.001-.016" is for the breather gear with the gasket in place.. The camshaft can be between .010-.020"..
I tighten the cam cover right down across the gasket and then measure with the gauge between the shims and the cam at the bearing end for my clearances..

 

Started from scratch again. If I only run the factory thrush washer the gear hits the cutout around the breather gear.

I measured the mating flange of the cam gear to the flange where the thrust washer sits between the new and old cams. It's dead on .050".

But .050 from the outside. So I'd need a bushing between the cover and gear.

 

So when I pressed the bearing in it's flush with the case/ bottomed out in the hole, so it's slightly behind the raised lip that wraps around most of the opening for the bearing. But that would not change anything for the shims. To get that .001-.016" the gear protudes past the pinion like in the picture.

 

How about a pic of the cam bushing in the cover? If the cam moves that far out with the cam cover on I sure am curious about that bushing

 

I'll get a pic in the morning. Shortly after my last poat I had a minor medical issue and I went down. Been pushing too hard to get things done to leave me time to work on the bike and it hit me this afternoon. Nothing serious. A good night's rest a in order.


But the bushing in the case is about .075" protruding past the face of the cover. I used the old gasket part of the measurements.

I tried a few other ideas and the only solution is a bushing on the face of the cam gear between it and the cover. Even if I were to push the gear out a bit to clear the case and make it stay flush with the pinion gear (breather and pinion are aligned perfectly) the cam gear would still protrude.

I think I foind why the breather gear shim fell out. Maybe this cover is miscast. And that led to the issues.

I miss having Gregg Schaffer around. He was the resident Evo Expert. Drag raced them and always had pearls of wisdom. "mayor of speed town" was his nickname. Sadly he suddenly passed away last year. Or he'd be in my shop right now helping me.

Something is just not adding up here.

But instill have the transmission to open up and install my ez pull, and remove the exhaust bracket. And open up the oil pump. Was honestly hoping to have it almost back together this weekend.

 

Okay talked to someone off here.

"Ditch the factory thrust washer and only use the smaller ones that was provided. Install a single .050 thrust washer. Install cam. Reinstall and torque cover with old gasket. If it's less or equal to .015" leave it be. A slight bit of hang over is normal. When underload it sucks the cam toward the motor. Long as the lifters are on the lobes you are good to go"

And

"Worry less about making things precision. The Evo was never a precision built motor, especially the ladder year ones". Why they can run forever. The tolerances allowed for motor expansion and contraction, and prevented things from being too tight"

Lastly

"if you have more than .015" run out still replace the cover bushing. A .050" bushing is all I've ever used on a non stock cam. And never once had an issue."

"Good luck and stay in touch, I'm excited to see tbr end product"

 

From the installation instruction for Reaper EVO cams.

". Remove ignition cover and stock cam. Measure installed length of stock cam and new cam. Cams for 1984-’87 engines should measure 3.025 inches from front face of gear to thrust shoulder surface. Cams for ’88 and later EV engines need to be shimmed to 3.075 (+.050 longer) because of a factory design change in the length of all ‘88 and later camshafts. Proper end play for installed camshafts is .010 /.015 inches. EV engines use the same shims as shovels. Spacer shims are listed in EV-80."

Paul

 

Thanks @pgreer at least that .050 I measured was accurate. Still not moving too fast today. (darn seizure) hoping to get out there and do this in a bit.


Talked to Pacific Mike as well and he has his own ideas but said he hopes I'm ready for what that cam will bring. "hang on" lol. But also said I should use a proper thrust plate.

 

This is with just the .050 shim on the new cam. The cam gear hits the recessed part above the breather gear before bottoming out on that shim.




This is with the factory thrust washer and the 50. It still does not clear the recess and I still have another .040 of end play.




The cover bushing



Factory thrust and .075 shim now I'm protruding past the pinion gear but have loads of space between the gear and the cutout. But now have a snug .010 end play.

 

The .050 longer cams didn't start till '92.

I'd never install a big cam without the "eared" washer. 25550-57A still available about 27.00 from dealer.

BTW The cam gear will always be further outboard of the pinion gear about .125 and you need to wipe the grease or cosmoline off the cam before running it.