GS1100 Cam Wear (not pretty)

[Guest]

Well I finally got my engine out of my bike as I switch frames. About 10K miles ago with 95K on the bike my mechanic told me my Yosh Stage I cams were starting to wear. Well at 107K miles this is what they currently look like.

I put them in in 1984 when bike had 10K miles on it so I certainly got my money's worth. The new Yosh cams if you could get them don't have the tach drive. So I guess I'll look at one of the comparable US makers like the Cam Motion G2 grind which is pretty close to the Yosh specs. Don't want to go any lumpier than the Yosh cams were.

Will be dropping engine off at builders later this week. Deciding if I'll do crank up or cylinder up rebuild. Shouldn't have procrastinated because all his racing customers are now flooding his shop with work. He ported this head about 40K miles ago so if it still looks ok I use this one. Have a complete spare 83 head that in great shape and an additional spare set of rockers. Have to assume the rockers in the 82 head are shot, ya think? We talked about regrinding them to Yosh specs but that seems like a $100 more expensive option.

Oh well if nothing else the pictures came out well even though its an expensive subject.

Whats the consensus on hard welding the rockers on mild cams. Sure adds a lot to the bill. I didn't hard weld these and they lasted a good long time. Guess its like buying insurance.

 

[rapidray]

Get the Web .348s & a new set of GSXR rocker arms & go be happy! That combo is good for 140 at the back wheel without even trying hard on an 1166. Ray.

 

[posplayr]

Tom,
Bill and I are both running 0.340" lift Webcams and HD APE springs. I do have the top end oiler but that did not save my first set of cams that smokes from too much R/R testing. Last time we both looked at our cams (both less than 10K miles )they both of ours looked perfect. Neither of us has hardened followers.

Not sure what the lift of your cams is , I think the top end oiler would be a first step instead of the hardening.

BTW, one of the guys at work claimed that this type of pitting on private aircraft cams is very common and related to corrosion from sitting around. Something to consider.

Jim

 

[Guest]

Jim / Ray,

Thanks for the input. My bike did sit for awhile (couple years) when I bought my FZ1. The Yosh cams are 8.25mm / .3248" lift with 245 duration. Very similar to Cam Motion G2. I know those are just slightly more aggressive than GS1150 cams. What ever I get I want to have a tach drive.

So your not using harden rockers but did you buy the hardweld version of the Web Cams ($100 more) or the "New" cams which look like they are about $380?

I have two new top end oilers, an older Wards and a newer one from Katman's buddy in Canada. Just never got around to installing. The lobes on the right side look worse than the left side. Wonder if that's from sitting on side stand. Usually I make a point of not starting bike till its upright and level.

 

[rapidray]

With that low of lifts the valve spring seat & open pressure isn't as high as it would be on bigger cams & is MUCH easier on the rocker. Therefore, hardwelds not needed. I think you would be VERY impressed with the power a set of G-4s will make & those are what I recommend for the 1230 & under street motors I build. They are still easy on rockers too. Especially with a top end oiler & 750 pump gears. To me 750 pump gears are the first thing needed done on ANY 1100 motor, even bone stock! Ray.

 

[posplayr]

So your not using harden rockers but did you buy the hardweld version of the Web Cams ($100 more) or the "New" cams which look like they are about $380?

.

New cams(teh cheap ones); not hard welded as far as I know With teh 0.340's and GS1150 36mm CV's get low top mid 30's mpg on a road trip . Not sure how much more lift would reduce mpg.

I also have the 750 gears. Gives me a bit of a problem keeping the oil in when the oil is cold. real easy to get to 10+ psi

 

[Guest]

I have a couple of lobes that look a little like that on my ED motor. My guess is it is caused my corrosion and not wear.
The .340s and .348s Web Cams come with a tach gear.
.340s have no need to grind the rockers.

 

[posplayr]

I have a couple of lobes that look a little like that on my ED motor. My guess is it is caused my corrosion and not wear.
The .340s and .348s Web Cams come with a tach gear.
.340s have no need to grind the rockers.

He's talking about the ED motor from the $200 bike that sat for 5 years, not the one with the webcams.

 

[rapidray]

And as for "grinding the rockers", Bill is referring to the "oil bump" on the rocker arms that has to be ground off with cams over .348 lift. It takes all of 30 seconds to do each one. Ray.

 

[Guest]

And as for "grinding the rockers", Bill is referring to the "oil bump" on the rocker arms that has to be ground off with cams over .348 lift. It takes all of 30 seconds to do each one. Ray.

I wasn't trying to talk him out of the .348s. I was just stating a fact.:-\\\

 

[rapidray]

I didn't care Bill, I was just informing him what was meant by "grinding" the rockers. Ray.

 

[Guest]

All advice appreciated, I found Web .348 and .340 cams on the Shintz Racing site for $318 a pair. That's quite a bit lower ($60) than anywhere else I looked.