Cam scuffing
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 415
From: Southern Maryland
Cam scuffing
For those following my posts, my 09 Ultra Classic with 48,975 miles clattered when started. It was embarrasing to say the least. Took about a mile for them quiet down. Started tearing her down and this is what I found. The lifters were both scuffed like they skidded instead of rolling on the cams. The tensioner on the outside was worn, but the one on the inside of the cam cover looked good. The cams had wear on the lobes, which I expected, but look at where it rode on the cam bearings. Is this normal? Dealer put in HD synthetic at 1000 miles, put in AMSOIL at 3700 miles, and last year switched to MOBIL-1 synthetic.
definitely not uncommon sandcrab. Lots of stories where lifter rollers failed and end up puking shavings throughout the motor.
At 49k miles, you're not to early, or late for that matter when it comes to rebuilding the cam chest.
Change everything, including the inner cam bearings, put S&S premium lifters in and run it another 100K.
At 49k miles, you're not to early, or late for that matter when it comes to rebuilding the cam chest.
Change everything, including the inner cam bearings, put S&S premium lifters in and run it another 100K.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,547
Likes: 7,153
From: Oxford, Nc
Or put Comp cams lifters in it at about $16.00 a piece every 40,000 miles or so and run it 147,000 miles...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COMP-CAMS-85...40648f&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COMP-CAMS-85...40648f&vxp=mtr
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 143
From: Santa Cruz
Pretty normal wear except lifter rollers. Nothing very uncommon. As stated, time for cam case rebuild. SE (torrington) cam bearings, tensioners, lifters (comp or S&S) and decent cam (not stock). Check the oil pump before ya put it back together. Good Luck.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 415
From: Southern Maryland
Multiple threads
I have read enough posts saying the current lifters from HD are made in Mexico and probably not good. Mine were supposed to be good, but they didn't roll like they should have. I am reluctant to use car lifters as some have suggested, and if I upgrade to S&S or Woods, then I get caught up in a
tug-of-war with a Woods cam, then what good is that if my mufflers are stock. My headers are stock, no tuner, and so I end up spending $3k to do a lifter replacement when i could have bought a new 2015 Limited marked down $2500.
I look at it like this: MSRP $27,837 minus $2500 is $25,337. If I knew a week ago that I needed to spend another $1000 to $2500 on my old one, I could have made the argument that it got discounted the amount my repairs turn out to be. Does that make sense??
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,810
From: Centennial, CO
Well, put in what you want/think will be best as far as upgrading everything. You won't kill it by not upgrading the exhaust right now or not doing the tuner right now. As long as you keep to your plan as you add/upgrade later this coming season, you'll be fine. If you like your bike now, you'll love it when all is said and done and it'll be $$$ well spent. JMHO.
And it's a LOT cheaper than a new bike.
And it's a LOT cheaper than a new bike.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,886
From: Newcastle, OK
I started a new thread each step where i needed advice. My 1st post was on the roller lifters I believe, then some "how do I do this" posts, and then one on my tensioners, and finally the cams. This post kind of put it all together with pictures. I thought that if I just kept adding questions onto my original post, my subject would never change, and yet my problems kept evolving. So I started a new post each time I finished or figured out something. My next post will probably be on whether to just return to stock or upgrade. I just don't want to spend a fortune on an old bike with 50K miles, yet I am now committed to at least putting it back together with new parts/gaskets.
I have read enough posts saying the current lifters from HD are made in Mexico and probably not good. Mine were supposed to be good, but they didn't roll like they should have. I am reluctant to use car lifters as some have suggested, and if I upgrade to S&S or Woods, then I get caught up in a
tug-of-war with a Woods cam, then what good is that if my mufflers are stock. My headers are stock, no tuner, and so I end up spending $3k to do a lifter replacement when i could have bought a new 2015 Limited marked down $2500.
I look at it like this: MSRP $27,837 minus $2500 is $25,337. If I knew a week ago that I needed to spend another $1000 to $2500 on my old one, I could have made the argument that it got discounted the amount my repairs turn out to be. Does that make sense??
I have read enough posts saying the current lifters from HD are made in Mexico and probably not good. Mine were supposed to be good, but they didn't roll like they should have. I am reluctant to use car lifters as some have suggested, and if I upgrade to S&S or Woods, then I get caught up in a
tug-of-war with a Woods cam, then what good is that if my mufflers are stock. My headers are stock, no tuner, and so I end up spending $3k to do a lifter replacement when i could have bought a new 2015 Limited marked down $2500.
I look at it like this: MSRP $27,837 minus $2500 is $25,337. If I knew a week ago that I needed to spend another $1000 to $2500 on my old one, I could have made the argument that it got discounted the amount my repairs turn out to be. Does that make sense??
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 2,990
From: Charleston, SC
Tensioners look normal, cam looks pretty close to normal (more like at 80-100k), lifters are shot.
I would replace the lifters at a minimum. Probably all of that stuff since you're in there...
I would replace the lifters at a minimum. Probably all of that stuff since you're in there...