Cam cover ??

Gear Case (cams, idlers, cam cover)
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George Greer
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Cam cover ??

#1

Post by George Greer »

I have a 4 fin cam cover off ebay, that is in good shape, to include the chrome ( not that I am a fan of chrome ).

But what has me puzzled is the fact that the two mounting holes for the generator are the same size diameter as the rest of the mounting screws.

I wish that I could post a photo, but I did not bring my camera with me this time to Portland.

What do you guys think that I have???

Bummed in Portland.

George

PS, would it be advisable to enlarge the two holes to the proper diameter so the generator mounting bolts go thru, or am I risking cracking the cover in that area?
thebeast
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Re: Cam cover ??

#2

Post by thebeast »

George
Possibly drilled out mounting holes for a 12v conversion generator?
James
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Re: Cam cover ??

#3

Post by thebeast »

George
I misunderstood your question. 6v mounting screws were 1/4", the later 12v were 5/16".
My 49, which had been converted to 12v when I purchased it, has had the cover holes AND the cases enlarged. I understand this was a common modification at one time, although I'm sure the purists frown on this. I've never had a problem. Knock on wood!
I'm guessing you have a 12v generator (5/16"), so you could install a heli- coil in the generator to reduce the bolt diameter to 1/4" instead of enlarging the cover and case for the bigger bolts.
James
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Re: Cam cover ??

#4

Post by old.wrench »

George,
It sounds like you already have a 12 volt generator.

If your cases haven't been drilled and are still at 1/4", you can heli-coil the holes in your 12 volt generator from 5/16-24 down to 1/4"-24 and use the cover as is.

If your cases have already been drilled out to 5/16", and you'd like to use that cover, the cover can be drilled out from the existing 1/4" to the oversize 5/16" without compromising it.

Another option is to sleeve or bush down your cases from 5/16" to 1/4" and leave your cover as is. You'd need to heli-coil the generator too. I did this on a Panhead case using a piece of thin-wall brass tubing. I had a piece of 5/16" hobby-type tubing that worked perfect.

Geo.
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Re: Cam cover ??

#5

Post by 58flh »

GEORGE---Im with BEAST & GEO.---Respectfully---Richie
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Re: Cam cover ??

#6

Post by RUBONE »

George,
It sounds like you have a cover for an earlier bike. Which pinion bushing is in it? The early ones (late '52-'53) use the old style bushing and won't work that way on your '58. The later ones ('54-'57) use the same bushing as '58 up. All have 1/4 inch holes previous to '58. Keep in mind that '58 does not have a generator saddle on the cases so the 1/4 inch bolts would be all keeping the generator in place. That is why the factory went to 5/16 bolts. The earliest type casting is also identifiable by the lack of a web on the upper rear. The fins are also different on swing arm types as the lower fins were shortened to not interfere with the hydraulic brake assembly. There are 6 known variations of that cover.
58flh
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Re: Cam cover ??

#7

Post by 58flh »

GEORGE---I just went & measured my OEM 4-finn/58 cover,& as Rubone said there drilled for the 5/16 bolt for the X-tra meat on holding the genny.As you know theres no saddle.----Richie
George Greer
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Re: Cam cover ??

#8

Post by George Greer »

Robbie,

The cover only has one web and it is at the bottom of the cover, and it has long fins that extend from end to end.

The casting number on the inside is: 25217-40 nothing else on the inside.

George
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Re: Cam cover ??

#9

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

George, I think all Panhead four-rib gear covers have casting number 25217-40.
Has your cover got extra material at upper left as indicated by the arrow in my first photo below?
Gear cover outside_zpsahlw9erx.jpg
Gear cover inside_zpslje8futd.jpg

And is your pinion shaft bushing like the one above or is it the type shown below?
Eric
GC 1 Copy_zpshyaopelv.jpg
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Re: Cam cover ??

#10

Post by 58flh »

George--My # is also 25 217 40.--Also if you look where the bottom 3 screws are close together (There are Foundry stamps 3 of them-on my 58-OEM cover.The stamps are round & You need a Magnyfying glass to read whats in them.Im sure ERIC already knows!.----Respectfully----Richie
George Greer
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Re: Cam cover ??

#11

Post by George Greer »

Speeding Big Twin wrote:George, I think all Panhead four-rib gear covers have casting number 25217-40.
Has your cover got extra material at upper left as indicated by the arrow in my first photo below?

Image

Image

And is your pinion shaft bushing like the one above or is it the type shown below?
Eric

Image
Eric,

Thanks for the photos you posted,

The cam cover does have the cast area like the area under the arrow, and it has the bushing like the second photo

George

PS, one of the computer savy folks here gave me a tip.........since I forgot my camera...use my phone to take photos..then take the chip out of the phone and use a micro chip adapter to use my computer USB slot......and upload the photo's. Going to ask at the local computer shop about one of those adapters. Hope it works.
Last edited by George Greer on Sat Jun 20, 2015 3:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
George Greer
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Re: Cam cover ??

#12

Post by George Greer »

58flh wrote:George--My # is also 25 217 40.--Also if you look where the bottom 3 screws are close together (There are Foundry stamps 3 of them-on my 58-OEM cover.The stamps are round & You need a Magnyfying glass to read whats in them.Im sure ERIC already knows!.----Respectfully----Richie
Richie,

I do see three little round "dimples" in that area you mentioned, and in addition, there is a small raised "O"

Thanks for the info, and I got your PM. Better if you email me.

George
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Re: Cam cover ??

#13

Post by old.wrench »

Here are a few pics for comparison. This is an "in between" ('51 - '52) sand cast cover. According to the numbers, I believe it was cast in February of 1951. You can also see where the generator bolt holes have been hogged out to 5/16", which is kind of a bummer, but it is what it is and it functions just fine.
f27794225fcbef87d3e10f7411a8fb53.jpg
aa1a2c3d9bd99765235a6ebf0019f5bc.jpg
47a4fcd9b29eb9d63408555248399335.jpg
Geo.
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Re: Cam cover ??

#14

Post by Bigincher »

That's a nice cover, George. I had to look a long time to find one like that for my '52.

To George Greer- you can find a USB card reader like that at Best Buy, or almost any electronics store, for about 5 bucks.
I use that method for my digital camera, as well.
George Greer
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Re: Cam cover ??

#15

Post by George Greer »

I think that I got this figured out.

Yep, works just fine.......

Thanks for the advice and tips... the wife fusses at me all the time, "you work on the most complicated helicopters in the world".......but why can't you fix what I want you to. :D

Now lets see what I got.

George
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