Jacked up the cam bearing

[Guest]

I'm ashamed... I don't have a picture, but I am sure I can explain. Last night after slamming my finger in the door (should have taken that as a sign to quit for the night) I reinstalled the exhaust cam in the head. I used the same procedure as before, set cam in the correct position for timing and then I attempted to compress the cam into place with vice grips. At the point that I realized the amount of force being applied was too much the damage was done. The collar on the cam next to the bearing cap on the left side was sitting on the edge of the bearing. I ended up smashing about 1/16" of the outer edge of the bearing at the top corner on each side.

bad.jpg

Like I said, I don't have a photo, but this is the area that I'm talking about (but on the right side). I was able to carefully (don't know how much that matters) remove the smashed pieces. They were in the way of the collar that would ride against the side of the bearing/cap. I then installed the cams, very carefully this time.

I know, I'm an idiot. I rushed myself and I am paying for it.

So, do you think it will be reliable or should I plan to swap the head after X miles?

[Nessism]

Should be fine. Just run it and don't do it again.

[jdion81]

I like that answer. Actually made me laugh too.

With the amount of time, money, blood, sweat, tears, and fights with the wife, it's understandable how frustrating and disheartening something like this is. I'm normally the IT guy, trained in the ways of the PC and networking, you would think I would double/triple check this kind of stuff.

[Steve]

... this is the area that I'm talking about (but on the right side).

Just so you know, that picture IS the right side of the cam.

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[jdion81]

Sorry, yeah. I've been working on it backwards. I have the engine on a stand and when I am working on it I am looking at it from the exhaust side. I tried to flip it around in my head, but it didn't work. I think I did say to myself "port side" but the translation failed when typing. It's the side that doesn't have the tach gear.

[Steve]

I think I did say to myself "port side" but the translation failed when typing.

Would that be INTAKE port or EXHAUST port side?

Just kidding, of course. All references to up, down, left, right should be made as if you are sitting on the bike, ready to ride. Some here will confuse things a litte bit by including the function. In their minds, the "front" of the carb is connected to the airbox, the "back" of the carb is connected to the cylinder head boots. To minimize that confusion, I usually refer them as CARB IN and CARB OUT. Yes, there is still a "left carb" and a "right carb", but no front or back.

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[mmattockx]

set cam in the correct position for timing and then I attempted to compress the cam into place with vice grips.

I'm trying to envision how vise grips were being used to seat the cam into the lower bearing saddles? I just put the cam caps on and slowly/carefully tightened them down in stages until everything was seated.


Mark

[Steve]

I'm trying to envision how vise grips were being used to seat the cam into the lower bearing saddles?

I just took a look in the factory 850 manual downloaded from BassCliff's site. Manual page 7-10, pdf page 63, figure 7-25.



I can hear you say "yeah, that's for an 850", so I looked in the 1100E manual. Manual page 7-23, pdf page 103, no number on the figure.



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[Carter Turk]

Just so you know, that picture IS the right side of the cam.

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That's what he said in the first post.

[jdion81]

The picture was for reference, I meant left side. I should have taken a picture when it happened, I was just too frustrated to document it.

[Steve]

That's what he said in the first post.

The picture was for reference, I meant left side.

I went back to the first post and found that he actually said BOTH.

The collar on the cam next to the bearing cap on the left side was sitting on the edge of the bearing.
...
Like I said, I don't have a photo, but this is the area that I'm talking about (but on the right side).

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[jdion81]

Yeah, so it was right. The picture that I posted was of the right side. Meaning that I posted a picture of the wrong side.

[mmattockx]

I can hear you say "yeah, that's for an 850", so I looked in the 1100E manual. Manual page 7-23, pdf page 103, no number on the figure.

How about that. I wouldn't have thought a regular set of vise grips would reach around there. I guess I learned something new today...


Mark

[Nessism]

It takes a full size set of vice grips but that technique works great.

[jdion81]

It takes a full size set of vice grips but that technique works great.

It does and saves stress on you and the cam bearing caps. That is until you do what I did. Then the stress can be overhwelming.