Topic: Where the hell does one find a 650 camshaft?! (79-82)

[shinneh]

Like many others, I am looking to do the good ol' 650 cam swap into my 550. However, I am having a rather hard time finding any of the parts-specifically the damned cam. To those that have done the swap, or seen cams for sale: where'd you find the blasted thing?

Ironically, there is a motorcycle boneyard 20 mins away from my house. It's full of vintage bikes, hundreds. And a barn full of harleys at that. Problem: the old guy that owns it has gone insane or something and doesn't want to sell anything... NO MATTER THE PRICE! Greedy.

[Hasenkopf]

I have one or two of those, tried to sell it on ebay, no bids.... 

[brokenspoke]

Problem: the old guy that owns it has gone insane or something and doesn't want to sell anything... NO MATTER THE PRICE! Greedy.

Sounds like a typical hoarder.  Really bothers me to think about people owning things just to own them, not to use or even appreciate.  All those classic bikes rotting while other people dream of restoring and riding them. 

[Dimitri13]

Check often on ebay. I've seen a few on there. One guy wanted like $250 and wouldn't take a penny less than at least $200. So be prepared to pay out the nose or fight tooth and nail for one.

[Frankencake]

Like many others, I am looking to do the good ol' 650 cam swap into my 550. However, I am having a rather hard time finding any of the parts-specifically the damned cam. To those that have done the swap, or seen cams for sale: where'd you find the blasted thing?

Ironically, there is a motorcycle boneyard 20 mins away from my house. It's full of vintage bikes, hundreds. And a barn full of harleys at that. Problem: the old guy that owns it has gone insane or something and doesn't want to sell anything... NO MATTER THE PRICE! Greedy.

Go buy a 650 and take the cam out and throw the rest away. 
Now tell us more about this place you speak of. 
Barns?  Bikes?  Old guy?  Insane?  I belong to an organization that has ways of dealing with people like this.
Address?  Contact info?  Resistance is futile.

[754]

 i SOLD 2 ON HERE FOR AROUND 40 OR 50 BUX a few years ago.. needed poishing had some corrosion..

 Maybe you just need to  look smarter/longer/harder..... and add a bit of patience..

 gotta start looking..way before you are ready to use it..

[shinneh]

Lol, 754, I started looking about 6 months ago, mayhaps I keep missing them or so. And actually, I'm not ready for the cam yet, shoot, the bike is in pieces now. Only working on a few things at a time, right now working on the frame and front end.

Frankencake, I'd seriously give you contact info if I had it. I happen to pass this place every tues/thursday on me way to school. But school is out now and work is demanding me more and more. But I have been to this place a few times. First impression was that the owner was waaaay cool. He knew the year/make/model of every bike that was laying around. Helped me find some stuff I wanted (tank, wheel, bars, side covers) but unfortunately didn't take VISA. Next day i went back with more cash than he wanted, and I'm told "nothings for sale, not even the nuts on the rust buckets". I've been told his son would sell everything right under the old man, just gotta find the bastage. Don't know the exact address, but it's in North Carolina, Aberdeen area.

PM sent to ye gixxer guy.

[spot45]

The problem you are facing is the backlash from Mike Wolfe posting his finds on his "American Pickers" TV show.   My advice to you is to start calling salvage yards around the country.  Someone will most likely have the stuff you need.   I did have a few 650 cams, and the minute everyone knows I have them, they get sold.   Also be patient and keep watching ebay.  They will show up there eventually.

[faux fiddy]

Go buy a 650 and take the cam out and throw the rest away. 

This one was went for reasonabe price, coulda scrapped the pipes , too.

[wrenchmuch]

Webcam can weld and grind your 500 or 550 shaft . 55-361 $339 bucks though .
www.webcamshafts.com/
Megacycle has the same service for 3 dollars less .
www.megacyclecams.com/

[chewbacca5000]

I have an 1981 CB650 cam shaft you can have for the cost of shipping I am not using it and have no plans for it so it's yours.  Merry Christmas!  I got it for free so I will pass it on to you.  Just PM me, or else you can start the "Junk War" with that crazy old codger.  We love hearing about mountains of rusting treasure.

[Frankencake]

No but really.  Where is this guy with the junk pile?  What town and what road?  It's that easy.  Release the hounds!

[754]

If anyone gets to that place, ask about 14 H-D twin parts...

 To the OP.. are you not glad you started this thread..?..  that wont trump my Christmas present tho...

[vincentlefre]

is this the correct one or is this from the later DOHC models?

[754]

 Dohc should have 4 lobes..

[vincentlefre]

so that photo is from a SOHC right?

[Kevin400F]

The DOHC 650 engine has four valves per cylinder (with individual cam followers), so also has eight lobes per cam.  But, the engine serial number on the DOHC type is "RC13", so yes an RC03/05/08 cam would be for the SOHC 650.

Kevin in TX

[shinneh]

Man, threads can take interesting turns. TO be more specific on the location of mountain horder man: he is off a main-ish back road called the NC-211 in Raeford, NC. Can't seem to find it in the yellowpages, and it'll be a few weeks before I head out back that way.

754-What's your christmas present? O-o? *curious*

And chewy, PM sent!

[754]

 Brown & Sharpe surface grinder, with hydraulic feeds on the table... hope to be doing brake rotors and other stuff..

[shinneh]

hydraulic feeds? Kick ass. We've got a surface grinder at work but it can really only handle rotors and drums. And the measurement knobs aren't all that accurate on ours.. sure wish we had something nice~

[shinneh]

Recently received a cam from Mr. Chewbacca, free O' charge to boot. This forum-and its members-are surely the best.