Cam Chest questions
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Eastern IA
Cam Chest questions
Cam Chest questions
I've been doing some research lately about the cam chest / valve train on twin cams and have a couple questions .
1 - I see in various posts mentioning pressing the cams out of the cam plate. The S&S video I watched was I believe a 95 TC and the cams were held in by circle clips and just slide out after removing the clips ? Is this not the case for 88 TC motors ?
2 - What push rods to use ? I've been reading that the SE's and S&S Q adjustable have had issues contacting the tubes and even having the lock nuts backing off , along with not wearing well in the rocker arm ? Is there better choices for push rods ? Anyone heard of GMR ?
I've been doing some research lately about the cam chest / valve train on twin cams and have a couple questions .
1 - I see in various posts mentioning pressing the cams out of the cam plate. The S&S video I watched was I believe a 95 TC and the cams were held in by circle clips and just slide out after removing the clips ? Is this not the case for 88 TC motors ?
2 - What push rods to use ? I've been reading that the SE's and S&S Q adjustable have had issues contacting the tubes and even having the lock nuts backing off , along with not wearing well in the rocker arm ? Is there better choices for push rods ? Anyone heard of GMR ?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 55
From: Londonderry, NH
Cam Chest questions
I've been doing some research lately about the cam chest / valve train on twin cams and have a couple questions .
1 - I see in various posts mentioning pressing the cams out of the cam plate. The S&S video I watched was I believe a 95 TC and the cams were held in by circle clips and just slide out after removing the clips ? Is this not the case for 88 TC motors ?
2 - What push rods to use ? I've been reading that the SE's and S&S Q adjustable have had issues contacting the tubes and even having the lock nuts backing off , along with not wearing well in the rocker arm ? Is there better choices for push rods ? Anyone heard of GMR ?
I've been doing some research lately about the cam chest / valve train on twin cams and have a couple questions .
1 - I see in various posts mentioning pressing the cams out of the cam plate. The S&S video I watched was I believe a 95 TC and the cams were held in by circle clips and just slide out after removing the clips ? Is this not the case for 88 TC motors ?
2 - What push rods to use ? I've been reading that the SE's and S&S Q adjustable have had issues contacting the tubes and even having the lock nuts backing off , along with not wearing well in the rocker arm ? Is there better choices for push rods ? Anyone heard of GMR ?
2. Either S/E Tapered pushrods or S&S are probably your best bets. There was a batch related issue with S/E locknuts cracking due to improper hardening. That was a couple of years ago, and the problem has been fixed. I've used two different sets of these recently without issues.
Sponsor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,084
Likes: 829
Cam Chest questions
I've been doing some research lately about the cam chest / valve train on twin cams and have a couple questions .
1 - I see in various posts mentioning pressing the cams out of the cam plate. The S&S video I watched was I believe a 95 TC and the cams were held in by circle clips and just slide out after removing the clips ? Is this not the case for 88 TC motors ?
2 - What push rods to use ? I've been reading that the SE's and S&S Q adjustable have had issues contacting the tubes and even having the lock nuts backing off , along with not wearing well in the rocker arm ? Is there better choices for push rods ? Anyone heard of GMR ?
I've been doing some research lately about the cam chest / valve train on twin cams and have a couple questions .
1 - I see in various posts mentioning pressing the cams out of the cam plate. The S&S video I watched was I believe a 95 TC and the cams were held in by circle clips and just slide out after removing the clips ? Is this not the case for 88 TC motors ?
2 - What push rods to use ? I've been reading that the SE's and S&S Q adjustable have had issues contacting the tubes and even having the lock nuts backing off , along with not wearing well in the rocker arm ? Is there better choices for push rods ? Anyone heard of GMR ?
No issues either with S&S pushrods, as those are our go-to pushrods on almost ALL of our engine builds and in-house installs as well, and have been for years.
The lifters mentioned are re-labeled versions of someone else's product........which seems to be a current trend that is running rampant thru outfits that want to feel the useless desire to be the biggest frog in the pond............
Scott
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 100
From: Pasadena TX
The cam swap S&S video you mention is performed on a plate with hydraulic tensioners. The outboard side (where the bearings you mention are) of the hydraulic plate don't use bearings, rather they ride in the plate on a film of oil. It's possible to swap the cam plate and use a conversion cam which have different o.d.'s on either end like the Andrews N series cams. As a bonus you get rid of the troublesome spring loaded tensioners that seem to fail (according to many threads on the subject).
Banned
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From: deland,florida
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Eastern IA
I may just start buying parts till I have every thing and take / send my cam plate to some one to press out the stock cams and press in the new ones , prolly go gear drive too and just be done with tensioners as well.
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Centennial, CO
You'll need to have your crank runout checked before you decide to go with gear drive cams. Must be .003 or less. You don't state what year bike you have, but up to '03 shouldn't be a problem, '04 and later is a must check item. One benefit of upgrading to the hydraulic set-up is an improved oil pump that provides more pressure. While the Big Twin runs on a volume rather than pressure oil system, more pressure will help.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Eastern IA
Copy the run out , I have an 01 B motor which I've read still has the good bearings that give me a better chance of being with in run out spec for gear drive cams. I'll definitely check to be sure before going ahead with it .
I'm leaning towards the S&S 510 at this point , seems to be the most lift my stock valve springs will handle out of S&S's offerings. I'm not looking to make it a real hot rod but as long as I'm in there why not get a little more performance and maybe sound a little better too.
I'm leaning towards the S&S 510 at this point , seems to be the most lift my stock valve springs will handle out of S&S's offerings. I'm not looking to make it a real hot rod but as long as I'm in there why not get a little more performance and maybe sound a little better too.