I will be installing new cams, lifters, Rock out shims soon and have a question for all those that have done this procedure. The JP cycle video shows them only removing cam plate bolts and not touching the oil pump bolts, they swap out cams and reinstall plate and your good to go. The shop manual states to remove the 4 oil pump bolts as well as the 6 cam plate bolts, do cam swap and then follow the procedure in manual to center oil pump. I have also see a video that has you loosen the 4 oil pump bolts but not remove them, remove 6 cam plate bolts, swap cams and install cam plate. Slightly tighten 6 cam late bolts then do centering procedure to tighten 4 oil pump bolts then finish torque on 6 cam plate bolts. Which procedure should I follow? Which way did you install your cam plate?

 

Just my opinion, take everything out (and apart), just because it's easier, you get to inspect everything, and you're going to need to remove the oil pump anyway to replace the o-ring between it and the case.

All of that is easy anyhow including re-centering the oil pump housing. What is kind of concerning to someone doing it the first time, is removing and replacing the inner cam bearings, and since you're in there... you should do that too. Piece of mind.

 

Yes I am swapping out cam bearings also, just was focusing on the question of the oil pump.

 

Re-install the oil pump with new o rings after inspection and then the cam's with the cam plate, tq the plate down to spec's then install two of the cam bolts, one on the top left corner and one on the bottom right corner and don't forget the drop of blue-loctite on the 1/4 20 bolts. Then run those two screws up to they almost seat then back them of just enough to have a bit of play so you or someone can turn them together about a 1/4 of a turn to seat the pump while you spin the back tire while the engine is in gear, say 4th or 5th gear or even 6th. Turn it over say 8 to 10 times then seat the 2 bolts snuggle, then stop turning the rear wheel and you can snug the other two bolts and tq. to spec and you should be good to go.

 

When I changed my cams, I followed the video and didn't remove the oil pump from the cam plate. I did change the o-ring, however. I just assumed the dowels were there to keep everything aligned and the procedure in the service manual for aligning the oil pump was if you had removed the oil pump to disassemble and inspect it, which I didn't do.

 

My experience is from working on my 2005 FLHRCI. Unless the 103's are different, this is what we use to align the oil pump...Alignment dowls.

 

They are a bit different now, they don't use the big o-ring that's on the 05 pumps and they align a bit easier.

 

Theoretically, you should be able to remove only support plate bolts, leaving oil pump attached. However if there is any crank run-out and/or crank get rotated before re-assembly, your pump may not be aligned properly. If it were me, I'd pull the pump and re-assemble as Tn.Heritage explained. A bit more work, but the oil pump will be properly fitted/aligned.

 

Thank you for your alls input, I will take the extra time and center the oil pump, don't want Murphy's law to bite me!

 

Now that's a plan !!