103 advice

[guydoc77]

Just joined up here today. Have some questions. My build is an '08 Road Glide. Dealer installed flattop 103. Had stock heads reworked by Shortblock Charlie. With the Andrews 37's he tells me my cranking compression will be upwards of 190. Valves are 1.9 Int and 1.57 Exst. Not sure of head gasket thickness as was installed by the dealer. Stock throttle body. Pipe is a Supertrapp Supermeg with 17 discs.

Had all kinds of trouble getting a SERT tune by the dealer. All the usual troubles: pinging, severe heating, poor gas mileage, doggy low end power. Was not happy. Had it back there three times the first couple months after I got the bike in June of '08 and the tune just kept getting worse. Ultimately they blamed me for not using the HD cams. I have not been back.

Went to Sturgis in '08 and Dr. Dyno installed a PCIII and tuned the thing and made it run sweet. But power numbers were a little bit disappointing: flat curve from 2500-4500 with peak of 98 lb/ft and peak hp of 86. Also gas mileage was a bit disappointin at 35-37 mpg. Had the thing tuned later in that fall and again in this last spring by my trusted local independent shop by a guy who is pretty good with the PCIII. I will try to post that sheet. Anyway the curves were very similar but the peak numbers went up to 102 lb/ft and 92 hp. Very "rideable" and gets 37-42 mpg at 70 mph in 6th depending on the wind.

Here's my question. If I were to go to the TW 54 cams can I expect the curves to shift upward? Any other suggestions?

Tried to figure out how to post the dyno sheet which I have downloaded but..............help.

[qtrracer]

You are a #'s slut. Leave it alone, you said it ran sweet. Don't get me wrong I want to make more power too just like you do but the few ponies you may pick up probably won't be felt by you, the guy who's paying for it. But there will be plenty of guys willing to take your money to chase dyno #'s. Other suggestions would be get it geared better ,crank sprocket, trans sprocket or trans pulley. If you have the big bucks to spend Baker DD7.

[arealinvestor]

Originally Posted by guydoc77

Just joined up here today. Have some questions. My build is an '08 Road Glide. Dealer installed flattop 103. Had stock heads reworked by Shortblock Charlie. With the Andrews 37's he tells me my cranking compression will be upwards of 190. Valves are 1.9 Int and 1.57 Exst. Not sure of head gasket thickness as was installed by the dealer. Stock throttle body. Pipe is a Supertrapp Supermeg with 17 discs.

Had all kinds of trouble getting a SERT tune by the dealer. All the usual troubles: pinging, severe heating, poor gas mileage, doggy low end power. Was not happy. Had it back there three times the first couple months after I got the bike in June of '08 and the tune just kept getting worse. Ultimately they blamed me for not using the HD cams. I have not been back.

Went to Sturgis in '08 and Dr. Dyno installed a PCIII and tuned the thing and made it run sweet. But power numbers were a little bit disappointing: flat curve from 2500-4500 with peak of 98 lb/ft and peak hp of 86. Also gas mileage was a bit disappointin at 35-37 mpg. Had the thing tuned later in that fall and again in this last spring by my trusted local independent shop by a guy who is pretty good with the PCIII. I will try to post that sheet. Anyway the curves were very similar but the peak numbers went up to 102 lb/ft and 92 hp. Very "rideable" and gets 37-42 mpg at 70 mph in 6th depending on the wind.

Here's my question. If I were to go to the TW 54 cams can I expect the curves to shift upward? Any other suggestions?

Tried to figure out how to post the dyno sheet which I have downloaded but..............help.

I think your using the wrong tuning device in my opinion.I would use the TTS Mastertune if I were you.You would have to find someone in your area that is fluent with it.Your cam choices are ok,but what are you looking for? Tq? or Midrange?? The 54 will move the curve more to the right.It's more of a early midrange cam!!!

[guydoc77]

I know I know qtrracer. And thanks for replying. You see though, there are three of us good friends (a husband and wife, each with a Heritage with the 103, and myself) who always ride together. We quietly take pleasure in kicking each other's arse in a race, or, as it were now, displeasure in getting my ass kicked by one of them. She had to go all the way to Colorado Springs to get her bike tuned and now it makes 106 lb/ft and 96 hp WITH THE 255 CAMS!!!!! I was always walking on her. It is pretty much a dead heat between me and her hubby. He has a stock 103 with the 255 cams as well. His peak tq is 105 but he only gets 86 hp. His is a dealer tune by the same dealer that tried to tune mine. He has all kinds of pinging and gets around 30-35 mpg. We are even up to around 90 mph then I eat his lunch. Anyway, you know how it is....... But you must have read my mind. I ask myself, "Why do you want to #### with it? Just leave it alone moron". But it is hard to listen to myself after she waxes my windscreen.

I had also considered going to the 30 tooth tranny sprocket from Andrews or Baker. Would need to get a speedo corrector and a one tooth shorter belt it seems to make all of it work. Seems like a good way to get more lb/ft and avoid messing with the engine. Not sure if I believe the advertised 6-7% increase I see in their product descriptions though. Is that what the change generally yields?

[guydoc77]

Thanks for the reply arealinvestor. I have wondered about Mastertune, Direct Link, the HQ Pro Tuner, all kinds of stuff. As you can imagine, I am gunshy of getting someone to tune the thing (again) with yet another device, for several hundred more $$$$. I have wondered if I wouldn't get the mostest of power, engine life, gas mileage, etc. with the SERT or something similar like the Mastertune. It is just what you hinted at though. The well known, highly reputable tuners that I have found spending hours of time researching the subject on the net and reading forums here and on other forums seem to all be several hundred, if not a thousand or more, miles from Bismarck, ND where I live. Like I said initially, I am open to any and all suggestions, but then, like qttracer said.........maybe I should just ride the thing and be happy.

[qtrracer]

I understand totally. Your guy that helped you get it tuned correctly should be helpful as he is aware what works in your elevation(don't know how high) the best and how to help you get the jump on your friends.

[aharp]

No offense meant, but something is wrong with your build, IMO. I've made better numbers with bolt in cams on 103" and no headwork. 87hp and 102tq sae in 4th gear andrews 26's with flat top pistons. Had a 95" on the dyno with SBC heads and the customer looked less than thrilled when it turned a whopping 81hp and 91tq. Not bashing anyone just sayin. I'm not a PC fan either but it will accomplish your goals for a build such as this. As far as mpg, I don't think 35-40 is outta line.

[guydoc77]

Originally Posted by aharp

No offense meant, but something is wrong with your build, IMO. I've made better numbers with bolt in cams on 103" and no headwork. 87hp and 102tq sae in 4th gear andrews 26's with flat top pistons. Had a 95" on the dyno with SBC heads and the customer looked less than thrilled when it turned a whopping 81hp and 91tq. Not bashing anyone just sayin. I'm not a PC fan either but it will accomplish your goals for a build such as this. As far as mpg, I don't think 35-40 is outta line.

And this raises another question of mine aharp. Any idea where a reputable builder that can build a 110/100 103 is in my area. I don't! I have talked with all the tuners I am aware of within a few hundred miles. They are all reluctant to tune with the SERT except for Silverback Performance in St. Paul, Mn. and of course the HD dealers who will generally avoid deviating too far from factory recommendations with the SERT. If I did, say, a HQ build which I have considered, even with their Direct Link I would still need fine tuning I am guessing. So then who do I go to besides the dealers for SERT tuning? What I would like is to ride the thing in somewhere, get the motor built, tuned, and be done with it, with a rideable bike making around 110/100. I don't think these are unreasonable expectations but finding an all in one builder/tuner within reasonable distance from me is the thing. I know there are other aftermarket builds to be considered as well, GMR, Zipper's, JET, to name a few. I have researched all of them I bet. But the missing link always ends up the tune or ultimate fine tune. Riding or trailering out to Rhode Island to JET is simply not doable for me. Again, I am open to suggestions. And I would tend to agree.....I have wondered if there is something missing in my build.

[arealinvestor]

Originally Posted by guydoc77

Thanks for the reply arealinvestor. I have wondered about Mastertune, Direct Link, the HQ Pro Tuner, all kinds of stuff. As you can imagine, I am gunshy of getting someone to tune the thing (again) with yet another device, for several hundred more $$$$. I have wondered if I wouldn't get the mostest of power, engine life, gas mileage, etc. with the SERT or something similar like the Mastertune. It is just what you hinted at though. The well known, highly reputable tuners that I have found spending hours of time researching the subject on the net and reading forums here and on other forums seem to all be several hundred, if not a thousand or more, miles from Bismarck, ND where I live. Like I said initially, I am open to any and all suggestions, but then, like qttracer said.........maybe I should just ride the thing and be happy.

Ask around on this forum.Ask Scott from Hillside or call Doc(HDMD) & ask him.Im sure Doc might know someone in your area ,that he has trained on the TTS Mastertune.Doc travels all over the country teaching people how to tune bikes using the TTS.He could probably steer you in the right direction!!!

[strokerjlk]

Originally Posted by aharp

No offense meant, but something is wrong with your build, IMO. I've made better numbers with bolt in cams on 103" and no headwork. 87hp and 102tq sae in 4th gear andrews 26's with flat top pistons. Had a 95" on the dyno with SBC heads and the customer looked less than thrilled when it turned a whopping 81hp and 91tq. Not bashing anyone just sayin. I'm not a PC fan either but it will accomplish your goals for a build such as this. As far as mpg, I don't think 35-40 is outta line.

just about what I was thinking as I read the posts then came to yours and you already said it.
better numbers with bolt in cams and no head work
not a PC fan
35-40 not to bad
Maybe you need to invest in a daytona twin scan and do your own tuning guydoc77. not hard to do. then just take it to one of those so-so tuners in your area and pay them for a few pulls to see where your at. I guarantee you it will be better than what they have done for you. Go back to your sert no matter what ya end up doing. no need to buy a TTS . you can upgrade your sert to tts if it qualifies.The download to see if it is compatible is on my other computer. but all you have to do is go to there site and download it then hook it to your bike to see if it qualifies seeing that you have a 08 there are a few options you would benefit from by doing the upgrade. but none the less the sert will get the job done without a upgrade.

[ejk_dyna]

first do a compression check and see what you have.

then check for sumping just to be sure.

with sbc anything is possible...from ok to really bad.

[Hillside]

"Anythings possible".
But FWIW, JD's Cycle, pulled 120/120 from a 103"/ Wood 9b/carb equipped, that had been in SEVERE service for 4 years prior to dyno tuning.
The combination is the key.
Scott

['05Train]

Agree that something seems way off. 116/116 here out of a 103, and I ride with a guy that has a 95 with a 37 cam and a much less efficient pipe who's turning better numbers than yours.

I'd start with figuring out what your actual compression is.

[guydoc77]

So from what I have heard so far: 1) Could be the heads. SBC is regarded with mixed opinion here. 2) More likely just needs an expert tune. 3) Use SERT or TTS Mastertune or TTS upgraded SERT to get that expert tune. 4) The main task for me at this point is to find a good tuner who can milk the thing for all it's worth.

Thanks for all the feedback. Was what I was hoping for when I signed up yesterday. Now can any of you recommend an expert tuner near (preferably) or not so near to me? Thanks again for all the discussion.

[arealinvestor]

Originally Posted by guydoc77

So from what I have heard so far: 1) Could be the heads. SBC is regarded with mixed opinion here. 2) More likely just needs an expert tune. 3) Use SERT or TTS Mastertune or TTS upgraded SERT to get that expert tune. 4) The main task for me at this point is to find a good tuner who can milk the thing for all it's worth.

Thanks for all the feedback. Was what I was hoping for when I signed up yesterday. Now can any of you recommend an expert tuner near (preferably) or not so near to me? Thanks again for all the discussion.

Refer to post #9