Advice

[vej]

I'm about to pull the trigger on a cam and ignition. I'm not absolutely sold on the 585 or the 600 cam but the question is, what is the best ignition toninstall and what allndo I need? I have an 08 Mastiff so I'm running single fire, I won't need to change the coils will I?

I've read thread after thread about both cams and ignition but a lot of the threads are older.

Trying to get some current opinions, especially on ignition.

 

[Coolbreeze]

Without doing some crazy wiring, The Thunder Heart adjustable is the standard ignition upgrade for the 05 and newer BD. You can solder the stock plugs on it and plug it right in.

 

[erldawg]

There r some good alternatives to the S&S cams. Keep in mind though what you're trying to accomplish and read every article you can find. How much cash you wiling to drop and reliability.. jmho.... There are some very good threads on this very subject....

 

[aspen874]

I had the Thunder Heart adjustable ignition put on my bike and I could see an immediate improvement

 

[vej]

answers

There r some good alternatives to the S&S cams. Keep in mind though what you're trying to accomplish and read every article you can find. How much cash you wiling to drop and reliability.. jmho.... There are some very good threads on this very subject....

Not really willing to give up any reliability... a rider... 33k in 2yrs and it would have been another 10+k if it weren't in shop for issues, or waiting on $$ to buy tires, etc, etc... I'm looking for a better performance all around, but primarily in the bottom and mid. Let's face it... I cruise on the highway at 80, that's 3000rpm. Ocassionally i blast up to 100... every once in a while 110 or 120. The bike has the HP to maintain those speeds, so a giant leap in HP isn't really needed. Since the average cruising is near the 3k mark i don't need a cam to kick in at 3.5k. But i want to be able to twist and take off to pass, or in town.

I've been reading and reading... my dealer has never put in a 585, only 600's and says they've never had a complaint or problem.... so i'm just not sure.

 

[vej]

ignition

Without doing some crazy wiring, The Thunder Heart adjustable is the standard ignition upgrade for the 05 and newer BD. You can solder the stock plugs on it and plug it right in.

Do you have a P/N or specific model/part to be looking for? How variable is this ignition? Improvements? I was looking into the S&S IST but that's some serious $$$.

Thanks!

 

[blacktopper]

I installed the Thunder Heart in my 07 K9 30,000 miles ago. It was the best single upgrade I did. It made an immediate noticeable improvement. You won't be disappointed.

Roger

 

[vej]

stock vs aftermarket

OK, i was just told that my 08 has a programmable Thunderheart ignition from the factory (carburated).... so what is the difference between the stock and the aftermarket?

Please enlighten me!

 

[Raywood]

OK, i was just told that my 08 has a programmable Thunderheart ignition from the factory (carburated).... so what is the difference between the stock and the aftermarket?

Please enlighten me!

Nope not from the factory. Did you buy your bike used? If so then it may have already been put in by the previous owner. Easy to pull the side panel and see if it's adjustable or not.

 

[bigdogtech01]

Nope not from the factory. Did you buy your bike used? If so then it may have already been put in by the previous owner. Easy to pull the side panel and see if it's adjustable or not.

Yup, Ray is right. Not from the factory that way. If you want a good performing cam and reliable I would go with the .585 and have your heads or cyl. shaved down to bump the compression up to 10:1...no more than 10.5:1 or you may need to run a little over 93 oct fuel.

 

[Iman]

Eric, I have the exact same bike as you. I still have my stock ignition. I went with the 585 because i did not want to drop a lot of money into the engine to make the 600 work at its best. i have V&H 2+2., pm super gas air filter. my HP went from 96 to 98 and my torque went from 109 to 127. Steve at bikers dream did it.

 

[erldawg]

Not really willing to give up any reliability... a rider... 33k in 2yrs and it would have been another 10+k if it weren't in shop for issues, or waiting on $$ to buy tires, etc, etc... I'm looking for a better performance all around, but primarily in the bottom and mid. Let's face it... I cruise on the highway at 80, that's 3000rpm. Ocassionally i blast up to 100... every once in a while 110 or 120. The bike has the HP to maintain those speeds, so a giant leap in HP isn't really needed. Since the average cruising is near the 3k mark i don't need a cam to kick in at 3.5k. But i want to be able to twist and take off to pass, or in town.

I've been reading and reading... my dealer has never put in a 585, only 600's and says they've never had a complaint or problem.... so i'm just not sure.

I don't believe that a .600 is the best choice without changing valve springs and bumping the compression up. The .585 or similar after market cam will give u lower end torque which sounds like your looking for. I'm real happy with the .585 cam.

Here's some good reading http://www.nrhsperformance.com/tech_camshafts.shtml

And another thread http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/motor/16666-585-change.html

And another http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/motor/26479-cam-change-revisited.html

 

[Bowhunter]

I recently installed the .585 cam in the Postman's and my bike. We are happy with the performance gain with this cam in the cruising range we ride of 2000 to 2500rpm on the backroads of East Tennessee. A tech at S&S advised this cam for the stock compression engine and stock head setup of rocker arms and valvesprings.

 

[V]

I recently installed the .585 cam in the Postman's and my bike. We are happy with the performance gain with this cam in the cruising range we ride of 2000 to 2500rpm on the backroads of East Tennessee. A tech at S&S advised this cam for the stock compression engine and stock head setup of rocker arms and valvesprings.

Good point if your 08 is like most the single wound valve springs are rated for 585 lift. You also don't have roller tip rocker arms which would be a plus for dependibility

The igntion you have as pointed out by Raywood is non-programable. The model you would want is Thunderheart ASM5012 (i think) it looks just like the one you have. It has 2 rev limiter settings and 6 different advance curves preprogramed in it. You can also hook it to your lap top computer and put in your settings if you want.

I got a bad igntion from the dealer cut the plug ends off and soldered them on the the new ignition. ( Saved my old stock igntion just in case I needed one in a pinch)

No you would not need to replace the coil but I believe the new igntion comes with one in the kit.

 

[vej]

Nope not from the factory. Did you buy your bike used? If so then it may have already been put in by the previous owner. Easy to pull the side panel and see if it's adjustable or not.

Nope, brand new off the show room floor.

 

[blacktopper]

I'm about to pull the trigger on a cam and ignition. I'm not absolutely sold on the 585 or the 600 cam but the question is, what is the best ignition toninstall and what allndo I need? I have an 08 Mastiff so I'm running single fire, I won't need to change the coils will I?

I've read thread after thread about both cams and ignition but a lot of the threads are older.

Trying to get some current opinions, especially on ignition.

I lost your visitor message some how. The ignition I installed was Thunder Heart ASM5012. You will love it!
Sorry I lost your message. If someone would chime in here and tell me how to retrieve visitor messages after you've read them I would appreciate it.

 

[vej]

I lost your visitor message some how. The ignition I installed was Thunder Heart ASM5012. You will love it!
Sorry I lost your message. If someone would chime in here and tell me how to retrieve visitor messages after you've read them I would appreciate it.

Visitor msg???? I've been a member since late 08. I'm not sure what visitor msg was lost.... but thanks!

 

[MARV]

I'm about to pull the trigger on a cam and ignition. I'm not absolutely sold on the 585 or the 600 cam but the question is, what is the best ignition toninstall and what allndo I need? I have an 08 Mastiff so I'm running single fire, I won't need to change the coils will I?

I've read thread after thread about both cams and ignition but a lot of the threads are older.

Trying to get some current opinions, especially on ignition.

since your in florida i'd get ahold of member john sachs for work or just input on proven combo's.

i have a dynatek 2KI ignition. programmable and not hard to wire in but need to change the cam cover to one with access.

 

[vej]

Called S&S

And talked to a tech, very friendly. The tech said that the springs were springs but they have never had a catostrophic failure from installing a .600 cam. He said that a .600 would be fine, but wouldn't perform up to it's full potential without cutting the jugs, etc. Also, based upon what i'm looking for the .585 would probably be a better fit. The .600 kicks in at around 3000 - 3500 rpm, and where as the .585 is about 1k lower when it kicks in and it give more low end "umph". Nothing new... it's all been said here on the forum before.

Oddly, I asked him his opinion for ignitions, he said everyone he knows (around him) runs Dyna...

Anyway, with all the input from you wonderful people and from S&S i think I'm doing the .585 and the Thunderheart.

If i later cut my jugs... i'll drop in the .600

THANKS!!