This Forum is now CLOSED use the link to get more details viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13924#p102587
User avatar
By stinkwheel
#99669
Pre unit 2004 Indian bullet with hitchcocks 612 conversion kit.

The engine ran fine for about 2500 miles. I upped the compression by removing one of the compression plates. Shortly after, it suffered a seizure (which freed off and ran for another 600 miles). The jury is still out as to if this was the cause or effect of a split/crack in the piston through the gudgeon pin hole but I'm erring on the side of effect. it's been rebuilt again at a lower compression.

I've been having an ongoing problem with noise under load which I took to be pinking. I have also had several bent pushrods. It's a clattering/mechanuical noise and only happens when the engine is warmed up and under load at moderate revs. I have fiddled with the timing and carburettion ad nauseum to no effect.

I've been trying Bullet Whisperers trick of advancing the inlet timing and I thought I'd try it back to standard to see if it made a difference. Now, this is the first time I've been in there with the engine still fairly hot, which may or may not be relevant.

When I rotated the inlet cam and slid it back in, I noticed I didn't have to lift the follower to slide it home. On further inspection, the folower is hitting the crankcase "stop" before it touches the cam. There is a gap I can get a feeler gauge in. At the "fully closed" position, there is a 0.004" gap between the cam and the follower with the follower resting on the crankcase casting!
Image

There is no perceptable play between the cam and the spindle. The cam itself doesn't look particularly worn or damaged. But even if the cam was wearing, it can't possibly continue to wear beyond the point where the follower is in contact with it? The followers are free to move and do not appear "wobbly" when rotated.

That's not the only issueI When I removed the exhaust cam to get a better look, the spindle came out with it! It's finger tight. The inlet one is stubbornly not.
Image

So. I'm pretty sure I've identified the source of the noise. Also probably the reason for bent inlet pushrods because they aren't in touch with the cam all the time.

Raises some questions. The first is what's going on with the inlet cam? Could the spindle be bent? It looks slightly rotated on its seat now (pic below, the flat is misaligned) and it definately wasn't when it was assembled because I checked my build pictures. So is the spindle itself slightly eccentric? Or is it walking out of its seat and angled marginally down? Or has the casing deformed? I was thinking about simply replacing the spindle in the first instance but there are no standard ones in stock. Or am I going to have to burr down the crankcase "shelf" where the follower comes to rest?
Image

Second, what about the exhaust spindle? It'll need replacing. Does anyone know the diameter of the standard spindles where they fit into the casing? My current one is finger tight but without any appreciable play. I miced it up as 15.87mm (0.6248"). If they are the same as electras, those are 15.90-15.93 standard fitting which would make my spindle under diameter.

Are eccentric/adjustable cam spindles worth bothering with or just something else to go wrong? There is moderate backlash on the cams with the standard ones. That may be a moot point because I'm guessing I'll need an oversize spindle (or to fit it with green fitting compound).

Also any tips for removing the spindle. Our hosts are out of stock of pulling tools, can something else do the job? May need to fabricate something?
User avatar
By stinkwheel
#99670
I have a set of new adjustable cam spindles of uncertain provenance (branded as clarion) I got in a box of assorted parts and they measure as 16.01mm (0.6303") which would most likely be a good interference fit if the current one is a loose fit.

I'd imagine adjustable ones might be able to give me more "lift" on the cam relative to the crankcase because they will have an up and a down side 180 degrees apart?
User avatar
By Wheaters
#99671
From the photo it looks like the aperture where the exhaust cam shaft spindle runs is burred and worn out of round. :shock:

If that IS the case (tbh difficult to confirm from a photo), I reckon it could be repaired by milling it out to a larger diameter and letting in a brass bush.
User avatar
By stinkwheel
#99672
Wheaters wrote:
Tue Jan 11, 2022 7:33 pm
From the photo it looks like the aperture where the exhaust cam shaft spindle runs is burred and worn out of round. :shock:

If that IS the case (tbh difficult to confirm from a photo), I reckon it could be repaired by milling it out to a larger diameter and letting in a brass bush.
There is a small burred area on the outside edge of the hole at about the 6 o clock position but no corresponding one at the 12 o' clock on the inside which I'd expect if it was damage due to rocking. I think it has come from a previous owner (or the factory?) fitting the spindle. The rest seems in good order. I think a lot of the odd appearance is the flash reflecting off oil in the hole
#99673
I never advance inlet cam timings, only retard them. It sounds like the base circle of your camshaft is a touch too small, but as you suggest, you could lower the 'shelf' as you call it. I try to avoid using eccentric spindles, they can give trouble sometimes. I once had the crankcase ends of some cam spindles metal sprayed a few thou oversize, to overcome a loose fit in the crankcase.
User avatar
By stinkwheel
#99674
Bullet Whisperer wrote:
Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:33 pm
I never advance inlet cam timings, only retard them.
Sorry, yes. I followed the instructions in your video.

My main concern is why there's now a gap between the inlet cam and the follower. There wasn't when I built the motor.
User avatar
By Adrian
#99675
You can get cam spindles which are oversize where they press into the crankcase where the holes are worn slack and the interference fit is lost.

Another long shot is that you have a very late set of iron barrel Bullet cam spindles which have the O/D at the timing cover end reduced from 5/8" (15.88mm) to 15mm without having a very late timing cover to match, i.e. you have an older one that still has the 5/8" holes in the cam housing. That loss of 0.88mm worth of support at the timing cover end could allow the spindle to fret in its crankshaft housing.

A.
User avatar
By stinkwheel
#99677
Adrian wrote:
Wed Jan 12, 2022 12:57 am

Another long shot is that you have a very late set of iron barrel Bullet cam spindles which have the O/D at the timing cover end reduced from 5/8" (15.88mm) to 15mm without having a very late timing cover to match, i.e. you have an older one that still has the 5/8" holes in the cam housing. That loss of 0.88mm worth of support at the timing cover end could allow the spindle to fret in its crankshaft housing.

A.
Good call, anything is possible because it started life as a basket case but I just checked and the spindles and holes match.

I've ordered a spare standard spindle and two first oversize ones In case the inlet one is sitting cock-eyed in its hole. Also a paralell 15.9mm reamer (oversize spindles are 15.95mm).

I've also ordered a 15mm split collar clamp which I can clamp round the old spindle and get a slide-hammer on it.

I'm considering using green bearing fit to ensure they definately stay put, you'd be using heat to extract them anyway. Thoughts on this?
User avatar
By Adrian
#99683
I don't know if our hosts can confirm this, but I gather tappets with slightly smaller diameter feet are "a thing", might be worth investigating.

Also pretty sure our hosts have screw-out extractors for cam and idle pinion spindles, slide-hammers seem a bit extreme.

Heating up the surrounding alloy for removal, definitely.

A.
User avatar
By Haggis
#99684
Is this not the case with high lift cams.
They were re ground to reduce the base circle which gives a similar effect as a high lift cam.
This makes the cam smaller, just like yours.
The fix was to machine a bit of the case to allow the follower to move further down.

Shop for accessories at Hitchcocks Motorcycles