Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Badger Mike]

My mechanic is recommending going to an S&S gear driven cam, but I can't seem to find anything on the site that speaks to this mod.  Any thoughts on this over going to a drop in cam   The S&S option seems to be quite a bit more expensive than the drop in option; but I'm being told that I'll pick up better reliability, and function with the gear driven set up.

I've got a 2010 SESG w/ V&H true duals and HO mufflers.  PCV management system, otherwise the bike is stock and I don't want to do any head work.

Thanks.

[JCZ]

Gear driven cams can be drop in (meaning no head work required).  With the down side of gear driven cams coupled with the known issues of the bottom end (the crank) of the 110s, the great majority are staying away from the gear driven cams in the 110s.

I am curious why your tech would recommend them, though?  What's his thinking there?

[Badger Mike]

He seems to think it's a "cleaner system" than the chain driven   He says it produces less noice, cooler temps and provides better performance.  I'm going to push him on this before I spend the additional $.  He's been really good to work with in the past and has a lot of experience, but I'm a bit concerned on this one .

[JCZ]

Gear driven cams "less noisey"?  That's one of the resons that many people don't like gear driven cams.....they're noisey.  True, you might get a tad bit more performance but it's not anything that you're going to notice in seat of the pants on a street bike.

Ask him for a dyno sheet of a 110" with the cams that he's proposing.......I'd like to see it.  I'm sure others would to.

It's your money Mike......but there are a number of options that are already proven to be tried and true.

[Badger Mike]

Sage advise, I plan on doing that with him today.  I'll let you know what he comes back with, ultimately he's always been the kind of guy that will do what the customer wants done, which is what I like about working with him. 

[uncledave110]

Hello Mike
I have had the S&S 585 gear drive cams in my 08 for over 32000 miles now with great results and no problems.
I love S&S cams, however it seems most people on this site use other brands. (With great success I might add).
I may have got one of the good 110's! ha ha
I put these cams in with D&D fatcat, ness big sucker and race tuner.
Just love the results so much I'm putting same combo in my 2011 FLHTCUSE6.
Opinions will vary, I am just letting you know how mine worked out.
Good luck with what ever you decide to do.
Uncledave110
Formerly bigdave110

[JCZ]

Dave, what is "good results"?  Will you post up your dyno sheet please?

[uncledave110]

Hello JCZ,

No Dyno results.
Do not ride at WOT all the time although my wife would disagree.  HA HA
I am a automotive Instructor and Tech so I tuned the bike my self.
Used a base map, then adjusted cam timing based on cam choice and knock I would pick up on test runs, tweeked as needed.
Same with VE and AFR and seat of the pants felt good.
D&D helped keep torque up at low rpm since cam is mid to top end. ( Again no one else may agree with me but I love it)
Solo and 2 up have good pull and revs out smooth.
Heat management not needed and i do not need heat shields like most. MY HA HA's love that.
I also played with idle, decel enrichment and a few other things till it ran good, smooth, cool, gas mileage where all good. (took about 18 downloads to get it where i wanted it.)
Not sure on horse power or torque.
I do not care either.
Please do not take that as being smart as it is not intended as such.
I just do not care about a dyno sheet, its like comparing sizes of our junk on the internet. HA HA
Everybody put em up and what do they really tell us.
My bike is running great after 32000 hard miles with not 1 problem, luck maybe, but I think changing all that stuff at mile 5 was the reason.
Take care
Dave

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

My mechanic is recommending going to an S&S gear driven cam, but I can't seem to find anything on the site that speaks to this mod.  Any thoughts on this over going to a drop in cam   The S&S option seems to be quite a bit more expensive than the drop in option; but I'm being told that I'll pick up better reliability, and function with the gear driven set up.

I've got a 2010 SESG w/ V&H true duals and HO mufflers.  PCV management system, otherwise the bike is stock and I don't want to do any head work.

Thanks.

There is absolutely no reason for the need of gear-drive cams in your bike.
The existing hydralic cam chain system is very good indeed.
Many cams out there that may suit your needs, but we prefer the cams from www.woodcarbs.com.
They seem to get the job done quite well.
Scott

[Doc 1]

I agree with Scott....there is no need for the gear drive system in 07 and up Harleys. I have gear drives sitting here since 2007. There is more than one reason for staying with the hyd system you have now however the main reason is the runout in the flywheels today make it very difficult to make the gear drives run quiet. You tech needs to get up to date with the problems lurking with gear drives in these newer bikes......gear drive cams are the only way to go with the older spring loaded tensioners of yesterday, but not today.
Doc

[HOGMIKE]

Hello JCZ,

No Dyno results.
Do not ride at WOT all the time although my wife would disagree.  HA HA
I am a automotive Instructor and Tech so I tuned the bike my self.
Used a base map, then adjusted cam timing based on cam choice and knock I would pick up on test runs, tweeked as needed.
Same with VE and AFR and seat of the pants felt good.
D&D helped keep torque up at low rpm since cam is mid to top end. ( Again no one else may agree with me but I love it)
Solo and 2 up have good pull and revs out smooth.
Heat management not needed and i do not need heat shields like most. MY HA HA's love that.
I also played with idle, decel enrichment and a few other things till it ran good, smooth, cool, gas mileage where all good. (took about 18 downloads to get it where i wanted it.)
Not sure on horse power or torque.
I do not care either.
Please do not take that as being smart as it is not intended as such.
I just do not care about a dyno sheet, its like comparing sizes of our junk on the internet. HA HA
Everybody put em up and what do they really tell us.
My bike is running great after 32000 hard miles with not 1 problem, luck maybe, but I think changing all that stuff at mile 5 was the reason.
Take care
Dave

 
I would tend to agree about "road manners" over dyno sheets.
IMO, a well mannered/running bike to suit your riding style will be much more fun to ride even if you give up a HP or 2.
It's not hard to tell if your bike is running well, you check plugs, gas mileage, starting, etc. If everything falls in place, you got it!
My "dynoed" bikes run well, but, my old carbed EVO runs well also!
JMHO, of course!

Sorry to get off topic a little!

[duranh]

Had gear drive cams in my '03 Glide and because of the runout the things were loud! Don't plan on making that mod again. I will be doing cams in the near future, before Sturgis, but not the gear drive ones. For what it is worth you can retro-fit the older bikes with hydraulic tensioners according to a tech that I was talking to about the cam noise.

[Badger Mike]

Thanks to everyone for your feedback, I really appreciate the various opinions on this site, very helpful.

So, I ended up going to the S&S gear drive system.  I did spend some time with the S&S people in Viola, WI talking about their system and why they feel it is superior to the HD system.  I learned some very interesting facts along the way with regards to HD and S&S in this area. 

I also spent a significant amount of time with my mechanic who has 4 bike currently under different stages of cam and head work in the shop.  I was able to see my system in person v. a S&S completed system in another 110 bike.  A huge difference in the amount of work that the engine needs to do to move the cams in the HD system v. little effort to do so in the S&S.  I would think that it would make sense that less resistance would improve engine performance in many different aspects.  Having the ability to look at how these systems function while they are on the bike was a huge help in my decision process.   

I guess the proof will come this spring when I get the bike out, and ultimately get the dyno sheet

[Shovelhead]

I have the S&S 585 Gear driven cams in my '08 110" and am extremely pleased.

Trying to turn a set of stock HD chain driven cams by hand vs. turning a set of the gear driven cams by hand and couple that with endless stories of HD cam chain-tensioners falling off makes it a no-brainer as far as I am concerned.

S&S quality is unparalleled , my only complaint about my all S&S big inch shovelhead engine is that I am always having to check the oil via dipstick (none underneath it) .

....of course, I digress, there are many other opinions here well worth consideration

 

[Badger Mike]

S&S has a great reputation, and I was impressed that their tech took over 20 minutes with me to explain their system!