cam Question

Energy One
Brent Herridge

Brent Herridge

Active Member
it is funny to hear so many opinions about a topic I figured would have one goal. I'm anxious to ride with some of these modified bikes and see what a difference it makes.

For me reliability is an important part of the equation too, but it makes sense that would take different priority for different folks.
 
Jwooky

Jwooky

Well-Known Member
I don't baby mine, but I do try and use common sense.

The hardest thing you can do to a bike/car is hammer them from a standstill. applying all that torque instantaneously to essentially a fixed body/wheel is brutal on all the components. Even if you don't hurt something , you are likely to break the tires loose and spin it out of control.

I tend to roll into it then poor it on.

I also have a ~800 hp twin turbo firebird and use similar logic with it.
 
SEAL-rider

SEAL-rider

Active Member
What year is your 117. In 2005 some of the motors were fitted with smaller valves due to EPA. Do you have G-carb? If you have the smaller valves and E-carb you don't want 600 cam. I started with the 585 and when I switched to the 600 the engine ran better at all RPMs. Smooth all the way to 5k. The 585 would strain above 4k
 
bikeone

bikeone

Active Member
engine is 2006 - carburator s&s shorty with K&N Filter.
Works good in the bull - Its only a thought to change to 600.
searched the dates of original cam for see the difference and calculate a little.

everybody knows: Better is the enemy of good..........
 
Th3InfamousI

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
john sachs said:
Those valve spring retainers with the holes in them are an accident waiting to happen. Major expense when 1 breaks.
John
Click to expand...
Fantastic! Just gave me another project, like I needed one..haha. Do they even make them anymore with the holes?

What do you recommend to use to replace them? Does S&S even sell them without the springs? The springs are the Red ones if that matters.

Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk
 
john sachs

john sachs

Well-Known Member
Th3InfamousI said:
Fantastic! Just gave me another project, like I needed one..haha. Do they even make them anymore with the holes?

What do you recommend to use to replace them? Does S&S even sell them without the springs? The springs are the Red ones if that matters.

Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
S&S offers valve spring kits with solid retainers. Probably costly. I offer .600" lift spring kits with Titanium or chromoly retainers. The chromoly spring kit would be perfect for your use, and will handle cams with .600" lift.
Pm me for price if interested.
John
 
SEAL-rider

SEAL-rider

Active Member
bikeone said:
engine is 2006 - carburator s&s shorty with K&N Filter.
Works good in the bull - Its only a thought to change to 600.
searched the dates of original cam for see the difference and calculate a little.

everybody knows: Better is the enemy of good..........
Click to expand...
The E and G carb are both S&S shorty. Make sure it is a G.
 
john sachs

john sachs

Well-Known Member
SEAL-rider said:
Then you should be good to go with a 600 cam. They would not have put a G-carb with the smaller valves. You will love the 600 cam.
Click to expand...
You just don't drop in a cam that has more lift and duration than the 1 you're replacing without checking several things.
1- Will the valve springs handle the extra lift, and are they the proper pressure (PSI) for the design of the cam.
2- Will you have proper valve to valve clearance, and valve to piston clearance.
3- Will the cam improve performance, or make the engine feel like more of a turd.
4- Do you have the proper compression ratio for the cam you want to use.
Cams ain't fitzall. They only offer gains when everything else is in order.
John
 
SEAL-rider

SEAL-rider

Active Member
john sachs said:
You just don't drop in a cam that has more lift and duration than the 1 you're replacing without checking several things.
1- Will the valve springs handle the extra lift, and are they the proper pressure (PSI) for the design of the cam.
2- Will you have proper valve to valve clearance, and valve to piston clearance.
3- Will the cam improve performance, or make the engine feel like more of a turd.
4- Do you have the proper compression ratio for the cam you want to use.
Cams ain't fitzall. They only offer gains when everything else is in order.
John
Click to expand...
If he has a stock 2006 117 and not the EPA restricted valves then S&S says the 600 will work. Why would his engine be different.
 
Nukeranger

Nukeranger

Nukeranger
john sachs said:
You just don't drop in a cam that has more lift and duration than the 1 you're replacing without checking several things.
1- Will the valve springs handle the extra lift, and are they the proper pressure (PSI) for the design of the cam.
2- Will you have proper valve to valve clearance, and valve to piston clearance.
3- Will the cam improve performance, or make the engine feel like more of a turd.
4- Do you have the proper compression ratio for the cam you want to use.
Cams ain't fitzall. They only offer gains when everything else is in order.
John
Click to expand...
John, I'm curious on your take on swapping out a 546 for a 585. Everything I've read said no other major changes are needed. In other words, would you recommend it for a person who is happy with their 2008 Ridgeback with the stock cam but maybe wants just a little better?

Huw
 
bikeone

bikeone

Active Member
Come over June 18.
Maybe we can talk together about this Idea?
Seems like it is able to do
What is to await in sight of power, range and engine lifetime?
For this i asked for the dates of original cam.To take a overview and calculate a little.
 
john sachs

john sachs

Well-Known Member
Nukeranger said:
John, I'm curious on your take on swapping out a 546 for a 585. Everything I've read said no other major changes are needed. In other words, would you recommend it for a person who is happy with their 2008 Ridgeback with the stock cam but maybe wants just a little better?

Huw
Click to expand...
It would seem to me that the .585" will work as intended with out any other mods. Always check though, as you may need to re-adjust your valves.
John
 
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