Harley cam bearing tools?

[awayatc]

Merry christmas and all...to all

home alone, so started tinkering with my old heritage softail...

After 60.000 kms I opened up camchest on my 88 ci twin cam.
Did read on the net about disastrous failings of tensioners and inner cam bearings, some at really low mileages.....
the shoes on my mechanical tensioners are well worn, about halfway through original thickness.
E bay is selling replacement shoes, whole tensioners, gaskets and inner bearings etc for reasonable prices.
problem is the inner cam bearings, they need a special tool to remove, and install.
I can buy one for $200.....
But was wondering if somebody on here has those tools to hire, or has an intelligent alternative to offer?....

also of course contemplating....cam upgrade,
gear cam conversion, adjustable pushrods, new lifters......etc....
if money were no object choices would be easy....

but in the real world money does matter....

Anybody been down this road before?

[Akzle]

http://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/images/1262h.jpg

[BIG DOUG]

Yes I have the cam bearing tools,but I'm away until next week

[awayatc]

Thanks mate,
I decided to order the bearing tools online......
found one place where I get them delivered and all under nz $200.
Also bought a gasket/o ring/bearing/tensioner set....
Decided for now to keep cams/lifters and pushrods original....
now just waiting for things to arrive...
am still at sea till 5th anyway, so shouldn't have to wait for to long after that

[The Lone Rider]

Have you got a link or photo of the tool you bought?

[Flip]

I have just had the cam adjuster plate replaced on my old road king. I went the squarking budgie hydraulic way and also fitted a high flow oil pump while it was apart.

I didn't have time to do the job myself so dropped the scooter into WMC on a work trip to Wtn. I had the skf set of blind bearing pullers at work but even so just couldent be buggered doing the job myself.

My bike had done almost 100k and the inner follower was half worn out, the outer (that I was keeping an eye on) was 30% worn out. The bike has only had Mobile 1 V2 or Syn 3 oil in it.

The bill came to $2.5k that included a full service, new brakes and work paid me milage for the trip which offset the labor cost.

[awayatc]

Have you got a link or photo of the tool you bought?

here is link to ebay listing of tools.
not to hard to make one yourself if you are an engineering type of person.
I am not...., I am a mere mechanic, and definitely needed those tools to do the job...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271351600208?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[awayatc]

I have just had the cam adjuster plate replaced on my old road king. I went the squarking budgie hydraulic way and also fitted a high flow oil pump while it was apart.

I didn't have time to do the job myself so dropped the scooter into WMC on a work trip to Wtn. I had the skf set of blind bearing pullers at work but even so just couldent be buggered doing the job myself.

My bike had done almost 100k and the inner follower was half worn out, the outer (that I was keeping an eye on) was 30% worn out. The bike has only had Mobile 1 V2 or Syn 3 oil in it.

The bill came to $2.5k that included a full service, new brakes and work paid me milage for the trip which offset the labor cost.

100.000 km is pretty bloody good.
my shoes were definitely about halfway worn after 60.000.
Hard to tell condition of inner bearings, but according to interweb talk they can fail early.
bearings are dirtcheap, so having bought the tools it is easy to do it again in future...

Why did you opt for hydraulic plate instead of gear cams if I may ask ?
be about same amount in parts?
$2500 at the shop is very reasonable, considering the price of parts alone....
Anyway.....
Done the tensioners and bearings, just contemplating to take of heads cylinders and pistons while I am at it....
oh...and replace drive belt as well....
bloody chipseal

[Flip]

100.000 km is pretty bloody good.
my shoes were definitely about halfway worn after 60.000.
Hard to tell condition of inner bearings, but according to interweb talk they can fail early.
bearings are dirtcheap, so having bought the tools it is easy to do it again in future...

Why did you opt for hydraulic plate instead of gear cams if I may ask ?
be about same amount in parts?
$2500 at the shop is very reasonable, considering the price of parts alone....
Anyway.....
Done the tensioners and bearings, just contemplating to take of heads cylinders and pistons while I am at it....
oh...and replace drive belt as well....
bloody chipseal

I went the hydraulic way because I intend to keep the bike, the spring adjusted followers are considered to be a weakness with the TC88 and there is nothing worse than these failing miles away from home.

[awayatc]

Just for what its worth....
replacing cambearings and tensioners is relatively fast and painless.
Once you have the tools the parts including gasket set are about nz $200.

quite do able every 60.000 or so kms.

The drive belt however takes a fair bit longer....
All done, just hooking up a radar detector now.....
not keen to make any further donations into police social fund.