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Labor costs for cam change

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Old Oct 9, 2011 | 12:00 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by myred55
The cam replacement video looks straight foward, the only question I have is where to find the bearing removal/ install tool? Is this a tool that's easy to find? Is the tool make by HD?

Usually your shop will loan it to you.
 
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Old Oct 9, 2011 | 12:25 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Throwback
Thanks guys. I may try it.
My dealer quoted me six hours, and I ended up doing the whole job myself for $285, including $95 for an inner-bearing tool. I reused the stock pushrods which adds a couple of hours to the job, plus I took my time, labeled everything, and double-check every step. It took much longer than six hours for me, a full day plus a bit of the next, but I was in no hurry nor inclined to rush it. It was the best thing I've ever done for the bike's performance, my enjoyment of riding, my knowledge base, and bang-for-the-buck results.

Read Atrain68's excellent tutorial, the video Boogaloodude provided, as well as the manual until you're sure you understand every step and are confident enough to do the job. Anyone with moderate mechanical ability and a normal array of tools can do it. The only special tool needed is an inner-bearing removal/installer tool. The Fuel Moto cam-install kit is a bargain at $50 and has the Torrington bearings included.
 

Last edited by iclick; Oct 9, 2011 at 12:29 PM.
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Old Oct 9, 2011 | 12:34 PM
  #23  
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took me about 5-6 hours i guess...rented the tools from Auto zone...Blind hole pullers and bearing/seal installers...assembly lube, a shim from HD, install kit or couple gaskets... new bearing, cams, adjustable SE pushrods...I spent a toital of $350.00...couple shots of Makers marks...love it...
 
Attached Thumbnails Labor costs for cam change-beraingbushingset.jpg   Labor costs for cam change-blindholepuller.jpg  
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Old Oct 9, 2011 | 01:31 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by Throwback
Stopped by the Harley dealership on Thursday to pick up some brake pads. They quoted me 7 hours labor @ $75 per hr to install cams. OUCH!
Originally Posted by cruzmisl
Their estimate wasn't even reasonable. 8 hours at $90/h is some serious loot.
One of the dealers in the Seattle area quoted a friend of mine something like 6.5 hours labor at 100 per, if they used quickee pushrods, or 8 hours if they went through the rocker boxes and re-used the solid pushrods.

I told him that was crazy, we did it in my garage in an afternoon.

Keep your work area clean and organized. I set up a bench next to my bike that I cover with heavy paper towels. I lay out the parts that come off the bike on the bench, keeping any gaskets or o-rings with the part when it goes on the bench. I can make notes to myself on the paper towels. I'll keep the front cylinder parts together on one side of the bench, the rear on the other side, and try to lay out the parts in roughly the reverse order they'll be going back on the bike.





Once I've got everything apart and laid out on the bench, I'll clean the area, get my bag of gaskets and o-rings and start putting it back together. If your parts are laid out on the bench in the order they came off the bike, that will help you keep organized as it goes back together. Take your part, compare the old gasket or o-ring with your new ones, that will help you ensure the right o-ring goes back on the bike.

Cleanliness and organization are key to a successful job, in my opinion. Here's a tc88 top end all laid out on my bench, ready to go back together.

 
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Old Oct 9, 2011 | 02:44 PM
  #25  
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Nicely done Boogaloo...I bagged all my stuff as i went and marked the bags with a magic marker or sharpie....was pretty easy...really the hardest part was removing and re-installing the exhaust...
 
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Old Oct 9, 2011 | 04:05 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by Notgrownup
Nicely done Boogaloo...I bagged all my stuff as i went and marked the bags with a magic marker or sharpie....was pretty easy...really the hardest part was removing and re-installing the exhaust...
My procedure was similar, laying everything out on a large folding table in the order removed with a piece of masking tape beside each item and a short description. Scan or print-out the pages in the manual and check-off each step so you know you did it. I failed to do that for an item in one of the rocker boxes, couldn't remember if I had tightened the bolts, and the next morning removed the cover a second time to re-check. They were tight but had I not checked I would've worried about it from that day forward, and following a checklist would've saved me the aggravation.

I think if you do cam jobs on a regular basis you will master the procedure and sequences, speeding the whole process considerably, but doing it the first time and maybe once every year or two thereafter isn't keeping every detail fresh in you mind. That's the case for me, anyway.
 
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Old Oct 10, 2011 | 03:02 PM
  #27  
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How do you do the proper measurements for the cam bearing install depth with out the HD part.
 
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Old Oct 10, 2011 | 03:51 PM
  #28  
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??? Tap it in until it seats... I just put my bearings in the freezer overnight to shrink them a bit....slobbered them good with assembly lube.... i was gonna say *** lube but...LOL...Tap it in there until it seats in. Make sure the numbers are facing you.
PROPER MEASUREMENTS....LOL that's some funny ****... If you think HD does that...
 
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Old Oct 12, 2011 | 05:04 PM
  #29  
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Well i was watching a 107" video from revolution and they were doing measurments and that nonsense.. Just tryin not to mess up a $1300 install.
 

Last edited by z71_fourwheelin; Oct 12, 2011 at 06:15 PM.
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Old Oct 12, 2011 | 05:56 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by boogaloodude
Anyone who can change the oil and filter in their bike can manage a cam change.

Get the manual, search the forums, there's a bunch of threads on it.

There's a pretty good video on youtube that goes through the process, start to finish.


http://youtu.be/n5KvamRqCis
Thanks for all the info and the video.
 
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