I am going to install some CVO 255's into my 96" with 18000 miles. I am considering doing the work myself and I am wondering if it is absolutely necessary to replace the inner bearings. Why would the bearings fail if I didnt replace them? I have always changed oil at 3000 miles and use amsoil so I would assume the bearings should be in perfect condition. I am trying to avoid buying a special one time one use tool if it isnt needed. Thanks for your input

 

The bearing would likely be in good condition regardless of the oil you used. I installed 255's in my SG just last month and performed the work myself. Leaving the original INA bearings in the bike would've been by far the easiest option, but I decided to do it right and replace them with Timkins. My local HD dealer replaces the inner bearings during every cam change, but they use the stock INA bearings which are probably sufficient. Timkin (aka Torrington) have double the number of rollers and are a more robust bearing that cost about $5 each.

The problem with a bearing change is that you'll need to borrow or buy a bearing puller/installer. I bought one from a Harley Tech Talk member who designs and sells a very good tool for this purpose. I wrote up my experiences here and provided links to this source and others.

Let me know if you need any further help. BTW, I think you'll like the 255's very much. They're a great TQ cam set for a heavy touring bike and the result I expected and hoped for is exactly what I got. They work great in an otherwise stock TC96 with the Fuel Moto Power Package.

 

absolutely change them ! ! ! go with Timken full compliment bearings ,with the tool it will take about 10 minutes. The full compliment bearings will have double the rollers making them twice as good as the IMA bearings.

 

The pic below shows the difference.

 

So change them.... but I havent heard any reasons why other than the torrington have 2x the needles. Will installing the new cams cause the stock bearings to fail? Will the stock bearings somehow get damaged during the removal/install?

 

What does your Service Manual say?

 

You can get the tool from AutoZone for a free rental to remove the inner cam bearings, it's called a Blind Spot Puller.

You can stick with the stock bearings if you want, but most people take advantage of having access to them to replace them with a superior bearing.

Installing the new bearings is easy, just use a socket the same size as the bearing with an extension on it.........tap them in place lightly until they are seated all the way in.

I always follow this...............If you are going to do it, do it right.

Steve

 

Do you want to be riding down the highway thinking "I wonder if I should have changed those bearings?" The H-D ones are OK, but their use is dictated by the bean counters not the engineers. If you let the engineers build the motor I bet they would use Torringtons.

 

Your bearings have 18,000 miles on them with the original cams, they have developed a wear pattern and have 18,000 miles of wear on them. It only stands to reason that with new cams you would want new bearings.

 

For the $15 bucks or so that the bearings will cost you, its cheap insurance as far as i'm concerned. When i had my cams changed, i replaced the inner bearings because i had access to them. I doubt you'd have an issue with the stock inner, but why not take the opportunity to upgrade while you are in there?