Mix n Match Cams

[Steve]

My bike is an 81 so there's only two years I can use (I think), 80 and 81, and it seems there's only like three heads for sale in the whole nation.

Why can't you use one from an '82 or '83?

The only thing is that you will also have to get the valve cover with the newer head, as they have 19 holes, the earlier ones only have 16.

I think everything else is the same.

.

[TheCafeKid]

Why can't you use one from an '82 or '83?

The only thing is that you will also have to get the valve cover with the newer head, as they have 19 holes, the earlier ones only have 16.

I think everything else is the same.

.

Well they're different cases for sure. The 82 and on cases look like those used on the 1000G and 1100G so I'm not sure that didn't change head bolt spacing. The oil pan gaskets and clutch cover gaskets certainly aren't the same I know that much. I'm off to chck part numbers cause now I'm curious.

[duaneage]

Ed's right.
Sorry

We'll find out. I love to play with plasti-gauge.

[Buster-boy]

According to the cross ref on Babbitt's, I can use 80-81G, 80-83GL. I'd never had thought the GL would work.

[Nessism]

There is no reason to change the head because of a couple of stripped spark plug holes; get some timeserts installed or get yourself one of those Helicoil solid insert spark plug repair kits (not a common spring wire Helicoil type, it's a solid metal insert for spark plugs).

Regarding this bike in general, did you make sure the cam chain tensioner is properly tensioning the cam chain? You need to take the tensioner off and see if the plunger springs out smoothly and easily. To install the tensioner you push the plunger in and then snug down the set screw, after the tensioner is bolted to the engine you need to release the set screw to let the plunger back out. Many people forget to let the plunger spring back out or the tensioner itself binds up and the plunger sticks inside. I'd make sure this is not the case before you pull the entire head off.

Good luck.

[Nessism]

We'll find out. I love to play with plasti-gauge.

The cam caps have a shoulder which bottoms out, so you can tighten the caps until they strip and it won't effect the bore diameter. Even if you did some how get the cap to close down (such as by shaving the bottom of the caps), the cam bore would be ovalized then which is something we don't want.

[Don-lo]

Agreed, the line boring gives precise size and perfect roundness to the cam bearing (as well as perfect straightness through the other cam cap). You may be able to find an acceptable replacement, but plastigage top, bottom and sides to make sure it is not ovalized (nice word! copyrighted?). The cam's bearing surface is precision ground and it is the harder material (steel vs aluminum), so it should not wear appreciably.

I guess anything's possible: Burt Munro made his own cams, with a file!

[Nessism]

Agreed, the line boring gives precise size and perfect roundness to the cam bearing (as well as perfect straightness through the other cam cap). You may be able to find an acceptable replacement, but plastigage top, bottom and sides to make sure it is not ovalized (nice word! copyrighted?). The cam's bearing surface is precision ground and it is the harder material (steel vs aluminum), so it should not wear appreciably.

I guess anything's possible: Burt Munro made his own cams, with a file!

In my spares bin I have an 8V 1000 head but the cam bearing caps were mixed up with those from a different 1000 head that was scrapped. I tried to figure out which caps belonged to the head but after about 20 minuets of fussing around I couldn?t so the entire mess was chucked into a box for sorting at a later date. Guess I?m trying to say that Suzuki did a pretty nice job machining the head so in many cases the cam caps can be replaced with one from a different engine without undue concern.

[Tompasio]

BUT,What will happend if i buy new cams from megacams,I will still need my old caps.The new cams are not machined with the caps????

[Guest]

BUT,What will happend if i buy new cams from megacams,I will still need my old caps.The new cams are not machined with the caps????

The cams are all the same. Cam caps match the head. They need to line up accross the board and have equal clearance so the cams turn freely.
You don't get new cam caps with new cams.

[Buster-boy]

Wow, I guess this question sparked a great conversation, huh? You guys seem to know you S--T, way more than I do that's for sure.

I think I'll look into what Nessism suggested - those helicoil inserts. Where would I find those?

Don-lo, that was a great movie, wasn't it? He made pistons on the beach!! How cool is that? He never flinched at any set back. It was just another opportunity to him!!

[joe1856]

Puting silicone on the plugs could prevent them from getting a good ground and create a weak or no spark condition.

[doctorgonzo]

Wow, I guess this question sparked a great conversation, huh? You guys seem to know you S--T, way more than I do that's for sure.

I think I'll look into what Nessism suggested - those helicoil inserts. Where would I find those?

Don-lo, that was a great movie, wasn't it? He made pistons on the beach!! How cool is that? He never flinched at any set back. It was just another opportunity to him!!

Auto parts stores sell helicoil, so does Amazon, but some will suggest timesert as a better choice.

[Buster-boy]

Joe - Good point!!

[Buster-boy]

Doctorgonzo - I'd never heard of a Timesert before. Went to their website (Timesert.com), watched the demo video. I love it!! That's the route I'm going. Thanks for the tip!!

Jim