06-07+ camplate, reliable? : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

DaleW · 09-13-2009, 07:24 PM

There was quite a bit of speculation regarding the new cam plate and whether or not it would last given that the cams run straight in a plain bearing inside the cam plate and no longer have separate bearings.

Now that the new cam plate has been in service for going on 4 years now and likely there are a few higher mileage units out there,can any builders comment on what they've seen?

Dale

dynarule · 09-13-2009, 08:15 PM

Think of it like this, All other bikes and auto's have been using this type of bearing set up for how long? None of them have failed yet. I have 35K so far and no problems yet.

strokerjlk · 09-13-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleW

There was quite a bit of speculation regarding the new cam plate and whether or not it would last given that the cams run straight in a plain bearing inside the cam plate and no longer have separate bearings.

Now that the new cam plate has been in service for going on 4 years now and likely there are a few higher mileage units out there,can any builders comment on what they've seen?

Dale

45,000 and still going
last looked at 40,000 and all was fine.

claydbal · 09-14-2009, 08:53 AM

not aware of any failures.

dean350b · 09-14-2009, 10:08 AM

Flatty's, Knucks, Pan's, Shovels, Evo's all ran the outer nose of the cam in a plain bearing of the cam cover.

Generator motors would wear the bearings out if the gearsets werent correct or shimmed, but with the chain connection and proper shimming, should not be an issue on a +06.

DaleW · 09-14-2009, 04:09 PM

That all sounds good. Just got through reading Donnie Petersens books,where he was concerned about this set up and the potential problem of ovalling out the plain bearing, looks like unnecessarily so.

claydbal · 09-15-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleW

That all sounds good. Just got through reading Donnie Petersens books,where he was concerned about this set up and the potential problem of ovalling out the plain bearing, looks like unnecessarily so.

there are better sources of info.

DaleW · 09-15-2009, 04:26 PM

Who do you recommend?

Dale

claydbal · 09-15-2009, 06:37 PM

dennis h for starters. peterson is a paid infomercial, and rarely has anything straight in his magazine blatherings.

rbabos · 09-15-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleW

That all sounds good. Just got through reading Donnie Petersens books,where he was concerned about this set up and the potential problem of ovalling out the plain bearing, looks like unnecessarily so.

Well, techincally he's correct, however, given enough time or miles on the engine all bushed or plain bearings will wear to the pressure load exerted on them. That's to be expected. If they go 100k or more, the design is sound. Wrist pin bushings would likely crap out by then too. Only thing that should really kill them is inadiquate oil supply or dirt.
Ron