Alright, I'm doing it. I'm putting a cam in, with a new clutch and piston. I've seen the hot cams and the stage one cams. I don't want anything drastic, I'm not putting in a high compression piston or anything. I really just want something affordable and reliable. I'm not doing any huge mods.

Can anyone give me some info on prices and durability? Thanks

 

Are you just freshening the top end up along with a clutch? A stage 1 hot cam requires no core charge and you can still use your stock springs. Cost is around $110-125. Yes, your valves / timing components will wear at a slightly higher rate because of the more aggressive cam, so take this into consideration. Personally, I wish I would have went straight too the stage 2 hotcam and springs, instead of using the stage 1 1st.
Gary

 

Is there that much performance difference between a Hot Cam's stage 1 and stage 2 cam?

Anyone have any HP numbers or curves?

I noticed a dramatic power turn on when you hit midrange with my stage 1 over stock.

I understand that the stage 2 gives you this same turn-on but adds more top end. Is it a bunch more top end?

 

rap 149 im not sure way you need a new piston on a 03 unless you ride ALOT but thats your call. anyway i highly recamend the stage 1 my experance was a t 3-4 quad length gain it put me back ahead of my buddy for only $120.00 great power everywere

 

Well, I've got an '02 and yes I do ride a lot. So much so, that I noticed power loss in a drag race. I recently ran my bike with a pipe, jets, and filter against a bone stock '03 raptor. This bike only had a few hours on it beyond the break-in period. My friend who is on it is slightly better in the holeshot, but I should have taken him. After talking to my brother in law(who is a small engine repair instructor), we came to the conclusion that I was probably losing a little power to the rings and the cylinder starting to wear out. So, I figured why not. I might as well add a cam and clutch too.

Thanks Gary. I'll probably just go with the stage 1 because it's cheaper.

 

I don't know what it is, but Raptors seem to loose power with age.

I had a low hours, bone stock Raptor take me by about 3 lengths when mine was piped and filtered.

When I'd race my buddies raptor of the same age, hours and mods, we were dead even. So his lost power too.

Also found that I had to step the jets down, otherwise she was running fat.

That's when I decided to do the 686. Now, it's got romp.

Anyone else feel that their Raptor lost power with age?

 

Not jetting the engine for the change in seasons could easily make an engine seem like it's getting old. The stage 2 hot cam on the dyno sheet only pulls another 7-800 rpm's, but in the real world it's night and day from the stage 1 hotcam. The stage 1 hot cam has too much low end torque IMO, which wears the rider out quick....the stage 2 drops some of this monster torque and gives it back in top end power. Stage 1 seems like a low-mid cam and stage 2 is more of a mid-top cam. For the stage 2 cam, I had too completely change my gearing too the new characteristics of the cam.

 

Did you gear up or down?

 

rap 149 sorry i saw 02 and read 03. also check your cylinder for wear if its barrel shaped it may need an overbore.

 

I went from 14/40 gearing with the stage 1 cam, too 12/42 for the stage 2 cam. Keep in mind this result was after a bunch of gearing changes...and riding style will have an influence there as well. Gearing and jetting are 2 crucial elements in gaining an edge.