Topic: Cam number SS2A

[newday777]

Anyone here know this cam as in have the specs on it? It is in a k5 750 motor I bought last week claimed to be an 836. I got a reply in the SOHC4Bikes section it might be a Kenny Harmon?? And should it have an adjustable sprocket as the one on it looks like it isn't adjustable.
I'm just starting in opening the motor to check out the innards.
Thanks.

[Tracksnblades1]

Credit PeWe

[newday777]

Thank you much and to Per for providing it

[Sam Green Racing]

The SS2A cam was produced by west coast tuner Bill Hahn of Action Fours who was in business at the same time as Russ Collins.
No longer in business but his Son Bill Hahn Jr is a member on here but with only a couple of posts since joining.
I met and became friends with Bill Jr when he was the announcer at most of the Manufacturers Cup Drag Racing events that Bill Benton and myself took part in.

Sam.

[newday777]

The SS2A cam was produced by west coast tuner Bill Hahn of Action Fours who was in business at the same time as Russ Collins.
No longer in business but his Son Bill Hahn Jr is a member on here but with only a couple of posts since joining.
I met and became friends with Bill Jr when he was the announcer at most of the Manufacturers Cup Drag Racing events that Bill Benton and myself took part in.

Sam.

Thanks Sam
I know Action fours as I had one of their cams in my original K6 from the build in 77.
I also know Kurt Jordan who worked for Action Fours back in the 70s and 80s. He has his own small tuning shop and still working as of a year ago before I headed out of Oceanside.

[PeWe]

Thanks for the thanks thanks to Tracksnblades1!

I have Action Fours SS-1 cam. I got the cam data with that cam.
It has worked really fine with both RC836 and Action Fours 836 pistons.
Now on the shelf. Valve train friendly lobe design.  Perfect for a touring bike.

I checked all valves  when timed once and they were very concistent, open/close as well as lift on all 4 were equal despite 45.000 km.
Lift as specified. Open/close numbers are the total number at 0 lift I suppose.

I mailed Action Fours that still existed as a company for around 10 years ago and asked if they still had parts for CB750.
They did not have and seemed to be sorry they quit that business.
But who knew that all these old bikes should be that popular again?

SS-2A is most likely a good cam

[newday777]

Thanks Per. Good info.
Have you shelved Mike's billet kit? If so why may I ask?

[PeWe]

A long story....
I did not tighten the head hard enough a year ago, the MLS head gasket did not seal good enough.

This ended up in a huge oil leak inwards that needed an internal clean. Strange, it did not smoke despite drinking lots of oil.

When apart I got the chance to buy a set of JE 970cc pistons for a good price from a friend.  Around 15 years old but never run. Only used in a build.
Too high compression stopped that.

At the same time sleeves from CycleX on sale.
I could not miss that!
A good looking stock cylinder  from my friend too. 

Billet block with its pistons as a reference when calculating deck height for OK compression.
The 970cc pistons outer flat  area 0.5mm lower than the newer JE 71.25mm pistons the Billet block has.

So mill the cylinder another 0.5mm compared to the Billet block that is 84.5mm.
1mm off on that 85mm high stock cylinder which was done before fitting the sleeves. 
Sleeve flanges needed to get their grooves milled deeper and the 2  o-ring holes milled too.
The 970cc got its own head, 392. The latest head ported a year ago 33.5/28.5 mm valves.
The billet block ran fine with a ported K2 head 34mm F2 in valves and 28mm ex.

The 970cc setup got a thinner base gasket to reach a better squish. The cylinder block could have been milled another 0.25mm.
But that is for the outer area only. The piston domes had to be cut too. Dome volumes measured compared with the other pistons before deciding how much to cut off.
Those 12.5:1 JE pistons have thick domes, over 7mm. No problems to cut 3mm.

The result is fine. 970cc setup reached 104whp on dyno late October last year.

The billet block setup 1005cc got 101whp on same dyno a year before. Use a thinner base gasket will probably add a litte, reach close to the 970cc compression.

I used the bike as a test rig when billet block was off. An 890cc setup.
Also 12.5:1 JE pistons that needed to be milled down for OK compression.  Tests with 3 different cams.
Pinging even with DP315 running with smaller lash making a bigger overlap decreasing the compression. Fuel Shell V-Power.

Those 12.5:1 piston domes now cut 2mm off that I think can work fine.
That will avoid double spark plug washers to make plugs clear from pistons.
Chambers are rather roomy, over 24cc.
That kit get my old ported head that had 5mm valve kit with bronze guides with huge wear after around 21000 km. The upper part had a huge wear. New CycleX iron guides and their SS valves 34/28mm that fitted the seats.

That set will be used in another engine build I have. Engine case milled to use billet block just for sure. 

That engine has got a frame with registration plate....... Most of the needed parts in my garage......

But I miss the billet block in the K6. It look really nice.

Having left over parts can end up in a new build, another bike to be born!!

[newday777]

Yes those billet blocks do look sweet. I saw Mike and his 750ss last fall at a local swap meet.
For now I'll go through this 836 to see ho the insides look, if good it'll go in my K6 that was my brother's, then my dad's, then dad sold it to a friend of mine from high school who gifted it to me with a frozen motor from mice pee in the cylinders......
So far I'm liking what is in there with the cam in this motor. I ordered a Vesrah gasket set and need to order a MLS head gasket still. But before I pull the top end off I need to clean out my K5 gas tank that has light rust in it with the Evaporust that arrived this afternoon so I have my riding fix to the bike nights while working on the 836 teardown.
Thanks for sharing your experience Per.

[PeWe]

836 with higher compression and a good cam will make the CB750 to run well.
Stock rods ok.
More displacement add more torque from lower rpm but add cost with better rods.

Open the engine opens the wallet!

- Is the head ported too?

[newday777]

836 with higher compression and a good cam will make the CB750 to run well.
Stock rods ok.
More displacement add more torque from lower rpm but add cost with better rods.

Open the engine opens the wallet!

- Is the head ported too?

I'm very aware of the wake up a good 836, a cam and porting does compared to the stock motor and know the need for good rods of the bigger bores. I haven't looked in the intake and exhaust ports to see if it's been ported yet. Time has been short spending on it since getting it. I had to go back to the house where I got it from to load up 6 carcasses on a trailer and make space in my friend's barn where I'll be working on everything, didn't have time to clear out stuff in the new area I'm taking over and the full time four letter word that still is getting in the way to my play time.......work..... Maybe later today I'll get back up there and do some more investigation on it.

[newday777]

- Is the head ported too?

Well I peaked in the ports while in my shed today filling my K5 tank with Evaporust.
The inlets have been smoothed up but not the exhaust ports.

[MRieck]

Guide has been cut down a little bit too.

[newday777]

Guide has been cut down a little bit too.

It's been a few years since I was in a 750 so I'm not remembering. But I do have 3 more motors to investigate in the next few weeks.