Cam Bearing Depth
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 872
Likes: 20
From: Niagara Falls Canada
dont push in until it stops
your not supposed to push it in until it stops, as in last quote until it hits the bearing journal. it is a set depth measured from the face of the cam box. you should have taken a reading before you pulled the stock ones out. pushing it in until it hits the bearing journal runs the risk of bending the outer edge of the bearing casing over into the bearing needles. the whole thing is in the shop manual for about 100 bucks.from the edge of the face of the cam box to the visible edge ( outer edge) of the bearing is 3.10 inches in the manual.
I made my own pusher, i didnt want to spend 400 bucks for a harley one, Im sue if you hammer them in they will get damaged, the fit is very tight. as you can see in the picture I am measuring from the out side of the ruler face so you have to subtract that thickness from the reading to get the real depth. you can measure though small holes in the harley version and leave the plate in place , I have to remove mine , its only 4 bolts a couple of times until I hit the 3.10 reading
I made my own pusher, i didnt want to spend 400 bucks for a harley one, Im sue if you hammer them in they will get damaged, the fit is very tight. as you can see in the picture I am measuring from the out side of the ruler face so you have to subtract that thickness from the reading to get the real depth. you can measure though small holes in the harley version and leave the plate in place , I have to remove mine , its only 4 bolts a couple of times until I hit the 3.10 reading
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 872
Likes: 20
From: Niagara Falls Canada
look in back of bearing whole
if you look real hard you will see the small lip in the back of the bearing socket. hammering the bearing in you run the risk of breaking off the small lip in the back of the bearing well. you can feel it with your fingers it is a very thin lip, I dont think you will be able to feel the bearing stop when you bottom it out.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,486
Likes: 6
From: Union,Ms
if you look real hard you will see the small lip in the back of the bearing socket. hammering the bearing in you run the risk of breaking off the small lip in the back of the bearing well. you can feel it with your fingers it is a very thin lip, I dont think you will be able to feel the bearing stop when you bottom it out.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 872
Likes: 20
From: Niagara Falls Canada
good luck bending the lip of the bearing over
good luck with that. 30,000 piece of bike aint worth guessing when u hit bottom
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,410
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville, TN
All this hokus pokus measuring isn't needed to install these cam bearings.
These Twinkies are light years beyond the old motors...Evo's - Shovels - Etc....
You had to measure everything for proper cam installation on those.
To answer the OP sensibly...after you get the bearing most of the way in...use the ratchet side of a socket larger than the cam bearing bore...shove a socket extension in the socket...lightly tap the extension with a hammer, or your fist if you prefer...until the socket hits the case...that's plenty seated.
These Twinkies are light years beyond the old motors...Evo's - Shovels - Etc....
You had to measure everything for proper cam installation on those.
To answer the OP sensibly...after you get the bearing most of the way in...use the ratchet side of a socket larger than the cam bearing bore...shove a socket extension in the socket...lightly tap the extension with a hammer, or your fist if you prefer...until the socket hits the case...that's plenty seated.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 602
Likes: 51
From: central MN
All this hokus pokus measuring isn't needed to install these cam bearings.
These Twinkies are light years beyond the old motors...Evo's - Shovels - Etc....
You had to measure everything for proper cam installation on those.
To answer the OP sensibly...after you get the bearing most of the way in...use the ratchet side of a socket larger than the cam bearing bore...shove a socket extension in the socket...lightly tap the extension with a hammer, or your fist if you prefer...until the socket hits the case...that's plenty seated.
These Twinkies are light years beyond the old motors...Evo's - Shovels - Etc....
You had to measure everything for proper cam installation on those.
To answer the OP sensibly...after you get the bearing most of the way in...use the ratchet side of a socket larger than the cam bearing bore...shove a socket extension in the socket...lightly tap the extension with a hammer, or your fist if you prefer...until the socket hits the case...that's plenty seated.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,437
Likes: 15
I would not use your way for two reasons, one is not that easy to feel when bottomed out and not worth damaging the bearings. Proper tool is fairly cheap and works great. If it has worked for you keep using it but I have done a bunch and would not go that route.
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