I'm not too sure that gear driven cams are being recommended for the new-er bikes or not...I don't think so.
I got 2 sets of cams right now,(haven't installed either one yet) Wood's 6-6's but everyone says that you gotta get the 4+degree advance gear or they're a dog on the low end, so now I have a set of Andrew's 48H's that are like the SE 255's only they go out further and do not go flat quite as quick. Since I ride mostly 2 up I will no doubt go with the 48's, and sell the wood's.

 

I had heard that the 99s run out was alot better than the newer years. Also heard that the 99s had major cam bearing problems....which leads me to believe my bike has been tore into before. Cause I have 50,000 miles on it and no problems at all. Bought it with 20,000 miles on it in 2006. It was a theft recovery out of New Mexico that I had got thru a insurance company. Very little damage. Ill take some pics tomorrow when I pull the cam cover. Im curious as to what the previous owner has done to it. A couple people that have rode it said it felt strong for an 88. It did have a Stage 1 air cleaner on it. Not that thats an indication of any mods.

 

I had a 99 that went 76K before I tore into it to do some mods, so your bike could very well be completely stock, not all 99s had problems with the bearings. I recommend the SE hydraulic set up since you get the upgraded oil pump with that kit, which is a big improvement IMO. If you go that way Andrews makes cams for that set up that use the new roller chains on both the inner & outer cam drives. With 50K on it I would replace both the inner bearings with torringtons & the outer bearings also. I believe the way you can tell if your bike has been upgraded is that the original outer cam bearings in 99 were both ball bearing, the fix was to go to one ball bearing & one roller bearing, when you remove your cam plate you will know. I'm recommending the SE kit as that's what I did to my 2000 this fall, I already had cams in it so all I did was replace all 4 bearings & I replaced the outer cam drive sprocket with one that Andrews also makes so you can use the new roller chain there also. The MM FI uses that sprocket to give a signal to the cam sensor, they make a special one for the gear drives also, not sure if you get it with the kit or if you have to purchase it separately. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

All Sportsters and Buells have four gear drive cams. Whats the issue with gear drive?

 

so here are some pics on what I found. There cant be any possible way that these tensioners have 50,000 miles on them! They had to have been changed at some point but they didnt change the inner cam bearings...or outer for that matter. One cam lobe had a nasty scar on it and so did the lifter. All the lobes had some grooves that you could catch with your fingernail. The oil pump had some light scars but nothing major.




Here is a home made run out gauge I made today. Works slick and it didnt cost me anything to make.


Lowest point....zeroed


High point...... 0.003"

 

got some prices from Herko today. $499 for the hydraulic conversion. With lifters, pushrods, cams, and a different cam gear with the trigger on it (99-01 had these) it will end up being around $1000. Thats everything i could possibly need all hardware, gaskets ect.

 

I just did my 04 EGC right at T-sgiving and and put in the SE Hydr. Plate, SE oil pump, SE Oil Breathers, SE 204 cams, Timkin bearings, and a Stage 1 carb kit. It had a Stage 1 Air kit already. We made our tools for removal and installing the bearings and it really made a difference!!!! Runs like a champ!!!! It seems like it is a bear, but if you pay attention and have your shop book, you will be fine. It all cost me about 1k when it was all over. Plus, get the gasket kit, it will have everything that you need and you won't go wrong. I pulled my rocker boxes off to get at the push rods and used the stock one afterwards while I was replaceing the old oil breathers with new SE Oil Breathers.

 

I went ahead and bought the puller/installer, oil pump alignment screws and the cam sprocket locking tool. Figured id use it again someday. I didnt want to ask my indy to borrow it all. He is usually good about loaning me tools but i know hes slow right now and would probably have welcomed the work.

Got all my parts ordered this morning and Herko shipped em out before noon. So Ill be able to start assembly this weekend. I dont know why Im in a hurry....still have 3 more months of winter left.