You guys who are installing your own cams. Are you guys buying all the tools from Georges garage or Jims? It seems it will only save me about $200 give or take over having the dealership do it all. How do you guys think I should handle this?

 

Older bikes like mine had one ball and one roller outer cam bearings. The newer models have brass bushings. The inner cam bearings are roller/needle bearings. I had no need for the cam bearing puller, because you don't have to push on both cams like they tell you, just one.

The rear cam was actually on a roller bearing, and when I pressed the forward cam out of the cam plate, the rear just followed it with a little rotating motion as I went to help it slide over the roller pins. I simply used a shop press and press plates, with a socket between the press shaft and cam shaft. To remove the bearings from the cams, I used common pulley/bearing plates (two halves that are pulled together with bolts) and pressed the shaft out of them.

Some people have had luck with putting the cams and cam plate assembly in a freezer overnight. When the metal gets cold enough and contracts, the bearings almost fall right out.

If you are going to be doing the inner cam bearings, you can use a common blind puller. If you know what you are doing, you shouldn't really need the installation tool for the inner bearings, but it will make the job simpler if it's your first time with those type bearings. The installation tool has a stop on it to keep you from pushing them in too far.

 

The JIMS cam bearing puller/installer is really nice. The fixture for pressing the cams in works well too. If you're going to geardrives, the gears press on the cams pretty hard, a hydraulic press is nice rather than an arbor press. Never used the George's Garage tools. Seems to me that saving $200. and gaining the tools is a pretty good deal.

 

Since you have a newer bike, you really don't need any special tools. I used the bearing puller/installer that Iclick posted in his cam change thread, but like others said renting a blind puller from a local auto parts store will work too. Other than that, nothing more than typical hand tools.

 

A very gracious forum member has loaned me his tools. This entire thing is running me 185.00.

 

Guys youve been a huge help. Keep it coming. Its really appreciated.

 

You should read these write-ups, then study your service manual thoroughly and acquaint yourself with the procedure. If you are comfortable with what you read, go for it. Anyone with moderate mechanical skills, some basic tools (including torque wrenches), a service manual, and the bearing tool can do this job. BTW, you won't need the alignment tool and gear-locking tool mentioned in the manual.

My write-up

A better one by Atrain68 with pix.

I did my cam change for $285 and could do it for probably $200-250 if I was to do it over again. That includes the cams (used); all gaskets, o-rings, and Torrington bearings (Fuel Moto); and Gary Beatty's bearing tool (<$100).

 

heay iclick,you helped inspired me to do the cams on my bike awesome job and thank you!

looking for a write-up on jugs,heads,throttle body. Coming soon? lol

 

Same here iclick. You are a major contributor to this section of the forum. Thanks for taking the time to write sensibly on the topics we love to chat about here.

 

thanx for the info.