Crank run-out
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
Heard a lot about this subject before going through some problems of my own. Decided to go with gear drive cams on my 07 night train. Found out my crank run out was 22thou with 9000 miles on the bike and had to replace it. Not cheap!! I was pretty disapointed to say the least.
Could have stayed with the chain drives to save cash but it didnt make sense to do so. One of my plastic tensioners was pretty eaten up which in turn scored my oil pump.
Word of advice, check or have your crank run out verified before spending the dough on a set of gear drive cams.
2007 Night Train
heads port & polished
S&S gear drive 570 cams
V&H short shots
Could have stayed with the chain drives to save cash but it didnt make sense to do so. One of my plastic tensioners was pretty eaten up which in turn scored my oil pump.
Word of advice, check or have your crank run out verified before spending the dough on a set of gear drive cams.
2007 Night Train
heads port & polished
S&S gear drive 570 cams
V&H short shots
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 97
From: Northern VA
This is what you want: Clamping Dial Indicator.
My opinion is that while you're that far in, check it and see where it's at so you know. Clamp the vise somewhere stationary and have the needle pointing 90 degrees to the crankshaft and have a friend rotate rear wheel while watching the gauge to see what the swing is in thousandths.
Also the videos show not removing the oil pump to do a cam change. .I advise against that. We did my cams 800 miles ago and all of a sudden I got a 'zero' oil pressure issue. Had to take it all apart and was out of commission for the last month. Found some wear on the oil pump gerotor and replaced it. Might have been prevented if we would've just aligned the oil pump per service manual. Not saying you'll have these issues, just a heads up. Plan on the job taking twice or even three times as long as you think it will. Stupid stuff comes up like figuring out TDC for the first time, getting that damn circlip off the rear cam and installing the new one properly, ultimately we got it on but I've since bought a retaining ring/circlip toolset (if it's not perfectly seated, it can come loose and take out most of your motor. .some threads on this on Harleytechtalk), getting the stupid binder clips bent right to hold the lifters. .adjusting pushrods for the first time. .list goes on.
I know it can be daunting for the first time. .but the best thing you can do is spread it out over a couple of days asking questions along the way to know everything's done right. The two of us had never messed with that area of the engine before and we read every possible thread on the subject and there were still plenty of head scratching moments where we discussed which way was right that set us back a number of hours.
Edit: Here's the retaining ring pliers I bought: . I already had 3 different kinds and bought more at auto zone. .none of them fit that tiny circlip. I think we spent an hour on just that part getting it off and back on.
My opinion is that while you're that far in, check it and see where it's at so you know. Clamp the vise somewhere stationary and have the needle pointing 90 degrees to the crankshaft and have a friend rotate rear wheel while watching the gauge to see what the swing is in thousandths.
Also the videos show not removing the oil pump to do a cam change. .I advise against that. We did my cams 800 miles ago and all of a sudden I got a 'zero' oil pressure issue. Had to take it all apart and was out of commission for the last month. Found some wear on the oil pump gerotor and replaced it. Might have been prevented if we would've just aligned the oil pump per service manual. Not saying you'll have these issues, just a heads up. Plan on the job taking twice or even three times as long as you think it will. Stupid stuff comes up like figuring out TDC for the first time, getting that damn circlip off the rear cam and installing the new one properly, ultimately we got it on but I've since bought a retaining ring/circlip toolset (if it's not perfectly seated, it can come loose and take out most of your motor. .some threads on this on Harleytechtalk), getting the stupid binder clips bent right to hold the lifters. .adjusting pushrods for the first time. .list goes on.
I know it can be daunting for the first time. .but the best thing you can do is spread it out over a couple of days asking questions along the way to know everything's done right. The two of us had never messed with that area of the engine before and we read every possible thread on the subject and there were still plenty of head scratching moments where we discussed which way was right that set us back a number of hours.
Edit: Here's the retaining ring pliers I bought: . I already had 3 different kinds and bought more at auto zone. .none of them fit that tiny circlip. I think we spent an hour on just that part getting it off and back on.
Last edited by mattVA; Oct 22, 2012 at 09:20 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
This is what you want: Clamping Dial Indicator.
My opinion is that while you're that far in, check it and see where it's at so you know. Clamp the vise somewhere stationary and have the needle pointing 90 degrees to the crankshaft and have a friend rotate rear wheel while watching the gauge to see what the swing is in thousandths.
Also the videos show not removing the oil pump to do a cam change. .I advise against that. We did my cams 800 miles ago and all of a sudden I got a 'zero' oil pressure issue. Had to take it all apart and was out of commission for the last month. Found some wear on the oil pump gerotor and replaced it. Might have been prevented if we would've just aligned the oil pump per service manual. Not saying you'll have these issues, just a heads up. Plan on the job taking twice or even three times as long as you think it will. Stupid stuff comes up like figuring out TDC for the first time, getting that damn circlip off the rear cam and installing the new one properly, ultimately we got it on but I've since bought a retaining ring/circlip toolset (if it's not perfectly seated, it can come loose and take out most of your motor. .some threads on this on Harleytechtalk), getting the stupid binder clips bent right to hold the lifters. .adjusting pushrods for the first time. .list goes on.
I know it can be daunting for the first time. .but the best thing you can do is spread it out over a couple of days asking questions along the way to know everything's done right. The two of us had never messed with that area of the engine before and we read every possible thread on the subject and there were still plenty of head scratching moments where we discussed which way was right that set us back a number of hours.
Edit: Here's the retaining ring pliers I bought: Click Here. I already had 3 different kinds and bought more at auto zone. .none of them fit that tiny circlip. I think we spent an hour on just that part getting it off and back on.
My opinion is that while you're that far in, check it and see where it's at so you know. Clamp the vise somewhere stationary and have the needle pointing 90 degrees to the crankshaft and have a friend rotate rear wheel while watching the gauge to see what the swing is in thousandths.
Also the videos show not removing the oil pump to do a cam change. .I advise against that. We did my cams 800 miles ago and all of a sudden I got a 'zero' oil pressure issue. Had to take it all apart and was out of commission for the last month. Found some wear on the oil pump gerotor and replaced it. Might have been prevented if we would've just aligned the oil pump per service manual. Not saying you'll have these issues, just a heads up. Plan on the job taking twice or even three times as long as you think it will. Stupid stuff comes up like figuring out TDC for the first time, getting that damn circlip off the rear cam and installing the new one properly, ultimately we got it on but I've since bought a retaining ring/circlip toolset (if it's not perfectly seated, it can come loose and take out most of your motor. .some threads on this on Harleytechtalk), getting the stupid binder clips bent right to hold the lifters. .adjusting pushrods for the first time. .list goes on.
I know it can be daunting for the first time. .but the best thing you can do is spread it out over a couple of days asking questions along the way to know everything's done right. The two of us had never messed with that area of the engine before and we read every possible thread on the subject and there were still plenty of head scratching moments where we discussed which way was right that set us back a number of hours.
Edit: Here's the retaining ring pliers I bought: Click Here. I already had 3 different kinds and bought more at auto zone. .none of them fit that tiny circlip. I think we spent an hour on just that part getting it off and back on.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: canada
Crank run out
Thanks for the picture MattVa
I was discussing the problem yesterday with a buddy of mine who also has an 07 softail. He was asking about measuring crank run out. Couldnt answer the question because my mechanic was the one doing the work. This explains it pretty good.
I'm getting my bike back this afternoon and looking forward to it. All I have to do now is buy a fuel management system to compensate for the mods>
S&S gear drive 570 cams
Ported heads
Was told to go this route.
Thanks again man!
I was discussing the problem yesterday with a buddy of mine who also has an 07 softail. He was asking about measuring crank run out. Couldnt answer the question because my mechanic was the one doing the work. This explains it pretty good.
I'm getting my bike back this afternoon and looking forward to it. All I have to do now is buy a fuel management system to compensate for the mods>
S&S gear drive 570 cams
Ported heads
Was told to go this route.
Thanks again man!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
Thanks for the picture MattVa
I was discussing the problem yesterday with a buddy of mine who also has an 07 softail. He was asking about measuring crank run out. Couldnt answer the question because my mechanic was the one doing the work. This explains it pretty good.
I'm getting my bike back this afternoon and looking forward to it. All I have to do now is buy a fuel management system to compensate for the mods>
S&S gear drive 570 cams
Ported heads
Was told to go this route.
Thanks again man!
I was discussing the problem yesterday with a buddy of mine who also has an 07 softail. He was asking about measuring crank run out. Couldnt answer the question because my mechanic was the one doing the work. This explains it pretty good.
I'm getting my bike back this afternoon and looking forward to it. All I have to do now is buy a fuel management system to compensate for the mods>
S&S gear drive 570 cams
Ported heads
Was told to go this route.
Thanks again man!
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