Wasn't cam bearing after all... : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

Dave L · 08-29-2005, 08:05 AM

took a drive to the dealer this weekend to look at the bike, originally told it was an exploded cam bearing. It ended up being the cam chain tensioning shoe that had worn down and crack into pieces. It may be good advice to have it checked at your 25K or 30K service...

Seahag · 08-29-2005, 08:16 AM

Not having to worry about that anymore is the best reason to switch to gear drive cams. I like the peace of mind...especially when I'm far from home.

Dave L · 08-29-2005, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahag

Not having to worry about that anymore is the best reason to switch to gear drive cams. I like the peace of mind...especially when I'm far from home.

I agree, having gear drive put in. How much more noise if any do you notice?

rpbrock · 08-29-2005, 08:23 AM

Ditto!

HDMD88 · 08-29-2005, 08:30 AM

I installed MANY gear drives systems, only once did I have too fit the gears up with a .0005 undersize cam gear. I nor my customers have ever thought the gears where louder.....most people that install gear drive sets are installing their first set of cams with it...its the cam noise they hear not the gear drive its self....

If it is a gear fittment problem it will tick (loose) constintly or whine (tight) constintly.

ToddM · 08-29-2005, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave L

I agree, having gear drive put in. How much more noise if any do you notice?

Why are so many people concerned about a little noise? It a Harley! Get used to it! If you want quiet, buy a Honda (or a Lincoln). LOL!

ViennaHog · 08-29-2005, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToddM

Why are so many people concerned about a little noise? It a Harley! Get used to it! If you want quiet, buy a Honda (or a Lincoln). LOL!

Nothing a good set of performance mufflers wouldn't fix.........

turbotc · 08-29-2005, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave L

took a drive to the dealer this weekend to look at the bike, originally told it was an exploded cam bearing. It ended up being the cam chain tensioning shoe that had worn down and crack into pieces. It may be good advice to have it checked at your 25K or 30K service...

Dave,

I hope they disassembled the oil punp and took a look at the gears. I've seen two pumps chewed to pieces from cam chain tensioner particals. Anytime you check tensioners and have a lot of wear you might want to inspect pump.

HDMD88 · 08-29-2005, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbotc

Dave,

I hope they disassembled the oil punp and took a look at the gears. I've seen two pumps chewed to pieces from cam chain tensioner particals. Anytime you check tensioners and have a lot of wear you might want to inspect pump.

That is CORRECT.....

Seahag · 08-29-2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave L

I agree, having gear drive put in. How much more noise if any do you notice?

When I first did them, there was a slight whirring noise that could only be heard at low speeds. After the first 1000 miles that noise went away...so I assume the gears have fully broken in to eachother. I don't hear any noise now. I didn't have to use an over/undersized gear either. I'm very happy to have done it.

HDMD88 · 08-29-2005, 11:34 AM

Once you have the cams installed in the plate slip the plate in till the bearings are supporting the cams in the case....turn the cams if there is no binding or back lash its good to go. You can go to HarleyHogs web site and see how its done with dial indcators. I do it with the feel method and I never had trouble with them....its not scarry and its very easy to install....do it.

rpbrock · 08-29-2005, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdmd88

Once you have the cams installed in the plate slip the plate in till the bearings are supporting the cams in the case....turn the cams if there is no binding or back lash its good to go. You can go to HarleyHogs web site and see how its done with dial indcators. I do it with the feel method and I never had trouble with them....its not scarry and its very easy to install....do it.

That's the way Dewey told me to do it....

Side note: Talked with my local wrench on Sat. and he told me about a customers engine he tore apart recently where the tensioners went kaboom on a road trip. The HD shop on the road trip replaced the shoes and cleaned the mess up the best they could. After putting it back together at the they said the bike had a strange ticking noise that they couldn't locate and to have it checked when he got home. When the guy got back from the trip he brought it to the wrench and they tore it down and everything looked good until they got to the crank. The plastic particals found their way to the crank bearing and destroyed it..... The bike in question had about 30K miles on it.

Dave L · 08-29-2005, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbotc

Dave,

I hope they disassembled the oil punp and took a look at the gears. I've seen two pumps chewed to pieces from cam chain tensioner particals. Anytime you check tensioners and have a lot of wear you might want to inspect pump.

They are replacing the pump and lifters and everything else in that area that could have been damaged, they also pulled the heads too

Fxsts103ci · 08-29-2005, 02:53 PM

I did mine when a lifter went south this spring.35k on the bike, 30k on the tensioner replaced when I did the engine ,257 cams inner shoe was hardly warn and the outer was 20-30% warn. Synthetic and changed between 3500 and 5k .. I'll ck them again at 50(should be there around april next year) and see how they are..

JMS · 08-29-2005, 04:05 PM

Was the tensioner shoe material changed sometime in '03 ? TIA

JMS in TX