Harley Davidson Forums

Twin Cam Motors Twin Cam 1998 thru 2017

Cams 101 question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 30, 2023 | 06:23 PM
Share
  #1  
davekp's Avatar
davekp
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 756
Likes: 344
From: florida
Default Cams 101 question
When changing from chain to gear drives are the same cams used?
Also, what drives the second cam (gear or chain)?
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 30, 2023 | 06:40 PM
Share
  #2  
robarosa's Avatar
robarosa
Road Warrior
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 668
From: Texas
Default
Not sure why I'm answering this, but....
Chain cams have chains sprockets made with the cam. Gear cams have gears made with the cam.
Different cams.
Chains drives second cam on chain driven. Gears drives second cam on gear driven.
hth
 
Reply
2
Old Aug 30, 2023 | 07:02 PM
Share
  #3  
davekp's Avatar
davekp
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 756
Likes: 344
From: florida
Default
Thanks! That answers my question.
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 31, 2023 | 07:49 PM
Share
  #4  
Max Headflow's Avatar
Max Headflow
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,939
Likes: 8,036
From: poway
Default
Not only that but is you could figure out a way to swap over to gears, the rear cam would spin in reverse.
 
Reply
1
Old Sep 1, 2023 | 05:48 AM
Share
  #5  
smitty901's Avatar
smitty901
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,003
Likes: 11,441
Default
The CAM are different . But a S&S 465 and a S&S 465C Have the same grind. So the cams are the same but how they are drive is different.

Do your home work Gear driven CAM is not the great cure it is sold as.
 
Reply
0
Old Nov 7, 2023 | 05:25 AM
Share
  #6  
eighteight's Avatar
eighteight
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10,819
Likes: 7,455
From: OH
Default
Originally Posted by smitty901
Do your home work Gear driven CAM is not the great cure it is sold as.
I get your point , but they worked fine for the first 90 years.
 
Reply
2
Old Nov 7, 2023 | 05:51 PM
Share
  #7  
crzoomb's Avatar
crzoomb
Tourer
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 378
Likes: 152
From: Here
Default
Check crank runout first
 
Reply
1

Trending Topics

Old Nov 8, 2023 | 08:30 AM
Share
  #8  
djl's Avatar
djl
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,779
Likes: 2,609
From: san antonio
Community Team
Default
Originally Posted by robarosa
Not sure why I'm answering this, but....
Chain cams have chains sprockets made with the cam. Gear cams have gears made with the cam.
Different cams.
Chains drives second cam on chain driven. Gears drives second cam on gear driven.
Rob, you answered the question because you are from Texas and we are known for our propensity to help the less fortunate among us.
 
Reply
2
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Question for those who have S&S gear drive cams
Quiet Thunder
General Harley Davidson Chat
7
Nov 27, 2016 12:12 PM
Gear Driven Cams
Gooch
General Harley Davidson Chat
5
May 26, 2012 02:08 PM
Gear cams Vs Chain driven
FL-kruzen
Touring Models
30
Dec 5, 2011 06:25 PM
cam question
roofer
Ironhead
7
Mar 4, 2008 10:03 PM
timing chain self adjusters on twin cam leave it alone or put on gear driven cams
joe v
General Harley Davidson Chat
3
Apr 10, 2006 02:40 PM
Back to Subforum
Twin Cam Motors
View Next Unread
From 50mm to 58mm TB and Power Vision




Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:09 AM.

story-0
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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