Cam Bushing question
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 545
Likes: 4
From: Kansas City, MO via Millington, MI
Cam Bushing question
Ok....need some quick help.
I bought a replacement cam cover for my '97 Road King that has been powder coated wrinkle black. The new cover didn't come with the cam bushing, so I went to the only local indie shop that had one in stock which was a Jim's brand. Bring the bushing home, and it won't even fit over the end of the camshaft. Take it back and try the other one they have in stock...same issue.
So I order one from the dealer last week and picked it up today. It does fit over the end of the camshaft, but not very easily. It almost has to be forced on, but once on, it will spin. Very close tolerance.
So I need to know two things...(1) Are these bushings supposed to be clearanced to fit the cam, or is that normal to fit so tightly? and (2) The original bushing has what looks to be an oil passage drilled through it. Do I need to drill a hole in the new one?
Any help from those with experience is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I bought a replacement cam cover for my '97 Road King that has been powder coated wrinkle black. The new cover didn't come with the cam bushing, so I went to the only local indie shop that had one in stock which was a Jim's brand. Bring the bushing home, and it won't even fit over the end of the camshaft. Take it back and try the other one they have in stock...same issue.
So I order one from the dealer last week and picked it up today. It does fit over the end of the camshaft, but not very easily. It almost has to be forced on, but once on, it will spin. Very close tolerance.
So I need to know two things...(1) Are these bushings supposed to be clearanced to fit the cam, or is that normal to fit so tightly? and (2) The original bushing has what looks to be an oil passage drilled through it. Do I need to drill a hole in the new one?
Any help from those with experience is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 216
Likes: 2
A new bushing needs to be reamed. The most correct way of doing that is line reaming through the cam bearing, with the case half removed. But if the engine is not disassembled, just find someone you can trust to ream it to fit the cam.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 2,570
From: NC USA
Many aftermarket nose cones come with bushings, some have to be reamed, some are pre-finished.
Problem nowdays, very few people have that ream and few HD shops even do any work like that anymore. And, the price of the tool and bushings (if you do the cam and pinion) are the same as the cost of the bushings and labor by an HD shop. You can buy a new OEM nose cone from HD (pre-fitted) for about that same price.
Been there - done that!
Maybe you'll get lucky and have an old Shovelhead wrench living nearby who has the tools and is in a generous mood....
P.S. Yes, you have to drill the oil hole AFTER installation and before reaming. Also, you have to drill for a dowel pin to prevent it from turning in the nose cone.
Last edited by t150vej; Apr 15, 2009 at 07:26 PM.
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