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But are they hydraulic conversion cams or are they 06-up or 05-down
If I recall correctly something is smaller on the 00-05 cams compared to the 06-up and thus the bearings are different from the different years
Hi Jason - I know what you mean, but the "conversion cams" actually address the outer bearing, not the inner (as I understand them). They're designed to allow the use of a late-style cam plate where the cam basically spins in an oil film instead of in an outer bearing. I think the bearings were somewhere around .8" and the late style was around 1" (if I'm remembering things properly). The "conversion cams" fit in the smaller inner bearing, but work in the larger no-bearing-hole in the late style plate.
As I keep thinking about this, I really think the problem lies somewhere in the cam bearings, cam chains, or tensioners (or the relationship between these items).
I just had a thought that maybe the Zipper's tensioners are only intended for the later roller chains, but I just called them and was told that they can be used with either style (which I had checked initially as well).
As soon as I get home tonight I'll try the front exhaust pushrod only, and then I'll pull the rear tensioner and see if I can find a clue...
I don't know if they'll work with your conversion setup, but I've got a set of stock '09 hydro tensioners I'd ship to you if you need them for testing purposes. I don't think the tensioners are your issue thought.
I don't know if they'll work with your conversion setup, but I've got a set of stock '09 hydro tensioners I'd ship to you if you need them for testing purposes. I don't think the tensioners are your issue thought.
Thanks, Reindeer! That's an awesome offer! However, I think I've now ruled out the tensioners...
I wasn't able to find garage time until after midnight tonight, so I didn't get a whole bunch done... But I did learn a few things.
First of all, I tried spinning the motor again with only one pushrod, but instead of the front intake I used the front exhaust. As surmised, it made the same noise, although this time when the exhaust lifter was at the top of the lobe.
Next, I pulled the cam plate again and removed the rear tensioner. I was surprised at what I saw, and took another look at the front tensioner. I hadn't really noticed on the front initially, but the rear was obvious... They've worn a lot! These only have about 1,100 miles on them now and here's what they look like (the rear is the really bad one, but they're both worn way more than expected):
My first thought was that the rear tensioner was jammed fully open, but it compresses as it should, it springs right back, and a little bit of oil oozes out of the feed holes.
Next, I put everything back together without either tensioner, installed one front pushrod, and spun the engine again. Same sound.
So... I'm assuming the premature tensioner wear is caused by excessive chain tension (or maybe the opposite? Excessive chain movement?), but it isn't being caused by the tensioners themselves. What is the culprit?
Interested in hearing what Zippers has to say about that wear.
You'll be sending them a pic?
They might say that's the initial and rapid wear to "fit" the chain path contour.
Thinking about things today, I'm actually a little bit worried... You may or may not recall from my build thread that the original inner tensioner was badly torn up, while the outer one had pretty normal wear for roughly 19,000 miles (there are pictures here: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...y-motor-5.html - It spans pages 5, 6, and 7). Could there be something inherent in my engine that's causing this kind of uneven wear? Since the bearings, lifters, oil pump, cam plate and tensioners were all replaced, that would leave the inner bearing bores, the crank, the cam chains, and the chain sprockets. I measured runout when I first took it apart... It wasn't where I would have liked it, but it was within factory tolerances. I measured .0025, and my service manual states that it's acceptable up to .003.
I'll check it again tonight. I'll also change the inner bearings again, just to rule them in or out.
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