Harley Davidson Forums

Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Cam install questions

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 29, 2011 | 10:08 AM
Share
  #11  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default
Originally Posted by Spur56
Anyone out there ever have or know of someone that has had a failure of the original cam bearings. This is not a high stress area for a stock motor and the 255 is not a high lift cam. I know of zero cam bearing failures. HD does not even include or recommend replacement of these bearings with their kit.
Agreed not a high stress area; the TC is a low rpm motor but there have been failures of the inner cam bearings. When they go, you got a major load of bad juju to deal with; can take out the oil pump, cam plate and crank. Sure, there are many more that have not failed but knowing that there have been failures, why take a chance? The upgraded full compliment bearings cost $12, or less, and it takes 15 minutes to R/R them. If one is working in the cam chest, it just makes good sense to upgrade.

Google Harley Davidson inner cam bearings and follow the trail, you will find plenty of failures. Probably can find some forum members that have had the pleasure.
 
Reply
0
Old Sep 29, 2011 | 11:01 AM
Share
  #12  
hougz79's Avatar
hougz79
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 1
From: Superior, WI
Default
When I do my cam, I will upgrade the bearings. Cheap insurance.
 
Reply
0
Old Sep 29, 2011 | 12:31 PM
Share
  #13  
Spur56's Avatar
Spur56
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 540
Likes: 3
From: Nooga, TN
Default
Did the search you asked and could find no failures of inner cam bearings on 07 and up twin cams producing less than 100 hp. The twin cam design places less stress on the inner cam bearings as compared to earlier designs.
 
Reply
0
Old Sep 29, 2011 | 01:54 PM
Share
  #14  
Spur56's Avatar
Spur56
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 540
Likes: 3
From: Nooga, TN
Default
Originally Posted by djl
No less stress; the brearings are 1" not .875 like the earlier models but still caged bearing, not full compliment. The fact that the MoCo increased re-tooled for larger bearing bosses in the cases is a clear indicator that the MoCo was addressing a potential problem area.

Took me about five minutes to find these; there were more and this was just one forum.

http://harleytechtalk.org/htt/index....html#msg411871
http://harleytechtalk.org/htt/index....html#msg256090
http://harleytechtalk.org/htt/index....html#msg359201

Your bike, your money but it just doesn't make sense to leave the OEM INA bearings in the cam chest if you have to open it up anyway. JMHO
Not to be ugly, but if I read those right, they are pre 2007. I certainly do not disagree with upgrading bearings, but for those that don't want to spend money on all the tools for a one time change, the original bearings may be just fine.
 
Reply
0
Old Sep 29, 2011 | 02:01 PM
Share
  #15  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default
Originally Posted by Spur56
Did the search you asked and could find no failures of inner cam bearings on 07 and up twin cams producing less than 100 hp. The twin cam design places less stress on the inner cam bearings as compared to earlier designs.
No less stress; the brearings are 1" not .875" like the earlier models but still INA caged bearing, not full compliment. The fact that the MoCo re-tooled for larger bearing bosses in the cases is a clear indicator that the MoCo was addressing a potential problem area. It is also interesting to note that the MoCo now offers full compliment inner cam bearings in the SE Perfomance catalog.

Took me about five minutes to find these; I believe they are all pre '07; didn't read enough to know if the motors were stock or not. There were more and this was just one forum and I can tell you that I have read several posts of inner cam bearing failure on /07 and later models, stock BTW.

http://harleytechtalk.org/htt/index....html#msg411871
http://harleytechtalk.org/htt/index....html#msg256090
http://harleytechtalk.org/htt/index....html#msg359201

I am not suggesting that one should R/R inner cam bearings on a stock bike just to upgrade. However, I am saying that it is foolish to leave the OEM INA bearings in the cam chest if you have to open it up for something else. JMHO
 
Last edited by djl; Sep 29, 2011 at 02:08 PM.
Reply
0
Old Sep 29, 2011 | 02:16 PM
Share
  #16  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default
Originally Posted by Spur56
Not to be ugly, but if I read those right, they are pre 2007. I certainly do not disagree with upgrading bearings, but for those that don't want to spend money on all the tools for a one time change, the original bearings may be just fine.
Don't need special tools. Auto Zone has blind hole pullers with correct collet size, no charte. Use one of the removed cams to install. You are right, the OEM caged beargins MAY be just fine; I hope you don't experience what some have when one goes bad.
 
Reply
0
Old Sep 29, 2011 | 02:24 PM
Share
  #17  
Spur56's Avatar
Spur56
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 540
Likes: 3
From: Nooga, TN
Default
Second question. Are the Screaming Eagle and B-168's the same? Thanks
 
Reply
0
Old Sep 29, 2011 | 02:32 PM
Share
  #18  
Spur56's Avatar
Spur56
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 540
Likes: 3
From: Nooga, TN
Default
Agree djl. Is there any chance of getting the bearing cocked if you use the old bearings as drivers? Also how about getting the right depth? Might have to try this in the winter. Thanks
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 29, 2011 | 02:52 PM
Share
  #19  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default
Originally Posted by Spur56
Second question. Are the Screaming Eagle and B-168's the same?
Yes

Originally Posted by spur56
Agree djl. Is there any chance of getting the bearing cocked if you use the old bearings as drivers? Also how about getting the right depth? Might have to try this in the winter.
You can **** the bearing with any tool, so, yeah, there is that possibility. However, if you freeze the bearing over night, apply some assembly lube, the bearing will tap righ in. If it doesn't, back off and try again.

There is a shoulder at the back of the bearing boss that the bearing seats against; no danger of getting the bearing too deep in the bore.
 
Reply
0
Old Sep 29, 2011 | 03:42 PM
Share
  #20  
Jerm21's Avatar
Jerm21
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From:
Default
Great video!
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:55 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE