Looking at some solutions for an TC 88" cam chest and its been a while since Ive own a Twin Cam.

The S&S Gear drive cam setuo looks like a simple cost effective way to move away from the inherent issues of the early TC cam chests and also change up the cams.

Am I missing something else?

Thanks
Pete

 

To run gear drive cams you must first make sure crank shaft runout is less than 0.003". If your bike is a 2002 or older it's likely it will be within spec, but you still need to put an indicator dial on the pinion shaft to make sure.

Even when within spec gear drive will be more noisy than the chain drive, ticking due to gear lash seems almost inevitable.

There are some benefits like very precise timing and less frictional loss than the chain drive, but these would only matter in a high performance build.

In my opinion a better option is to go with the hydraulic tensioner upgrade, for instance the Screamin Eagle kit with the orange billet cam plate. You will get silent operation and a greater choice of available performance camshafts. And also a higher capacity oil pump.

 

I went with gear drives on my '00 Road Glide about 10 years ago (kit cost $650 then ) at 83,000 miles and ran it unchecked until I retired the bike at 172,000 miles 3 years ago.
I went with adjustable pushrods and left the rocker covers intact. (It wasn't much louder IMO than the stock set up.) Don't forget to upgrade your inner bearings while you're in there. Beg, borrow or buy and resell the necessary tool to do that.
Highly recommend this kit: "set it and forget it.")

 

What year bike is the OP working on?

 

Judging from the listing in the enclosed picture ...99 through 06 except Dyna ??

 

A definite possibility of a firm maybe.

 

If crank runout is less than .003", gears is the way to go; set up correctly, no noisier chain drive iMHO having run gears in both my early Twin Cams. One ran at .0045" for a long time before I rebuilt the motor and had no issues. Early or late chain driven setup is a maintenance item; do it once, do it right. Like Stiggy says, "set it and forget it".

Can't say if the 570 is the right cam for the OP, no enough information but if for cam only upgrade to a TC88, not the right cam.

 

I switch over to S&S gear drive on my 2004 FXSTSI when I swap out the stock cam and went with an Andrew's cam. No more worry of the spring-loaded cam chain tensioning system.

 

I went through two sets of chain tensioners in the 1st 100,000 miles then went GD.
I had GD cams in my 2000 Electra for 100,000 miles,set it and forget it if your bike has acceptable crank end play.
​​​​​​​Bike had 200,000 on the clock when I sold it.

 

I would not run a 570G on a stock 88..