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cam shaft washers - K model
Posted:
Thu Nov 12, 2020 9:47 pmby K Daddy
I need 8 (minimum) cam shaft washers and don't know of a source.
Can someone help? Part number 6769.
I've been searching E-Bay but not finding anything.
Re: cam shaft washers - K model
Posted:
Fri Nov 13, 2020 12:40 pmby strong56KH
Eastern makes these but they don't sell to individuals.
https://www.jpcycles.com/product/431-53 ... -cam-shims
Re: cam shaft washers - K model
Posted:
Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:01 pmby Ferrous_Head
I'm not a K guy, I'm a Sportster guy.
But having said that HD issued a bulletin telling people NOT to use cam shims.
They are a bit too thin and get chewed up inside the engine during use.
They aren't really necessary in Ironheads and I have run without them for 30 years or so now. I don't use them in my race engines. AFAIK they were only there to reduce noise from the cam chest.
Re: cam shaft washers - K model
Posted:
Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:51 pmby Ferrous_Head
Camshaft Shims
Per Service Bulletin #M-860, the shims for the cams are no longer suggested for use by the MoCo. 18)
Camshaft shims (Part No. 6769 and 6770) used to control maximum cam gear shaft end play have been discontinued in production engines.
Engineering testing has determined that an increase in the maximum allowable cam gear shaft end play does not contribute to an increase in noise.
Nor does it prove to be detrimental to component operation.
When reassembling engines after service or repair, it is not necessary to reinstall camshaft shims.
Cam gear shaft end play should be measured following the procedure in the latest applicable Service Manual.
Observe the minimum end play specifications of .005“ for all cam gears, except rear intake which is .004” minimum end play.
It is not necessary to measure maximum cam gear shaft end play.
Click here to go to the TSB page in the Sportsterpedia. Click on the “Y” next to M-860 to download the service bulletin.
I can only presume this applies to K's as well. But I could be wrong.
Re: cam shaft washers - K model
Posted:
Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:47 pmby wz507
Because of the angle ground lobes on K cams the camshaft is thrust outward by the lifter against the bushings in the cam cover where there is a generous sized contact. In contrast if they were thrust inwards, the contact is much smaller on the lobe end of the shaft where thrusting engagement would be dramatically less. This is likely where cam shims get digested. So similar to XLs no shims are required for Ks either.
- Inner and outer K model lobe camshafts.jpg (24.37 KiB) Viewed 9607 times
PS - took several attempts to post due to invalid responses to questions.
Re: cam shaft washers - K model
Posted:
Sat Nov 14, 2020 4:46 pmby Ferrous_Head
I managed it in just 6 !
Re: cam shaft washers - K model
Posted:
Sun Nov 15, 2020 6:35 pmby K Daddy
Very excellent feedback. So nix on the camshaft shims.
Re: cam shaft washers - K model
Posted:
Sun Nov 15, 2020 7:34 pmby hi-peral
I always use shims on #2 cam to keep timing consistent in my Nitro motor. Have never shredded any shims.
Re: cam shaft washers - K model
Posted:
Mon Nov 16, 2020 12:51 amby Ferrous_Head
Can't see hoe shimming the cam would effect the timing.
Probably won't see much wear in just 1/4 mile though.
Use them or not - it's up to the individual. I don't think it ever became a major problem. Most likely on high mileage engines. But there's not really a good reason to use them when the rest of the engine sounds like a chaff cutter anyway.
Posted on 3 attempt
Re: Cam shaft washers - K Model
Posted:
Fri Apr 23, 2021 1:38 pmby John R
Read the posting for no cam shims in Ks, but when was that in a moco bulletin - in K days or Sportie days? I have my '56 KHK motor apart and was planning not use shims anymore, so tried the inlet cams in bushes with no shims. Both cams just strike the pinion-shaft bush circlip as in photo. The inlet cam faces are not angled (only the exhaust) so there's no thrust outward - the inlet cams can float. So for my motor at least, inlet cam shims are necessary.
Sporties may well be different, but something to check.