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[Midnight Rider]

If a person was going to do the cam change, gear drives, pump, lifters, push rods, etc., what special tools would be needed to do that?  I've got the standard array of sockets, torque wrenches, etc, but do not have a press or any of those kind of things.  I'm talkin' tools unique to the job of doing the cams.  If I've got to go out and buy 500 bucks worth of special chit to do this, I could almost have it done by someone else.  Tools are nice, but if I'm only going to use it once, it's hardly worth it.

[Unbalanced]

Well the first thing your going to need is a press .. harbor freight sells one unless you have one or access to one.

If you check out Jim's catalog they sell a kit for putting in bearings and taking them out as well as for holding the tensioners in place.   I think that kit is only about 125.00, but dont quote me.   you will also need 4 clothes pins to hold up your pushrod tubes while you set your adjustable pushrods those should be pretty cheap hehe.

Beyond that just follow your harley manual for installing the cam and aligning the oil pump you should have everything else.

There are other kits out there the Jim's is the one I have the most experience with and it works great.

[skippy]

Pay a pro....

[hogasm]

It's really not that hard to do, I was scared to death to go into my first motor. They are actually very simple.

An arbor press makes things even more easy when doing the cams. After you do one you won't hesitate to do another.

A little greasing of a mechanics hand while he is on lunch might get your gears and bearings pressed on for you. Then all you need is the Jims kit to take things apart.

[SPIDERMAN]

If a person was going to do the cam change, gear drives, pump, lifters, push rods, etc., what special tools would be needed to do that?  I've got the standard array of sockets, torque wrenches, etc, but do not have a press or any of those kind of things.  I'm talkin' tools unique to the job of doing the cams.  If I've got to go out and buy 500 bucks worth of special chit to do this, I could almost have it done by someone else.  Tools are nice, but if I'm only going to use it once, it's hardly worth it.

Let me put it this way. Do you do this every day ? Is it a simple thing like painting the livingroom for your wife ? Do you have the tools ? Have you ever done it before ? Is it something you expect to do on a regular basis ?

If the answer to two or more of the above questions is NO, then  farm it out. When you're riding down the road at 100 or so, you'll feel better about it - - trust me.

B B

[Twolanerider]

TC, if you decide to tackle this yourself get hold of Boatman about the tools.  He bought the tools needed to do his and then was discussing selling them at a fair price on to the next masochist.

[hd-dude]

Another place to get the tools is Georges-Garage.com He specializes in HD tools and is about 30% less than the price of the Jim's tools. I have used his tools for many, many, many cam swaps and the still work as well as the day they were new. He will also give a site members discount.

Here is what you'll need from him:

320500 Cam Tensioner Unloader TC88, except 06 Dyna $24.95
320510 Camshaft Remover & Installer TC88 Except 06 Dyna $80.50 
320520 Cam/Crank Gear Locking Tool TC88 Except 06 Dyna $24.00 
320540 Inner Cam Bearing Remover TC88-All Except 06 Dyna $77.25
320550 Inner Cam Bearing Installer    TC88-All Except 06 Dyna $71.25
320530 Oil Pump Alignment Screws    TC88 $17.50 Pair

A press is also needed as other stated, harbor freight has them for about $80 that will dop the job.

Will a mechanical aptitude and the right tools and service manual this is a pretty easy job to do, And you know you'll have lots of phone support of needed.

[Mikey]

I am fixing to buy the puller / installer for the inner case cam bearings. Maybe we could start a rental program. I love tools but I won't be using it very often. You can take the cam plate and cams to a shop and have them do the pressing.

Mike

[Coolbreeze]

That's the way I went.  I borrowed the bearing puller, and took the cam plate down to Greg Coen and had him press the cams.  I cost me a $20 and took about a half and hour....   (he was smokin' and talkin' and not workin' too quick....)  .....    the rest of it is just twistin' wrenches....

[RedDevil]

Another place to get the tools is Georges-Garage.com He specializes in HD tools and is about 30% less than the price of the Jim's tools. I have used his tools for many, many, many cam swaps and the still work as well as the day they were new. He will also give a site members discount.

Here is what you'll need from him:

320500 Cam Tensioner Unloader TC88, except 06 Dyna $24.95
320510 Camshaft Remover & Installer TC88 Except 06 Dyna $80.50 
320520 Cam/Crank Gear Locking Tool TC88 Except 06 Dyna $24.00 
320540 Inner Cam Bearing Remover TC88-All Except 06 Dyna $77.25
320550 Inner Cam Bearing Installer    TC88-All Except 06 Dyna $71.25
320530 Oil Pump Alignment Screws    TC88 $17.50 Pair

A press is also needed as other stated, harbor freight has them for about $80 that will dop the job.

Will a mechanical aptitude and the right tools and service manual this is a pretty easy job to do, And you know you'll have lots of phone support of needed.

That's about $375 + shipping for the tools.  How many hours does it take a technician at a dealer to do a cam/oil pump/push rod change out?  That's just over 5 hours of shop labor here in Virginia.  If you're only doing it the one time, I'd have a shop or dealer do the install.  If the dealer/shop does it and something goes wrong, they have to fix it.  JMHO.
Cheers ,
Red

[DCFIREMANN]

Well Terry I'm a little late on this one.

They have covered just about everything you need to know EXCEPT one thing you really have to watch is the alignment of the oil pump and not to tear the "O" ring on the pump to the case. If you tear it or the pump is misalligned it will WET SUMP. The bike will run but make no power.

Other than that it is really not hard to do. One last thing I like the idea of using a clothes pin for valve adjustment however I have and will always use a peice of metal clothes hanger. One small fishhook on one end (to hold the tube) and one large on the other end to hold the device to the top of the rocker box. I have 2 but usually only use one and just keep rotating it.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

[Mikey]

You guys that recommend taking it to a dealer are missing the enjoyment and adventure of working on your own bike. Its not about the money.This type of work is not for everybody but some of use it for escape from what we do professionally. Most of the guys on this site that preform these projects are probably doing a better job than they would get at a dealership. It requires lots of hand tools and some specialty tools but most guys that enjoy this kind of stuff already have a lot of those. Just my thoughts.
Mike

[RedDevil]

You guys that recommend taking it to a dealer are missing the enjoyment and adventure of working on your own bike. Its not about the money.This type of work is not for everybody but some of use it for escape from what we do professionally. Most of the guys on this site that preform these projects are probably doing a better job than they would get at a dealership. It requires lots of hand tools and some specialty tools but most guys that enjoy this kind of stuff already have a lot of those. Just my thoughts.
Mike

I hear ya Mikey...but for me, cuz I'm not that good of a wrench, I'm not going to go inside of a $35k motorcycle engine and risk screwing it up.  And to escape from what I do professionally, or just life's daily set-backs, I throw a leg over the Jester and go riding, that's much more of a relief for me than anything else.  I'd much rather be in the wind.   JMHO.
Cheers ,
Red

[Midnight Rider]

I hear ya Mikey...but for me, cuz I'm not that good of a wrench, I'm not going to go inside of a $35k motorcycle engine and risk screwing it up.  And to escape from what I do professionally, or just life's daily set-backs, I throw a leg over the Jester and go riding, that's much more of a relief for me than anything else.  I'd much rather be in the wind.   JMHO.
Cheers ,
Red

I'm not afraid to do it, it's just I'm not going to fool with it if I have to buy a bunch of stuff I'm never going to use again.  I actually enjoy doing that kind of stuff, and although I've not done a hd engine, I've had many a VW, small block chevy, etc, apart.  Few hd dealers are going to want to install non hd parts, and then you get into a pissing contest with them over the whole thing which is not worth it.  i wouldn't trust one around here at this point to do it anyway...


Jim, appreciate the parts listing, and I know you'd be there for phone help, if needed.  If I live closer to you, you'd be doing it simply because I would trust you to do it right.  This install is 5k away, but just gathering parts/materials so I'll have everything in hand when the time comes.  I'm doing something at 15k...I'm at 10k now.  It'll probably get an Autotune too...