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I changed my cam and didn't swap the gears. Took it apart to inspect and had wear on the cam bushing installed in nose cone. It is not really bad but I'm also getting a whur whining noise at maybe 2500 rpm when I hold the throttle steady. Sounds almost like something rubbing from vibration but can't isolate where it's coming from. It wasn't doing this before and I found the tiny gold flakes in the oil and it's not gold any longer on the face that touches the cam gear indicated in the photo. I failed to take a Pic when I had it apart.
I should probably change this bushing and swap the gears on the cam I'm assuming? Anything else that could cause this? Should I absolutely change the bushing and how hard is this to do?
If the bushing gets too worn, the pinion and cam gears will get noisy, it will sound like lifter clatter.
If the gears are too tight, it will cause a whine.
If you replace that bushing, you will have to get it reamed (this is not something a dealer service dept will do these days, you will need to find a grey beard independent shop for this).
I suggest first swapping the old gear onto the new cam.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Dec 10, 2024 at 03:01 PM.
If the bushing gets too worn, the pinion and cam gears will get noisy, it will sound like lifter clatter.
If the gears are too tight, it will cause a whine.
If you replace that bushing, you will have to get it reamed (this is not something a dealer service dept will do these days, you will need to find a grey beard independent shop for this).
I suggest first swapping the old gear onto the new cam.
Follow this advice exactly............ Couldn't' have said it better...
If the bushing gets too worn, the pinion and cam gears will get noisy, it will sound like lifter clatter.
If the gears are too tight, it will cause a whine.
If you replace that bushing, you will have to get it reamed (this is not something a dealer service dept will do these days, you will need to find a grey beard independent shop for this).
I suggest first swapping the old gear onto the new cam.
Sheeiiit, OK thanks. It's more like a whine for now but sounds like it's coming from in front of gas tank while riding. I'll just swap the damn gears lol.
My guess, different size cam gear, and where the whine is coming from.
As for cam cover bushing swap, that one can be a nightmare, since the new bushing really needs to be reamed through the lower needle bearing case channel side, when the lower case is split.
There is getting some measurements off the old bushing still in the case cover with it in a mill, if you can determine where the cam is centering and angle'g it the old bushing in first place, then go with with a boring bar to open it up the new bushing at that center/tram line with case still in the mill, but still a semi crap shut, since you still guessing what the new ID bushing channel needs to be trammed/angled to in the first place to keep the both sides of cam aligned to each other.
If the bushing gets too worn, the pinion and cam gears will get noisy, it will sound like lifter clatter.
If the gears are too tight, it will cause a whine.
If you replace that bushing, you will have to get it reamed (this is not something a dealer service dept will do these days, you will need to find a grey beard independent shop for this).
I suggest first swapping the old gear onto the new cam.
Are you saying the gear will not fit in the bushing without reaming or something else?
Thanks
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Cam Bushing Wear in nose cone '99 FLSTC cam swap
