Pricing

Here's a question for all you that paid someone to change out your cams. I checked with my local bike shop today as I was interested in getting a set of Andrews 26 cams installed in my '03 Road King. I was quoted a price of $950 to change the cams (chain drive) which included a new set of adjustable push rods (since they said that they have to cut off the old ones), gaskets and bearings. To me this sounds way too expensive, or am I just being cheap?

Thanks
Derek
2003 FLHRI
SE A/C
Bassani Power Curve w/Samson Rolled Thunder slip-ons
TMAX w/Auto Tune

We know the local dealers in the Central New York area, charge 4 hrs for a cam change, plus parts. The price you were quoted is about 150.00 shy of what we get to install those cams with gear drives included.

 

I'm not surprised. One place (indy shop) quoted me close to $1100 for new cams. I have no clue why they'd charge that much, other than there must be too many suckers with too much money. I did it and a big bore kit myself. Tedious, but not rocket science by a long shot. Spent under $1K for the big bore, cams, AND a SERT - a little over when you include the cost of the dyno tune, but still well under the best quote I got for that work, which was almost $1700.

 

Figure 6-700 for cams and gears. 150 for rods, $50 for gaskets. Ball park. Plus labor.


Though not sure if the orginal post was talking about staying with chains.

 

The labor charges are where they get you. For gear cams, new rods and gaskets you are looking at $800-900. I think most places figure at least 4 hours labor time and some more. If you figure a conservative $75 an hour for labor then you can be at $1200 real quick. Now you know why a lot of guys do the work themselves.

Just noticed you are looking a chain driven cams. You can save $200-300 by sticking with chains, but in my opinion if you are going to do the change then might as well do it right. Get rid of the chains and never look back.

 

Did mine myself and didn't check run out of pinion shaft...1400 miles and gear drive broke....$3k do over...
No - it dosen't sound too pricy compared to what I "saved"...especially if there is NO do over...!

 

I didn't check runout. Probably should have. I don't think alot of people do. 12k+, you always woner how many miles until you are out of the woods.

 

If you put on a Fueling oil pump - they want the runout at .001 or less...
The wrench who rebuilt my motor didn't check it(MMI grad) and it fried in 1 mile...and he got fired....
If you notice wear on one side of oil pump...upgrade oil pump...put on gear drives...cam chain tensioners wear excessive...CHECK RUNOUT...!
iF YOU BUY A USED MOTOR ON E BAY - IT WILL HAVE EXCESSIVE RUNOUT (got 2 of them)
If you have 12k - you are probably cool...my gears were always very noisy...still are...!

 

I'm not surprised. One place (indy shop) quoted me close to $1100 for new cams. I have no clue why they'd charge that much, other than there must be too many suckers with too much money. I did it and a big bore kit myself. Tedious, but not rocket science by a long shot. Spent under $1K for the big bore, cams, AND a SERT - a little over when you include the cost of the dyno tune, but still well under the best quote I got for that work, which was almost $1700.

BB kit, cam and SERT for less that 1K?? My kit for an 88 cost 551.00, SERT cost 368.15 so the cam and gears cost less than 200.00? BTW, those prices are 20% off HD MSRP.

Either one of us figured wrong or you get on heck of a price on parts and you didn't mention heads.

 

Here's a question for all you that paid someone to change out your cams. I checked with my local bike shop today as I was interested in getting a set of Andrews 26 cams installed in my '03 Road King. I was quoted a price of $950 to change the cams (chain drive) which included a new set of adjustable push rods (since they said that they have to cut off the old ones), gaskets and bearings. To me this sounds way too expensive, or am I just being cheap?

Thanks
Derek
2003 FLHRI
SE A/C
Bassani Power Curve w/Samson Rolled Thunder slip-ons
TMAX w/Auto Tune

Only cutting pushrods. And not opening the rocker boxes it’s the cheap way to doit We open the rocker boxes and change the parts in the breather box. We also replace lifters and oil pump and get rid of the Harley oil pump plus all new gaskets and bearings. That’s the right way to do cam jobs