Hope this is the right spot....I'm replacing outer cam bearing with the tensioner job. ( '02 88" TC - stock chain drive cam - carb) . Replaced inners and outer ball bearing cam bearings... was given ball bearing to replace roller bearing with? they're not HD bearings also. Is it OK to change from ball to roller? guy from company I bought from said they change because the ***** are tougher than roller? Sorry to re-post, but my mechanic is installing ball soon, and I need to know ASAP if I should stop him and leave the roller on there. Haven't heard of any roller failures ?

 

If I was you, I would stick with a roller bearing on the cam with the sprocket on it. In the 99-00 twin cams they had a cam bearing recall because they used ball bearings on both outer cam bearings. They had a lot of bearing failures, that's why they switch from ball to roller bearings on the cam with sprocket on it. Look up Harley cam bearing recall.

 

Thx for the answer...I am sticking with the rollers !! appreciate the tip !

 

Roller on the rear cam and ball bearing on the front with chain drive. If gear drive, ball bearings front and rear. Nachi 6003-C4 ball bearing is Japanese and good quality. Use the OEM 8983 roller for the rear; haven't found an aftermarket cross over for that one.

 

I'm rebuilding the cam case on my TC88 since I have to change the tensioners anyway. The new Harley OEM roller bearing assembly for rear cam (OEM 8983), comes with 3 parts plus the roller bearing: a tiny o-ring, a washer, a bushing. The tiny o-ring (fits into the grove on the cam shaft and is installed just before installing the washer), the washer (which is then installed) and the bushing (which is pressed onto the shaft holding the washer and o-ring in place. The o-ring keeps the washer from sitting flush against the larger lobe portion of the cam once installed over the bushing.
On the other hand, the front cam takes a ball bearing. It comes only with the snap ring.

QUESTION: The front cam shaft has a grove identical to the one mentioned on the rear cam which takes the o-ring as I mentioned. But, no o-ring came with the ball bearing. And, neither the parts manual nor the service manual shows an o-ring for the front cam. It appears then, that no o-ring is used on the front cam shaft. But, I get nervous about things like this. Can anyone confirm that in fact, the front cam needs no o-ring?
thanks..........Ron

 

Confirmed; no o-ring on the front cam. Do you have the service manual? If not; get one, preferably the H-D manual. The parts manual will also come in handy as well. Or go to Ronnie's Parts Finder and look up your year and go to the cam chest section.

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.....asp?make=hdmc

 

thanks for confirmation = no o-ring & info on Ronnie's