Gear cams Vs Chain driven
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,197
From: Oxford, Nc
Only sound that changed is a slight "tick" at idle. ( Complete kit on EBay $581.00, Black Ops lifters $169.00, Adjustable pushrods $160.00. Bought the inner cam tools and resold them when I was finished.)
Haven't needed to look inside the cam chest since then and don't plan to.
I plan to keep my bike until forever or until I'm dead, ( whichever comes first
) You've got the 'near perfect' crank, why not use it!
Last edited by Stiggy; Dec 2, 2011 at 06:29 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
I installed gear drives at 30K, and never ever heard any gear whine until this last summer when we hit oil temps of 260+ on a trip. I spent several hours wondering what the heck was falling apart in my engine, until I realized the whine was from the thin oil.
The newer bikes have a lot more crank runout specs considered "normal."
But .030 ? Wow ! Are you sure you didn't mean .003 ?
The newer bikes have a lot more crank runout specs considered "normal."
But .030 ? Wow ! Are you sure you didn't mean .003 ?
Last edited by MNPGRider; Dec 2, 2011 at 09:51 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,371
Likes: 6
From: near Paris, France
my buddy and i both done 510 gear cams on our 88". Our Indy done it, sometimes it's better to let professionals do some jobs...
His '02 RK carb is more noisy than my '04 Ultra injected, don't know why. You just hear it a little when you switch off but now we are sure about our 88" reliability.
His '02 RK carb is more noisy than my '04 Ultra injected, don't know why. You just hear it a little when you switch off but now we are sure about our 88" reliability.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 6
From: Livingston, Texas
2006 and before had spring loaded cam shoe tensioners. The spring loaded put a lot of pressure on the chain and the chain would wear out the shoes faster.
In 07 HD came out with the new Hydraulic cam shoe tensinrers and a different chain.
This is a much easier setup to go with and will last a long time over Spring loades tensioners on the 06 and before.
HD also upgraded the Oil pump on the 07 and newer bikes. This is a Big Plus
With gear drive you have to measure the pivot shaft to find the end play. Then if you are out like over 10 thousands the rule of thumb goes that you can't use gear drive.
And when you can use gear drive you got to know Plus or minus gears and I like doing the job with a Press. And with the gear drive you git NO new upgrades oil pump .
The dealer has a upgraded SE cam plate kit.
Bob Woods has a new upgraded cam plate that is different from the dealer. Bob Woods new cam plate from what I understand is like the 07 model. It don't have bearings in the outter part of the cam plate. And he has the cams to go with it.
The kit comes with a Oil pump too.
If you do a upgrade like this replace the lifters. I like Bob Woods Directional Lifters or Fueling Race lifters.
You got to deceide which setup you want. Its your bike. And you are spending the money.
But I would take a Hydraulic setup any day over gears.
In 07 HD came out with the new Hydraulic cam shoe tensinrers and a different chain.
This is a much easier setup to go with and will last a long time over Spring loades tensioners on the 06 and before.
HD also upgraded the Oil pump on the 07 and newer bikes. This is a Big Plus
With gear drive you have to measure the pivot shaft to find the end play. Then if you are out like over 10 thousands the rule of thumb goes that you can't use gear drive.
And when you can use gear drive you got to know Plus or minus gears and I like doing the job with a Press. And with the gear drive you git NO new upgrades oil pump .
The dealer has a upgraded SE cam plate kit.
Bob Woods has a new upgraded cam plate that is different from the dealer. Bob Woods new cam plate from what I understand is like the 07 model. It don't have bearings in the outter part of the cam plate. And he has the cams to go with it.
The kit comes with a Oil pump too.
If you do a upgrade like this replace the lifters. I like Bob Woods Directional Lifters or Fueling Race lifters.
You got to deceide which setup you want. Its your bike. And you are spending the money.
But I would take a Hydraulic setup any day over gears.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,197
From: Oxford, Nc
Cardboard, I believe the rule is more than .003" ( 3 Thousandths,) and you shouldn't use gear drive.
I've got gear drive and love it. But if I owned an '03 or later, especially '07 and later, I'd go hydraulic tensioners.
I've got gear drive and love it. But if I owned an '03 or later, especially '07 and later, I'd go hydraulic tensioners.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 6
From: Livingston, Texas
Age is catchin up with me. Plus sittin in the house from the rain and cold weather.
Know that HD on the 11 bikes. don't remember what year started using higher press pressure points to press flywheels together. Hope that will hold em from slippin.
Now if that helped any on the pivot shaft specs we will have to wait for the shops and the folks doing the builds to let us know.
Why don't HD build crankshaft that you can take apart and put back together and it will not slip.
They did it years ago.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,197
From: Oxford, Nc
Thanks for reminding me, I knew it was somewhere down there. That's why I said LIke.
Age is catchin up with me. Plus sittin in the house from the rain and cold weather.
Why don't HD build crankshaft that you can take apart and put back together and it will not slip.
They did it years ago.
Age is catchin up with me. Plus sittin in the house from the rain and cold weather.
Why don't HD build crankshaft that you can take apart and put back together and it will not slip.
They did it years ago.
The same reason they don't install Timken Lefty bearings, ( but will sell you one from the S/E Parts Book!)
It's cheaper to do it this way.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 6
From: Livingston, Texas
Seen a lot of folks convert to Timeken bearings when they do builds
.
Also seen a lot of problems after the conversion. And the builds went bad.
Got a guy I know who is a gearhead and builds race motors.
He will not take a set of Harley cases with INA bearings and convert them to timeken bearings.
If you want timeken bearings he will buy new cases that was made for them. Like S&S cases
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,197
From: Oxford, Nc
Everyone is a high torque rider sometime. All you have to do is hit the brakes hard in third gear in a panic stop and not get the clutch in in time, or skitter across RR tracks. There's a dozen scenarios.
Harley did a disservice when they dropped the tapered bearing as standard IMO. My bike has it stock and will turn 100,000 miles next week and still runs a smooth as it did at 50,000. ( Seriously just knocked on some wood just then!)