Topic: Cam regrind

[Rocking-M]

What do y'all think about having a stock cam reground for a bit more performance?

Looks like I have an extra cam. I've used a regrind on the Fiat/Lancia engine.
It is a hemi head also. It seems to work fine but required more shim to set up.
This shouldn't be a problem I with the tappet adjustments in the Honda?

[Sam Green Racing]

It's cheaper to just buy a better cam than have one reground.

Check with Megacycle.

Sam.

[eurban]

I believe that both Megacycle and WebCam will give you the option for either a new camshaft or a reground one.  Both companies have a number of profiles for the SOHC 750 so check them out.  If you go the reground route my guess is that you will need to send them the core but the cam that you  get will not be your exact cam.  Good luck.

[MRieck]

What do y'all think about having a stock cam reground for a bit more performance?

Looks like I have an extra cam. I've used a regrind on the Fiat/Lancia engine.
It is a hemi head also. It seems to work fine but required more shim to set up.
This shouldn't be a problem I with the tappet adjustments in the Honda?

That's the problem with hardwelds and regrinds....they grind the hell out of the base circle. It's a real pain if you have a shim set up(as mentioned) and is even worse if you have a valve job done and the stem height is a little off (short).

[hymodyne]

I've been thinking about this as well, and I went to the megacycle website.

So far I've got a 605 overbore kit installed on a '72 cb500 engine, new primary and cam chain, 4-2 pipes and aluminum velocity stacks. If I went to one of theirs, it would probably be the 126-01. I'm already running carbs from a 550K on the bike, with the next larger main jet than stock.

hym

[hymodyne]

MRieck,

what's a shim set?

hym

[MRieck]

MRieck,

what's a shim set?

hym

You set your valve lash (clearance) using shims instead of a screw type adjuster. The shims sit over or under the bucket. Under the bucket(The shim sits in the valve retainer) and requires the cams to come out to replace them.

[Bodi]

There are 2 ways to reprofile a stock grind cam.
Regrinding cuts a new profile directly, so the original cam lobe is the outer limit for the regrind; to get any more lift the base circle must get smaller (base circle is the lowest point on the cam lobe, where the lifter sits when the valve is closed). Doing this changes the geometry of the lifter system slightly, and the tappet screw may sit well off centre of the valve stem. Depending on valve wear, stem refacing, and seat regrinding the rocker may even interfere with the head casting or valvesprings and need a bit of rework to operate correctly. Generally it works fine for mild cams but "race" hi-lift cams can be troublesome.
"Hardwelding" adds metal to the cam lobes which are then reground to a new profile. There is no particular limit to the base circle or maximum lift achievable. During the welding and hardening processes the camshaft will be distorted (bent) and must be straightened in a press, but this is not particularly difficult - even regrinds need to be straightened after final heat treating. If the designer does a decent job the resulting rocker geometry will centre the tappet on the valvestem during high acceleration opening when the stress is highest.
The "best" approach is to cast a new cam, then grind and harden it. Also the most expensive - you can't call Honda and get a raw cam casting unless you happen to be HRC.