RC51 Cams
 

I read somewhere earlier today that RC51 cams were interchangable. Anyone else know anything about this?

If you mean with the VTR, I highly doubt it. If you mean the intake and exhaust are interchangeable, you should try Speedzilla or one of the RC51 forums, much higher prob. of getting an answer.....

Have to agree with Mikstr, and concur.. There only three parts that will interchange. And NO internal engine parts, or exhaust system.
the valvetrain in the RC51 is gear driven(no chain or CCTs)

Whoa, wait, how does that work!? I'm going to have to go look at some motor diagrams now, darn it!

yep, RCs have gear-driven cams. Not sure how this affects the actual cam design, however (other than one having a sprocket on the end, the other a gear)....

Dillon Brothers' 2000 Honda Street Bike RVT1000R RC51 Parts List

that should explain it pretty clearly...and the gear driven cams are responsible for that supercharger-like whine :)

extremely low maintenance and high reliability. problem is is that it costs a bit more to manufacture compared to a traditional cam gear + cam chain setup...

edit: i believe the rc30 and rc45 used gear driven cams too, seems to be an hrc signature design...

I wonder if there's a weight advantage to either one? It certainly does away with any CCT problems...

For street-going vehicles, the noise issue is also significant in terms of meeting sound regulations...

Oppps, I have never waited for any complaits... That explains why people are looking with -their MOUTH open.. DAM, Mikstr your smart... Ha Ha.....

Some of the earlier VFRs used the gear drive also...

And the cam timing is more accurate across the rpm range.

The gear-driven rig is much heavier. Each gear drive has 3 steel gears and a heavy steel carrier, as well as steel axles and 2 ball beaings for each gear. One for each head. Each one probably weighs ~4 lbs.

But it is very accurate and reliable.

HRC made aluminum carriers for the gears and probably titanium gears. But they were only on the factory bikes and I believe they were replaced after every race.

This a revival of an old thread, but it has me thinking.
Agreed, you can't add the geared drive for the cams to a Hawk, but are the cams themselves interchangeable?
Sure, you have to bolt on different sprockets, and maybe time them in of the bolt holes aren't at the same degrees, but are the cam shafts themselves interchangeable?

Anyone got both types on the shelf to compare?

And are there any lift/duration advantages?