EVO All Evo Model Discussion

cam curious

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 21, 2015 | 06:33 PM
  #1  
glidein wide's Avatar
glidein wide
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,504
Likes: 150
From: ct
Question cam curious

How much is involved in just a cam upgrade on 86evo as far as disassembly goes ?
 
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2015 | 08:09 PM
  #2  
Tee&Vee's Avatar
Tee&Vee
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 115
From: Boston, MA
Default

Are you using bolt cutters or not?
 
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2015 | 09:36 PM
  #3  
Beemervet's Avatar
Beemervet
Ultimate HDF Member
Veteran: Army
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
Likes: 444
From: Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by glidein wide
How much is involved in just a cam upgrade on 86evo as far as disassembly goes ?
Read the above sticky "Kees Learns The Truth.........", then come back and ask informed questions.
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2015 | 01:02 PM
  #4  
Spanners39's Avatar
Spanners39
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Default

Originally Posted by glidein wide
How much is involved in just a cam upgrade on 86evo as far as disassembly goes ?

Depends on whether your lifters are due for replacement (50k miles) because there is a short cut if using new lifters but owing the propensity for Evos to leak from the rocker base gasket (this is different from the cylinder base gasket) I would do the job long hand.

Rocker covers have to come off, rocker gear and rocker base come off, the pushrod tubes out, lifter blocks off, lifters removed and then cam cover (on some bikes this means removal of the front exhaust pipe).

Replacing the inner cam bearing is compulsory, using adjustable pushrods is not, so long as you are using a bolt-in cam.

If your bike has high miles (50k plus) it is a good ides to pull the heads, clean the valve stems, cut the seats and replace the valve stem oil seals or you may find an increase in oil consumption due to the build up of varnish on the valve stems tearing the seals due to the increased lift.

Ignore anybody that tells you to spend a heap of money on upgrades that they will never afford because it will run better just with the cam.
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2015 | 03:22 PM
  #5  
GraemeR's Avatar
GraemeR
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 853
Likes: 19
From: Melbourne
Default

+1 there. My 86 FXR runs like a scaulded cat with just a cam (EV35) upgrade.
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2015 | 04:54 PM
  #6  
glidein wide's Avatar
glidein wide
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,504
Likes: 150
From: ct
Default

Thanks, that's all I needed to hear, I'll wait until I rebuild the motor in a year or two. Only has 40 K on it. I've done small block Chevy s but never a bike, when the money is put aside I will look forward to the winter project.:
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2015 | 05:02 PM
  #7  
texashillcountry's Avatar
texashillcountry
Dirt don't hurt
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,066
Likes: 4,568
From: Haslet Texas
Default

Originally Posted by glidein wide
Thanks, that's all I needed to hear, I'll wait until I rebuild the motor in a year or two. Only has 40 K on it. I've done small block Chevy s but never a bike, when the money is put aside I will look forward to the winter project.:
A good cam upgrade is really all you need and if you wait 2 years you will be kicking yourself in the *** for not doing it sooner. JMO
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2015 | 05:09 PM
  #8  
tmanbuckhunter's Avatar
tmanbuckhunter
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 36
From: Houston, TX
Default

Originally Posted by glidein wide
Thanks, that's all I needed to hear, I'll wait until I rebuild the motor in a year or two. Only has 40 K on it. I've done small block Chevy s but never a bike, when the money is put aside I will look forward to the winter project.:
An evo is essentially a 350 small block with the front 2 jugs chopped off. Wish I could remember who said that on here, but it's true.

As far as what everyone else has said, it's true... cam is all you need for good street power. I will say skimming some off the heads may give you a little more excitement but for the average joe, cam is all you need.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 22, 2015 | 05:14 PM
  #9  
glidein wide's Avatar
glidein wide
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,504
Likes: 150
From: ct
Default

Originally Posted by texashillcountry
A good cam upgrade is really all you need and if you wait 2 years you will be kicking yourself in the *** for not doing it sooner. JMO
I don't want to do something half *** or screw anything up by not doing enough but I am about to do more research before I sharpen my bolt cutters.
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2015 | 05:19 PM
  #10  
tmanbuckhunter's Avatar
tmanbuckhunter
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 36
From: Houston, TX
Default

Originally Posted by glidein wide
I don't want to do something half *** or screw anything up by not doing enough but I am about to do more research before I sharpen my bolt cutters.
No need to cut your pushrods... pull the rocker gear off, pull them out, and re-use them.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:51 PM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-5
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-9
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE