Cam replacements

19268 Views 43 Replies 9 Participants Last post by GuzMotoracing, Apr 1, 2020

GA VALK

Discussion Starter · Oct 15, 2015

Has anyone here considered replacing the cams for better performance?

1 - 20 of 44 Posts

mrtappan

· #2 · Oct 16, 2015 (Edited)

I'd do it in a heartbeat........ oh wait, no one makes any. Well, none I could find anyways. I check every couple of months but never find any. They make/used to make sets for the 1500 series but none I've seen for the 1800s.

If you can find a set, post the link let's do this.

GA VALK

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 16, 2015

I searched high and low, nothing yet. I will let yall know when I find something

mrtappan

· #4 · Oct 16, 2015

I highly doubt you'll find any. If sales of thousands and thousands of the 1800 series engine on the GW/F6B hasn't produced a set yet......... the barely on the board sales of the Valkyrie isn't going to do it.

I bet if someone made a set, nationwide sales wouldn't reach fifty (just my guess). Most people aren't looking to pull apart the bulletproof engine they have come to know as a relentless 400k+ mile power plant.

Also, the 9.8:1 compression ratio of the engine doesn't leave a lot of room for increased lift and duration. So I'm not exactly sure how much bigger you could go before needing more compression but probably not much.

Surfndad

· #5 · Oct 16, 2015

I don't know why you would need to go bigger, it's not the best handling bike so I a straight line it's pretty **** fast. I was riding next to a Ducati yesterday and him in front or following me it didn't seem like I was having any trouble running with him in traffic.

mrtappan

· #6 · Oct 16, 2015

Why would I want it faster? That's easy because I can. You can always drive a fast car slow, but you can't drive a slow car fast. If power wasn't an issue, I'd be on a 250 Rebel getting 75mpg with a $2500 sticker price.

Surfndad

· #7 · Oct 16, 2015

:laugh:

GA VALK

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 18, 2015

Time for a super charger/blower

mrtappan

· #9 · Oct 18, 2015

A turbo would be nice. That flat six revs pretty good

joesmorgue

· #10 · Oct 19, 2015

I was lurking and spotted this question, I just had to register to respond.

webcamshafts.com they're outta riverside CA, and will hardweld & grind any cam to the spec u desire including the GL1800 cam. only downside is you have to pull your cam, send it in & wait, the winter down season is almost here... Price is 700 give or take a few $ plus shipping.

I have used several cams from them in my ATV's including a raptor 700 & trx450r and had very good luck.

superjim

· #11 · Oct 19, 2015

joesmorgue said:
I was lurking and spotted this question, I just had to register to respond.

webcamshafts.com they're outta riverside CA, and will hardweld & grind any cam to the spec u desire including the GL1800 cam. only downside is you have to pull your cam, send it in & wait, the winter down season is almost here... Price is 700 give or take a few $ plus shipping.

I have used several cams from them in my ATV's including a raptor 700 & trx450r and had very good luck.

Yes, I talked to Web Camshafts about this several months ago. They have never built a set for the GL1800 engine will will do it. You could buy a new set and have them installed when you get them. Then sell you originals for someone else to use as cores for rebuilds. Some other downsides: You would need to make sure there is adequate clearances when you install them since they don't know exactly how much lift and durance can be increased. Then to take advantage of the new cams, you really need a new tune. Guhl has a reflash but had not tested a tune on the GL1800 with cams. It could be done with some time and testing on a local dyno and have Guhl make the changes.

I agree, if some dyno/engine builder would make a set and have a tune made for it, it would be a good seller. But I don't see it coming any time soon.

joesmorgue

· #12 · Oct 19, 2015

For sure I would check clearances, anyone know the specs for the rune cams? I am not sure exactly the differences except the honda part # is different. I know the rune made less hp, but more torque, it did also have 6 throttle bodies, a different ECU & exhaust I'm sure all that factors in too.

superjim

· #13 · Oct 20, 2015

joesmorgue said:
For sure I would check clearances, anyone know the specs for the rune cams? I am not sure exactly the differences except the honda part # is different. I know the rune made less hp, but more torque, it did also have 6 throttle bodies, a different ECU & exhaust I'm sure all that factors in too.

It would be good to compare the specs. It would be nice if the Rune cams could be dropped in for some extra performance without any other changes. Often, on some bikes, people replace the exhaust cams with a set of intake cams or maybe its the other way around but you get the idea. So maybe someone could check also the intake vs exhaust cam specs on the GL1800.

The actual cam replacement procedure should be fairly easy on the flat six.

goldstar903

· #14 · Oct 21, 2015 (Edited)

The 2014 Valk has a 205 degree duration in both the intake and exhaust cams.
For those that may not be familiar with cam timing and duration:

Intake Cam:
opens at 5 degrees ATDC (at 1mm lift)
closes at 30 degrees ABDC (at 1mm lift)
Duration: 205 degrees

Exhaust Cam:
opens at 30 degrees BBDC (at 1mm lift)
closes at 5 degrees BTDC (at 1mm lift)
Duration: 205 degrees

AT= after top
AB= after bottom
BB= before bottom
BT= before top
DC= dead center

Correct me if I am wrong but, an increased duration cam will peak the HP at a much higher rpm and you will lose the low rpm torque. Not to mention the limitation of valve to piston crown clearance that has already been addressed.

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GA VALK

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 21, 2015

Dang, looks like a super charger/blower might be the answer here to my quest

superjim

· #16 · Oct 21, 2015

goldstar903 said:
The 2014 Valk has a 205 degree duration in both the intake and exhaust cams.
For those that may not be familiar with cam timing and duration:

Intake Cam:
opens at 5 degrees ATDC (at 1mm lift)
closes at 30 degrees ABDC (at 1mm lift)
Duration: 205 degrees

Exhaust Cam:
opens at 30 degrees BBDC (at 1mm lift)
closes at 5 degrees BTDC (at 1mm lift)
Duration: 205 degrees

Good info. Thanks.

Were you able to get lift for each?

superjim

· #17 · Oct 21, 2015

I expect the intake cam may have a little more lift than the exhaust cam. If so, Installing a set if intake cams on the exhaust side could add a little hp and torque with no other changes.

mrtappan

· #18 · Oct 21, 2015 (Edited)

I'm not interested in making mine any faster through "trial and error." I'd be more than interested in slapping in some proven and verified parts but I'm not playing guinea pig with mine.

From my personal experience, if the bike you have isn't fast enough and they don't make parts to do that, simply trade for a faster bike with available performance parts support.

You can't even get a decent exhaust selection for the Valkyrie so I wouldn't expect to see anything beyond slip on exhausts and a Power Commander for that bike.

I'd think a turbo would be far easier to install than a supercharger. Finding a way to drive the supercharger is a lot more of a headache than building an exhaust flange to mount the turbo. Although I don't see either being a viable option since there isn't really anywhere I can picture them being mounted.

Surfndad

· #19 · Oct 21, 2015

With a factory warranty and a extended 4 yrs I'm not cracking my block open. And only 5K miles on a bike that has already made me crap my pants a couple of time because of the power band. I'm good.

superjim

· #20 · Oct 21, 2015

glad you guys are good. I don't blame anyone for not wanting to be the guinea pig.

Myself, i'm always looking for me and I play the role of guinea pig often.

swapping cams does not require the block to be opened and it's about as easy and safe as anything you can do. If I fin the intake cam has higher lift than the exhaust, I'll probably give it a try.

1 - 20 of 44 Posts

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