As if the purchase price should justify spending money that isn't necessary......... You spent 20k on that bike. You'd better go buy a 1k screwdriver to tighten your seat, 'cause that $3 one just ain't good enough........

 

I used the Gary Beaty tool when I did my S&S 551CE Cams. I got lucky and found mine in the classifieds of this forum. If you're going to do the job, do it right. Just added peace of mind.

 

Yes. They are a different diameter. Check the sellers other items.

 

You know, the clearances which you are concerned with are microscopic. Why would you go to all of the trouble of doing it yourself if you don't want to do the job with the correct tools??? Get the correct tools to do the job well or take it to a competent mechanic who will have the right tools. I'm not trying to burn you but you should realize that not doing the job well could cost you a new motor.

 

The clearances are not microscopic....... And you can't say that they aren't the right tools for the job. Many of us have used the tools and the job came out just fine. We just chose not to use a specialty tool for the same results. For all the naysayers, I challenge you to find an example of disaster due to not using the so called "correct" tool. Post the link here when you find it......

 

Buy the tool on ebay for 104$ (heartland products) . It will make the removal quick and the install correct. Make sure you install the new ones with the numbers side OUT, the race is larger on that side.

 

Buy the tool.
Do you really think this will be the last cams you do?
:-)

 

save the money and buy some new bling for the bike,i used blind hole puller and old cam to install new bearings,if you look you will see bearing lines up flush with the lip so use a lot of lube tap it in slowly till its flush with the lip you will be fine,i am with cuda 67 even if your off microscopically you will be fine and i will wait for all the post of people who have done this and the engine went to hell cause i doubt there will be any just my 2 cents

 

It's tough to find any examples of inner cam bearing failures in the last several years, especially since the bearings were increased in size to 1". It just doesn't happen very often anymore. It's my belief that most of the cam bearing failures that do happen are related to installation problems. ( No, I don't have any examples I can provide for you that proves that theory, it's just my belief.)

How many examples can we find that involves an inner bearing failure where we know for a fact that the correct tools were used?

What I do know for a fact, is that the moco has provided us with the specification for seating the bearings in the service manual itself. That doesn't happen very often in the service manual, so I presume that moco feels it's a critical spec. Further, the manufacturer of the bearings cautions us to:


"Never

hammer the bearing into its housing even in conjunction

with the proper assembly mandrel.

Never
press the bearing tightly against a shoulder in the housing.

If it is necessary to use a shouldered housing, the depth of the
housing bore must be sufficient to ensure the housing shoulder fillet,
as well as the shoulder face, clears the bearing."

Here's where I lifted that quote from.

It's funny, we warn people to change out the INA bearings because they might fail (even though it's hard to find any recent examples of that), and then we tell them to ignore the service manual and manufacturers instructions on installing the improved bearings.

Not trying to tell you how to work on your bike, just sharing why I use the proper tool for setting the inner bearings in place. For me, it's no different than gapping your rings properly, or following the manual for torque specs.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I went ahead and ordered the Heartland remover and installer for $104.

I fully understand they can be removed/installed without the tool, but just to be safe I ordered the tool.

None of my riding buddies have access to one of the tools so I thought I would just get one, and if they need it they can use it too.

Thought about using it and selling it, but I think I'll keep it for later use.

Heck, it may even raise my popularity with the crew when they find out I have what they need to install their cams. LOL