen here on the TFI or Gen3 is operator/technician Error when installing them And setting them,,,,Over thinking an Easy to use product... Trying to go and change ALL the suggested settings Without KNOWING what the settings do... ie; More is Better approach...... then revert back to the suggested and get it right..


signed....BUBBIE

 

[BOWHIKER]

So what you are saying is the TFI'S are pretty fail safe and should last a long time ?

 

[glider]

Only had a problem with one out of all I have used and it was replaced quick. Hard to beat the TFI on a street bike.

 

[tsp45acp]

*****************************************************

Yes the SE 255's WILL give Torque. BUT I would go another direction using the SE 204 cams

The above answered,,,,and I KNOW I'm SPOT ON with MY answers here......

CAMS:

Because of your LIGHTER bike, Different riding styles on it.. I would NOT use the SE 255's,,,Only on a Heavy Touring bike.....

THE SE 204's are a much better cam for that Lighter bike as you (I) will ride that bike Different than the Touring...

Running LEAN and Decell popping :

YES you are Running LEAN ,, even with the HD download... EPA... TOO Lean and Need a TFI or a Gen 3 to make it run properly with the fuel needed...

On your 09, HD Shuts the Fuel Off when you leave OFF the throttle and that is the ONLY reason You don't Hear a pop... YES you ARE lean....

On the Cams,,, Use SE 204's for your style of bike/ride will make you Happier than the BIG lift Cams that the SE 255's have (.550) lift as compared to the SE 204's at (.508) lift...

I don't believe the cams are harder on the engine then the stock one..... the stock cam has a lift of .484 and the SE 204 of .508 and a wopper lift of .550 on the Se 255's.. (all 3 are Bolt ins)

The Thing that makes ME want the 204 cams in your bike is the Close of the intake valve being @ 34* and the stock at 30* and the 255's @25*....
Your bike being lighter and ridden differently than the Big Hogs... They Need to have the RPM range UP where You (I) would run that motor... So the 204's Hit a better Spot than the 255's do.....

I have talked with Many who have used the SE 204 in their bikes and HAPPY is what it IS...

The Only reason I went with the SE 255''s IS 09 FLHR IS A BIG HOG and I would NOT do the 255's in a Lighter bike.....

I had a Dyna and would Not of been happy with the Big Bikes Cam durations as compared to the SE 204's.... I think YOU also fit My style of riding... I don't Hot Rod BUT when I do twist the throttle on my lighter bike I want it to GO....

The SE 255's Peter Out a little Early on the RPM range for the lighter style bike and Ride.(better on a Big Heavy bike)


These cams (both) work Great in a 96" bike with out compression reliefs...

With all you have done to your bike , ADDING the SE 204 cams ALONG With a TFI or a Gen3 is a MUST......

Then your ride is Worth The Bucks....

signed....BUBBIE

+1. My riding buddy has a 02 Road King that came w/88 motor. Piston ring came apart on him and he punched it out to a 95. He had already done the SE204 cams and during the re-tune ecm calibration, they upped his redline to 6200 rpm's. Point of my story is that these cams behave like stock cams til about 2500 rpm's, then they run like a scalded dog. My 103 (pre SE255 cams) had the stage 1 already...Rhinehart true duels, Power comm 3, and K&N air filter. and would kinda be pretty close to his till about 4500 rpm's, then he would walk away from me like I wasn't there.


204's are VERY good for the 95/96 motors. IMO. Tracy