Just wondering as the Limited has less than 10K on it and it would seem if the stock bearings were that prone to failure you would hear a lot more about it. Lot of riders on here giving high milages on 07s and newer and I don't recall reading the first time of an inner cam bearing failer. May be something going on like a much higher load being put on the inner bearing with non stock cams. If so, that is what I'm trying find information on, not just change them because everyone is paranoid about them.
I went through the same trepidation before my cam change, and I'm not one to replace things that don't need replacing. For example, the original lifters stayed in, as every tech I talked to said there was no need to replace them unless they were not working normally (e.g., noise). My HD shop does replace all inner-bearings when they do cam jobs, but they use the INAs in the HD cam-install kit. I say if you replace them, do so with Torringtons, as their full-complement design is more robust and the price is insignificant ($15 or less for both).
I have never heard of a stock 1" INA bearing in an '07 and later bike failing, except one that was installed backwards at the factory, but I decided to replace them with Torringtons even though I had to buy a $90 tool, which was about 1/3 the cost of the entire cam job for me. I would do it the same way if I had to do it over again.
I bought the tool from Gary and it worked great. Its a great addition to the tool box as well. There are other options, but I wanted to go with a tool designed just for those bearings and not mess with renting whatever or buying some cheap Harbor Freight crap. If the puller screws up on this job and drops some needle rods on the crank side, then you just screwed the pooch. Always better to go first class than to improvise to save a dime. Gary's makes good stuff.
Have there been rampant failures of the inner bearings? No. But if you look at the stock bearing versus the Torrington, it's a volkswagen vs a corvette. Even Stevie Wonder could see the difference!
03-03-2011, 10:24 AM
