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Engine Mechanical TopicsDiscussion for motor builds, cams, head work, stripped bolts and other engine related issues. The good and the bad. If it goes round and around or up and down, post it here.
I have a 88tc with the s&s 510 cams, screamin eagle cam plate and screamin eagle pushrods. I adjusted the pushrods 2 1/2 turns passed 0 tolerance at tdc compression stroke like the instructions say. I know the gears are gonna whine a bit, but it almost has a knock like diesel injectors. It's noticeable at all rpms. Is this normal?
No, not normal. Model, mileage and year? Which SE cam plate? Did you check gear lash? 2.5 turns is not enough lifter preload but need to know the TPI of the pushrods to say how many turns is needed. Even with more pre-load, the noise may present. Please post a video recording the noise at idle and confirm that the noise did not present before the cam/push rod/geared cam upgrade. What lifters? Are the new parts, i.e., cams and gears new or used? Was anything else removed, replace, adjusted, etc. other than what's in the cam chest.
I can tell you that others before you have started similar threads, knowing for sure that the pushrods were adjusted properly only to learn that they weren't.
If this is first startup after a new build it can sometimes take a good 5 mile ride to get everything all pumped up.... some are quicker than others.
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No, not normal. Model, mileage and year? Which SE cam plate? Did you check gear lash? 2.5 turns is not enough lifter preload but need to know the TPI of the pushrods to say how many turns is needed. Even with more pre-load, the noise may present. Please post a video recording the noise at idle and confirm that the noise did not present before the cam/push rod/geared cam upgrade. What lifters? Are the new parts, i.e., cams and gears new or used? Was anything else removed, replace, adjusted, etc. other than what's in the cam chest.
I can tell you that others before you have started similar threads, knowing for sure that the pushrods were adjusted properly only to learn that they weren't.
FXDWG, 55000, 1999. The cam plate is numbered 25400018. Which gear lash? The TPI is 24. I don't have a video from before the upgrade, but have put on over 1000 miles since. Ive noticed the noise in the last 50 miles or so. I took the plugs out and rolled it in 5th and could hear a knock after a full stroke, if that's any help. The lifters are stock hydraulic. The cams and gears were new, the plate and pushrods were already in. Other than that it's stock.
If it just started the past 50 miles but good for the first 1000, I'd check to make sure a jam nut on one or more of the pushrods hasn't worked loose. If so, readjust and lock down.
Did you use red loctite? Some do.
In addition to a possible collapsed lifter and/or a loose jamb nut (both good suggestions) I would verify that gear lash is not an issue. I couldn't find a video of checking cam gear back lash with a dial indicator but do have a photo of how to check lash before installing the cam plate/cams and a shop video of how one shop checks lash with the cam plate/cams installed. Since your installation is complete, checking as done in the video will give some idea of what to look for. I don't think you checked crank runout before installing the geared cams and the early lower units were near bullet proof but unless checked, you don't know and if run out is excessive, gear back lash could be an issue.
Another thing to check with gear driven cams in the early models is the clearance between the rear cam gear and the fastener boss just above the 9:00 position facing the cam cover. Although not a common occurrence, depending on factory clearances, there could be contact between the rear cam gear and the boss. Clearance should be .030" to allow for expansion growth. I doubt that this is an issue but being an **** SOB, check the boss for contact witness marks.
Loose gears will make a "klacking" noise and tight gears will "whine", the clearances are not very forgiving so out too much one way or another can cause noise and possibly damage. I don't know if this is a contributing factor but certainly a place to start and eliminate as a factor. If the gears were too tight, something could have happened like loosing a gear tooth in the first 1000 miles causing the noise to present recently.
At 24TPI, preload should be set at 3 to 4.5 turns. I would readjust for more pre-load but don't believe pre-load would cause the "knock" you describe while turning the motor through. You shouldn't hear anything while turning the motor through as you describe. Remove the cam cover and the rocker box covers and have a buddy watch both while you turn the motor over. If making a noise when turning the motor through, as you describe, the source of the "knock" might be obvious.
I would not be riding the bike until I had this figured out.
FXDWG, 55000, 1999. The cam plate is numbered 25400018. Which gear lash? The TPI is 24. I don't have a video from before the upgrade, but have put on over 1000 miles since. Ive noticed the noise in the last 50 miles or so. I took the plugs out and rolled it in 5th and could hear a knock after a full stroke, if that's any help. The lifters are stock hydraulic. The cams and gears were new, the plate and pushrods were already in. Other than that it's stock.
On a 99 TC, did you plug the hole in the cam plate?
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