Seems to me that HD dealerships have got way out of hand in charging over the top prices. The big boys at Harley Davidson should get on to it and sort the rip off dealerships out. It's a bad look when you can get a better job done eleswhere (non dealership) for half the price. I am disgusted with my local HD dealership clowns.

Matt I got mine done at the dealer for the same reason in protecting warranty but I didn't think what they charged me was unreasonable. But you're being charged more than me and the parts should now be cheaper given I made my purchase when the Aussie dollar was in the sixty cent range against the usd.

If the job is done by a reputable person using reputable parts, warranty shouldn't be an issue. The cams would have to cause problems afterall. I just didn't want to risk having any problems with my bike and then find myself having an argument with harley Australia about the cam change causing or not causing any problem. Big business seems to have a habit of screwing people over if given half the chance.

See what indpt shops will charge and check other dealers too. You can always ask why they charge for six hours when others charge for four

As Pauly says. Getting a service by a reputable shop is OK and shouldn't effect warranty, but opening the engine does. I also went with the 204 cams from a dealer for that reason and have no complaints. you will find mid range torque is good, I just leave it in 6th to overtake (I did get it dyno tuned though, not just flashed). Just one thing, make sure you get the uprated SE clutch diaphragm ring, it is only another $43 to buy. Independent places like Daytona Powersports for example will charge $1,250 for a cam upgrade anyway so the dealer isn't too far off the money really.

Some of the dealers are notoriously in adept at dyno tuning. The 204 cams are about the best pick for a SE cam only upgrade.

Mat, I went through my receipts and my work was not $1,000 as I had thought. I knew it was a nice round number but it turns out it was $2,000 which included all parts, all labour and dyno tuning. So the cost you have been quoted isn't too bad but it still should be less than six hours labour. Sorry for the confusion.

To guarantee my warranty, my local dealer would only fit the se204 cams if I fitted the se pushrods and lifters at the same time.

As for upgrading the clutch spring, my oem clutch slipped under heavy throttle without the upgraded spring and that was on my last 107 bike as well as the current 103 with 204 cams. I remember this occurring when I took it around the block after the dyno tune after which time the SE clutch spring was fitted. I ended up pissing off the se clutch spring and put an Aim clutch spring on which has greater clamping strength but a lighter clutch pull (don't ask me how ) - it also enabled me to use a 'clutch wiz' retainer which lightens the clutch pull further again back down to stock level if not lighter.

I reckon the 204 cam upgrade is reasonably good and suits me for my style of riding. It'd be a hell of a lot more economical if you were handy enough to do it yourself and if you weren't limited to the SE parts which aren't cheap.
$2,000 is a lot to spend but going up to stage 3 or 4 is about double that and the cams the SE supply in those kits come on too late in the rev range for my liking as Robots alluded to - I'm also quite happy to leave the bike at stock compression where it won't be overly sensitive to heat and fuel...

for $2300 I did S&S big bore kit, S&S 585 cams, all the necessary other bits and dyno by one of the best around. the beauty of no labor charges...

won't mention the next 5-6 K ive spent on it lol, still no labour charges and goes like fuck !!

my point is I wouldn't let a dealership work on mine but I know the warranty thing scares some people and rightly so, it never bothered me though...

 

I have reccommended the 204's to mates who are in the same boat as you and they like them but it won't give you the results of something you can do from an indy for the same or similar $$

yes all work myself

Great read thanks you mob 

Cheers bloodog

My s&s 585 cams used to make 100ft/lbs at 2200rpm but I did set compression up for them, heads were stock...

204's will be a good boost but it's a lot of money for just a cam change

It is interesting that they dont mention valve springs in the cam comparison chart but they are required in the kit....

Stock springs are fine with a cam that has 585 lift. The moco may say different but they are good to go.

Harley dealers will NOT install cams with .585 lift and warranty your bike unless the se valve springs are installed. I know this from experience

Shows how much they know about their own product wtf

how many k's has your bike done?

if you are getting this done at your first service (1600kms) thats plenty enough k's on it to have it dyno'd.

 

in my opinion....  lol

 

Nice work matt. Glad you're happy with them. They sound better with a 2-2 exhaust than a 2-1

Should be even better after it's been on the dyno. Post up your sheets once done!

One of the boys at work just got his 103 cams done $1800 ride in / ride out - parts and labour from a Harley shop.

good info from all. Is it cool to ask where you got it done matpro? In Sydney also and looking at potential mods for my streetbob. did you end up getting a dyno?? and if so where from?
Would you say it was money well spent?
I don't really want to drop 4 + grand on heavy mods at the moment but would definitely go for $1395 + a dyno if that deal was still available...

Yeh thanks Matpro, good info. Now you have been riding it a bit is it the cam you thought it would be? In the real world does it come on at low to mid revs? How' is it after 4000rpm, still pulling?

Cheers 

Hoodoo