Gear Drive Cams
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Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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Gear Drive Cams
I'm looking for opinions based on personal experience using gear drive cams.
My question is this. If you have a quality crankshaft (mines an S&S) and your runout is within tolerance for gear drive cams, are they reliable for the long term? Like say the next 50,000 miles. Also, what are the cons to using gear driven cams?
I'm changing heads and cams and I'm thinking about possibly using gear driven cams.
Thank You.
My question is this. If you have a quality crankshaft (mines an S&S) and your runout is within tolerance for gear drive cams, are they reliable for the long term? Like say the next 50,000 miles. Also, what are the cons to using gear driven cams?
I'm changing heads and cams and I'm thinking about possibly using gear driven cams.
Thank You.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 997
From: Ohio
I've personally have run gear drive cams in several TC motors. I have a 117" TC that I pulled down at 60,000 miles to rebuild the top end and inspect everything. This motor was ridden pretty hard, not a highway cruiser. Anyway, the gears show no signs of wear. I didn't put an indicator on them, but after having setup several new sets I'm very familiar with how tight they should feel. There was no real slop in the gear mesh.
There is no down side to them as long as the crank is good to go. I don't know how long you have been on HD's, but all of my older bikes were gear drive from the factory. Pan's, Shovels, Evo's all have a factory gear drive cam.
Added: The only down side is that gear drive cams are not available from all cam manufacturers, and not in every cam model.
There is no down side to them as long as the crank is good to go. I don't know how long you have been on HD's, but all of my older bikes were gear drive from the factory. Pan's, Shovels, Evo's all have a factory gear drive cam.
Added: The only down side is that gear drive cams are not available from all cam manufacturers, and not in every cam model.
Last edited by Ohio HD; Sep 7, 2024 at 03:42 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,958
Likes: 8,049
From: poway
Got a buddy that has beat to crap his 2003 Deuce. Early on he installed gear drive.. It a had a Dave Mackie 598 cam in it. Last I saw of it, he ended up having to go one size larger on the inner cam gear. It was pretty worn, only 200,000 miles on the motor..
Last edited by Max Headflow; Sep 8, 2024 at 04:13 PM. Reason: It 598
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 3,438
From: SW WA.
I ran S&S 570G cams in my 2000 Electra for 100,000 miles after two sets of chain drive tensioners in the first 100,000 miles.
I sold the bike with 200,000 miles and the cams were still fine.
I sold the bike with 200,000 miles and the cams were still fine.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 3,438
From: SW WA.
Absolutely,they make a little noise but you'll get used to that pretty quick.
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I have gear drive cams in my Dyna and have put about 30k on it since installing the cams. Remember that Evo engines had used gear drive cams, there's no downside to them other than the increased cost of the kit vs chain drive.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,531
Likes: 3,745
From: backwoods
I've got about 60k on gears, Which I don't think is a lot. I was always under the impression they were permanent way to go. My first build I did them. Also they were the only option then. This winter, other bike, I had dark horse rebuild my crank. I considered gears, but the build just got so expensive, and the bike has 70k miles on it. So I replaced with upgrading pad, I already had hydraullic tensioners.
I've still got the bike with gears. I opened up two years ago, for lifters and some other stuff.
I've still got the bike with gears. I opened up two years ago, for lifters and some other stuff.