One of my friends recently bought a 1997 Roadking....only like 10,000 miles on it. Anyways, the bike came with a EV-27 and Screaming Eagle Heads. The previous owner just never installed them.

Are there any modifications to the heads....I heard they had crappy seals.
Some say stock push rods work fine and others say it needs adjustable push rods.

Thanks for advice....

 

If he is taking the heads off, the stock pushrods are fine, no point spending money unnecessarily! Adjustables are a good idea to make changing the cam easier.

I'm not sure an EV27 will get the best out of the SE heads. We need some expert input on that one! I'm sure a little headwork, some suitable pistons and cam can probably make that bike a real rocket! Might be worth posting this question over in the Tech Engine Forum. A few engine specialists lurk over there, like Scott from Hillside Cycle, and might just give some worthwhile tips.

 

What is your friend trying to accomplish with modifications?
Does he have a horsepower/torque goal in mind?
What sort of riding does he do?
Is the RK carb'd or EFI?

For basic cruising and touring on a Carb'd RK:

The EV27 is a good, bolt in cam for the RK (I have one in my 93 FLHS). He can use the OEM push rods or go with aftermarket adjustables. Definitely replace the stock INA bearing with a Torrington. Consider an upgrade to the lifters, as they another weak spot. (I don't know how the EV27 works with an EFI bike, but other's with experience will chime in on that.) In order to get the most out of it, your friend will need to do some additional mods.

IMO, sell the SE heads, and get the stock ones 'street ported' with a three angle valve job. Since you're removing the heads, I would also install 'The Oil Fix' by Hayden M6, to eliminate any future cylinder base gasket leaks.

Consider a mild compression increase to 9.5:1.

Install a decent set of slip-on mufflers. Or go with a two into one design. Thunderheader makes an excellent one for the EVO (although it may be a bit loud for some tastes). I have a pair of SuperTrapp slipons with 18 disc installed. Nice sound, not too loud, not to soft.

Install a high flow air cleaner. On the EVO, you've got to get the 'air in' and the 'air out'. There is a lot of restriction in the stock system. I've got the SE on mine with the reusable air filter.

Add an aftermarket ignition (I've got a Dyna 2000). This will let you get above the OEM rev limit for those times you want to 'show off' stop light to stop light.

Get the bike dyno-tuned by someone who knows how to tune a Harley. There are people out there that can run a dyno, but that doesn't qualify them to tune a bike.

With the above mods (sans compression increase), your friends RK should be in the neighbor hood of 80hp/80-85tq. A compression increase should bring it close to 90hp. Depending on temp/altitude/etc. This without any appreciable decrease in engine lifespan. But a dramatic increase in ridablility and smile factor.

 

I've ran the SE heads on my old FXR, and you are correct...crappy seals right out of the box. Definately replace them before installing. Mine leaked right from the factory.
Because of the smaller chamber size, (should be 72cc's) they will increase the compression ratio with stock pistons to 9.5:1
They just need a quick clean up, and have them cc'd to equal volumes, as mine were slightly off....they actually perform quite well.
Springs should be set for .575" lift from the factory...I ran a .530" lift cam....no issues there.
As far as cam goes, if it were mine, I wouldn't go any further than 9.5:1 with the EV27, as problems with detonation will become an issue.

Personally, I think 10:1 is ideal compression for the EVO motor...90/90 is well within reach with 10:1....
Gives you the performance your looking for without compromising longevity and/or reliability....

Others have chimed in with good suggestions as well.

 

I favour EV46 and an SE module if looking for rideable power, with a ported 3 angle head.

EV27 if you just want it to rev a little more freely as they are constipated from stock. I don't care too much for numbers, I tune my own bikes for feel, my customers often have to be slapped about a bit until they see sense......but even then some of them go for the numbers and end up disappointed with the rideability....NZ roads are not really made for speed and those that are tend to be riddled with Cops and Cameras.

 

Little more information....his bike is EFI and is completely stock. He said he basically just wants more power. Along with the cam and SE heads....he also got the red injectors, but nothing else.

He would like to use what came with the bike without having to spend the extra $.

He has ordered a screaming eagle air filter kit and a 2-1 exhaust system.

Adjustable push rods or use the factory push rods? Throw changes at the EFI system....let a Dealership flash the ECM, get an autotuner, Power Cammander?

I can't really help him much....because my '98 FLHTCUI is basically stock.

 

Magneti-Marelli (MM) EFI. It's plagued with a number of 'issues', magnified when any sort of performance improvements are added. The MoCo ditched it and went to the Delphi designed system sometime around the turn of this century. The Delphi system is still being used today. Most people looking to add significant power, remove the MM system and put on a carb. I have zero idea if any or all the MM EFI parts are upgradeable or replaceable.

I would recommend that he not start throwing $$$ into parts, until he does some additional research. Because they may only make the bike run worse.

 

If he wants to use his parts, change the valve seals as mentioned. The SE's will be around 9 1/2-1 and be ok with the Ev27, I would put quick change adjustable push tubes in it for future cam choices and there is a difference between adjustables and quickchange, the V Thunder 5005 is optimal for SE's and big bike and that is why I mentioned adjustables because perfomance bug and cam changes seem to compliment each other.

Ok, fuel delivery, they only make a SERT, Powercommander and a the newer Mastertune tuner can upgrade the SERT for the 97-98 Evo, Zippers makes a autotune system but you will need to sell your first born child and if adjustable push tubes are a decison then that is defintley out. The MM efi with red injectors at 9 1/2-1 will be fine with targeted engine setup but here is the decision. Powercommander 3 and it will need dyno tuned to be right, not alot of canned maps in the Dynojet mapbase to support a non-stock Evo engine but Dynojet and other vendors have tech support that can send you educated guess maps to get close but you will need to know how to download them into the PC3 $250 PC3+ $350 dyno and hope the tuner puts effort into your efi tune and will need retuned on more mods oir hope Dynojet can get you close again.

HD will only have a reflash for the stock compression Evo Stage 3 system which is cam, red injectors and air cleaner so he is already beyond that.

I ran the above system (PC3) for 5 years with more compression, modded plenoms, bigger cams and I have a tuning system for EFI so I know the MM efi can work with your targeted build but I went to a modded CV carb and programable ignition 2 years ago and simplicity has been a better system for a higher horsepower Evo application, currently working on a Mikuni 45.

If you know a "GOOD" tuner, the MM efi can work for higher horse applications, If you don't want to depend on others to make your bike run well or a DIY guy then I would consider a carb. If you go with the MM, I'll throw anything I know your way.