S&S 557 cam

[roadrumble]

Has anyone tried this new cam?
Looking for feedback.
Also what is consensus on need to change lifters with cam.
I have around 4000 miles on my Tri Glide.:Trike1:

 

[NemoPHD]

I have not installed a set of the 557 cams but I did put a set of the 551 cams in my dads trike. But you also need to rember that his bike has only a 96ci motor vs the 103ci. So if you compare graphs you need to remember that. Just click the trike build link and take a look.

 

[eagle1]

you should always (in my opinion) change lifters with a new cam. reason the cam has worn the lifters in ( lift a pattern of wear on them.) and you don't want to xfer that wear patters to the new cam.

 

[roadrumble]

OK
Any recommendatios for lifters

 

[NemoPHD]

If you want to upgrade them get the S&S lifters.

 

[eagle1]

just a good quality. i did s&S lifters when i changed mine '09 t/g to a S&S 510 gear cam . the gear cam eliminates the cam shoes. i also put in a stronger oil pressure spring. now i get 12 psi at idle and 55 psi anywhere above idle. s&s says this is needed because you want the "cage" bearing to get lube instantly after start-up.and the lifters at 11 k on the t/g. also went with adj. pushrods. boy!! it sure made a big preformance difference. with s&s the 510 is the biggest cam before you have to do head work.i was told. somee change the oil pump out completely but i didn't but havent had any problems with the added oil pressure.hope this helps. i know its kinda garbled & jumps around alot.

 

[msocko3]

IMO If you can get good gas the S&S 557 will be fine, seems cam manufacturers are jumping on the torque cam band wagon, the down side of this is they aid in the building of torque by closing the intake valve earlier which increases the compression. Of course we all know if you squeeze the air fuel mix harder your going to get a bigger bang, the down side is most crummy fuel these days doesn't like to be squeezed hard resulting in preignition. There are other cams out there that are more suited to todays fuel quality, Head Quarters HQ500, their HQ525, Woods TW555 and the TW6, the Tman TR-555 Torqster.

I wouldn't be to keen on going gear drive on the newer TC's, the new hydraulic tensioner system has proven it self to be pretty dang reliable. The pit fall of going with gear drive is crank shaft run out, S&S recommends no more than .003 RO, some cranks come in more or less than this. A for instance is my dads 09 Triglide, his RO is .001 at 20,000 miles, mine was .005 at 10,000 miles. The other down side is RO doesn't always stay, it can get worse. The hydraulic tensioner system and chains is more forgiving when RO gets worse, of course RO can reach a point where it will kill the oil pump. The last time I checked the max RO HD specs is .012, most engines never survive that RO, they shake like a paint shaker and eat the oil pump like its candy.

Adding what they call the Baisley spring or LMR-002 to the cam plate is a pretty good and cheap upgrade while in the cam chest. They can be had at Latus Motors OIL PUMP SPRING +15%, LMR-002, OIL PUMP SPRING +15% Or Bailsey Baisley Hi-Performance Oil Spring Product.