Just replaced the cam on my 82 FXR and measured the end play with the current shim: 0.0155"
Andrews calls for 0.01-0.015
Talked to a friend of mine who builds motors (shop) to see if he had shims and he told me he always sets it to 0.018"
What do you guys usually do?

 

On that Shovel... I would Probably Run it!! Certainly with Stock ignition!
I dislike the Idea of very thin shims inside there... so if ya want to tighten it up [Not under 0.01 Ever, as I feel that is Tight]
You need to Purchase a Shim... One is Plenty if it is the Correct one..
Again... I am More like yer friend, and prefer the loose side to a Burnt Cam or worse... Burnt = brittle = broken, Shim!!!

 

we use the .010 rule if you don't know the spec or its in that spec the use of .010 cant go wrong if it has 10 no matter what it is

 

Yes, take up some of the slack.
I would not want the cam walking back and forth (side to side really)

 

Always set mine up at .010"-.012" unless the cam specs calls for something different. Shovels you don't want floating in there to much.

 

Yes... But in this case I would lean toward a loose ten!

Why???
What kinda Bad **** ya recon will Happen???

 

The only reason I can think of is "work" or metal break in .'
The two parts running together develop a relationship.
A working relationship.
If the cam is allowed to wander back and forth that much of an area,
that is a lot more area to get used to.
The two load bearing ends and the gear surface, plus the rollers on the lifters and
the cam area
I would adhere to about the .010 number too..maybe a little less.
Carry on , do as you wish

 

Too much endplay can allow the advance unit to bounce around for one thing and can't see it doing the lifter alignment any favors either with some cam's. Been at this several decades myself, ain't my first walk around this block.........

 

tomorrow I will take some pictures of lifters we took out that had way too much back and forth - YOUR opinion is more is fine some of us see it different in our experiences

 

Thanks everybody.. I'd stick to Andrews' specs