Megacycles 200X setup update INSTALL PICS

[ironchop]

well I went back and forth on this choice for a year.......not long ago, I decided in a haste to just go with a Web camshaft (hard weld) for less $$ and just deal with that on my 85 X in time for TF. I only needed the cam, a chain, and a 38T rear sprocket for my 1st gen 250R durablue +6 in my X swinger......I got the sprocket in this week (Sprocket Specialists), a cheapo 40$ o-ring chain (it only needs to last that weekend until I can buy a QUALITY chain).................which brings me on topic.....................I was deadset on getting a cheaper aftermarket cam just because I`m tired of the X project that's stretched out for three yrs and I have an A2 T3 waiting in the wings which deserves my cash and attention. I thought maybe I should just get the Megacycles with needle bearing conversion because I have spent an awful amount of time on my X to just toss in a reweld cam especially since the Mega kit costs near $500 with everything I need.............................................. .................................

Then I read a quote by Mike (shortline10) in a thread awhile back while I was doin a SEARCH (cough*, cough*)

he said out of all the cams out there he`s run, NONE had the absolute wow factor a megacycles did........so Im callin in the order today for the 143-20NS kit and hipo valve springs.....no sense goin half-assed

anyone know anything about installing these that I should be aware of??????

[ironchop]

ok.....the VERY knowledgeable lady I spoke to on the phone added up to a very pleasant ordering experience. She knew her stuff and spoke quite a bit on the subject of racing which is a pleasant surprise....NOT BECAUSE SHE WAS FEMALE.....just because for once, the person you speak to knows a thing or two about the genre and the product. Too little of that goin on these days.

for my flat tracker, I got the 104-20NS cam with full needle bearing conversion. For those not aware, they put a needle bearing rear to replace the staked bushing in the 83-85 200X head. The front is converted to needle bearing also with a plate that bolts in behind the CDI eliminating the cam riding on that split journal built into the head and cover. Full bearing support. No machining required for the install. I also grabbed a set of 205-H hipo valve springs (your stockers will float (or bind?) with this lift and must be replaced)

Springs were $78 for the set
Cam and needle conversion was $438
Shipping was free because the order was over $500

total so far: $516

************* Note********* They DO NOT do credit cards or bank cards for payment. She told me that they do COD thru UPS by money order or check....OR, you may mail a check or money order ahead of time if you like. I did COD. Its due here next Monday. I will shoot plenty of pics so you guys have an idea on what you are getting with the money as these aint cheap for sure but the impression I`ve gotten here and there is I wont be disappointed at all

Pics and update when it shows up

[ironchop]

http://www.megacyclecams.com/catalog/catalog.pdf

page 22

[jays375]

Megacycle is top notch for sure.She really knows her stuff to.The quality of their work is great.My name is even on the camshaft.The one in my 350x is awesome.Don't think you will be disappointed.No hardfacing of your rockers?Mine were almost polished.The casting was all cleaned up.

[userj8670]

Great- been rolling around the needle bearing idea for a minute or two now - will be nice to see how it mocks up

[ironchop]

.No hardfacing of your rockers?Mine were almost polished.The casting was all cleaned up.

I forgot all about that. I plan to call her back for the vernier cam sprocket I also forgot so Ill ask about that also

[jays375]

Honestly surprised she didn't mention it.

[ironchop]

She schooled me down to crankcase oil formulations and her personal experiences over the yrs with what oil runs best for friction in race motors. She might have mentioned hardweld rockers but my brain was smokin trying to keep up with what she knew and offered. Outstanding customer.service thus far.

[ironchop]

well most of it is here.......sendin off my followers for hardweld and gonna order the Vernier cam sprocket tomorrow.

VERY quality pieces here

193600
193601
193599
193598
193597
193596
193595

[ironchop]

I`ll try to remember to shoot pics of the install also.


more updates to come. I AM STOKED!

[jays375]

I was very impressed with the quality and knowledge from Megacycle.After buying a camshaft from them for my 350x.Really thought about sending my 64 Bonneville cams out to them.

[ironchop]

I was very impressed with the quality and knowledge from Megacycle.After buying a camshaft from them for my 350x.Really thought about sending my 64 Bonneville cams out to them.

my Triumph Flat track and AHRMA buddies love their MegaCycles Brit cams

[christph]

I just want to confirm the lady answering the phone really knows her stuff. I called last year and talked with her some time about the same upgrade. Keep the pics coming. I didn't get the cam upgrade because I moved on to other projects, but I just may return to my X after seeing those pictures.

Are you going to run a high-compression piston--12:1?

[ironchop]

10.25:1

stock is 9:1 I think

I didn`t want to go the 12:1 route due to reliability, pump gas, and other issues that can be exacerbated by a hi-comp 200X stroker like stripped kicker gears, needing a comp release, no low octane pump fuel, etc.

My wife needs to be able to kick it over....that's another part of the reason why I went with 10.25. Now lots of other guys have built quality hi-comp and hi-comp/stroker mills for the 200X with varying degrees of success and if done correctly, could yield a reliable motor for sure but I don`t have that particular experience, need, or skill set to justify spending that much on a small 4 stroke. I almost didn`t drop the ching for this cam however, I have had numerous X and XR mills with crapped-out cam journals due to lack of oil. With the Megacycles, I got a good all around mid and topend grind and a proven needle bearing support setup that insures I won`t have this issue (hopefully) ever again. It`s not exactly a SERIOUS racer, of course, but if I want to hit a TT, MX, or flat track race for the hell of it then I can and be at least somewhat competitive in most cases with minor chassis/tire changes and a lot of rider skill.

I`m not interested in building a dedicated racer for myself anymore (as was originally the plan before 4 broken neck vertebrae and 2 open heat surgeries in just three years) but rather build an all purpose hot rod X with a hot cam, oil cooler setup, tunable exhaust, and a wide rear axle.

If I were to build a dedicated racer, it would def be 12:1 Powroll stroker crank with a comp release and Mega`s full race cam (which requires machining the cam oil galley if I understand correctly) plus all the other bells and whistles.

if that makes any sense

[ironchop]

ok, you need get a new o-ring for the CDI base and put it in the groove on this bearing carrier from Megacycle. Its the same size as the one in your CDI baseplate.......

[ironchop]

I laid it all out on a clean surface on the workbench and started lathering it all in Redline Assembly Lube provided with the cam kit. I had already installed the new springs in the head but didn`t get any shots of that. They look like valve springs

The new spring kit had shorter springs than stock by about a quarter inch. They came with two 0.02 shims, new tops, and new pedestals that slip over the valve guide and move the spring seat up accordingly. The Hi-po spring kit was required and comes SEPERATELY and the valve keepers are NOT included in this set.

You will also have to provide the shim on the cam. OEM part works just fine.

[ironchop]

so I slide the valve cover on the head and use a very thin film of black gasket sealer on the surface and then torque down all four head bolts per the factory specs in the manual. I also went with a copper head gasket in this build I got from shortline10 (mike) awhile back.

Once the head was torqued, I slathered some more Redline on the cam and both the needle bearings. This kit supports the cam front and rear on needle bearings. The rear needle bearing just slides in where the old staked bushing was. I carefully worked the cam into the opening and then installed sprocket and chain. I lined up all the timing marks and tightened the cam sprocket. The bolts for the sprocket are provided but the sprocket is not. I used a new stocker for now.

I slathered a little liquid persuasion on the o-ring in the new bearing carrier and CAREFULLY tapped it in the head with a deadblow. If you get it cocked on the way in, you run the risk of damaging the carrier lip and/or the o-ring so I was sweating bullets because the fit was tight.

[ironchop]

Now you just install the CDI unit base unit using the longer mounting screws provided in the kit and install the cover with all new gaskets and your old screws and you also need to use the stake for the CDI rotor from your old cam in this new one as it was not included either.

[ironchop]

I`m gonna adjust the cold valve lash tonight and will update soon

[jays375]

Did Megacycle do the rockers?I was impressed with the quality of mine.

[christph]

Yeah, did you get the rockers hardfaced or is that optional?

[ironchop]

I called Megacycles about the rockers to get the payment info for the hardface. The guy who gets the phone when she isn`t there answered again and he said they were not even setup to do hardwelds on the 200X rockers. He told me they never needed to do work to that rocker with their billet cam in the 83-85 200X and that it wasn`t necessary. I corroborated this with another person who has used Megacycles cams in the 200X so I consider these both trustworthy sources. He urged me to use Redline or at least a zinc additive in the oil but that hardweld rockers on the 200X with this billet cam are not required even for warranty reasons.


Disclaimer: Before anyone misunderstands, He did NOT say hardweld rockers are not necessary at all nor did he say they weren`t necessary in the case of a Megacycles billet cam. He ONLY said that the 83-85 200X billet needle cam did NOT require the hardweld and regrind of the stock rockers to prevent wear in this specific application.

so if you have anything other than an 83-85 200X Megacycle brand camshaft, you may indeed be required to use hardweld rockers or tappets (as it were in OHV and flathead circles)

I had a new set of OEM rockers and shafts I snagged off ebay some yrs back so they are in excellent condition.

[atc300r]

Man that is a sweet setup. It would be cool if there was a way to put needle bearings in the stock 200x CDI.

[rdonald1979]

Very high quality kit. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[ironchop]

RIDE REPORT:

Runnin a 115 main 45 pilot. Plug is almost up to a chocolate brown. Just a hair lighter. Pilot is still rich. Idle mix screw is out 1 1/2. Carb is a 28 mm PWK. used stock 24 mm 4 stroke needle instead. A little weak off idle but past 1/8 it hits HARD. I haven't redlined it yet but maybe 1K below. Trike pulls all the way to the top. Idle is a little choppy still.Needs a tad more fine tune before we leave for TF.

VERDICT: HOLY MOTHER OF ALL THATS GOOD THIS THING IS ALMOST VIOLENT!!!!

Anybody looking to wake up an anemic X without going big bore stroker should spend the dough for this cam. Or go with this cam AND a big bore will slaughter anything lesser. I'm thrilled and highly impressed!

[6speedthumper]

Great to hear! I have a Mega in my Warrior and absolutely love it! It's their 252x1 (.450/.450, 272* in/ex) and it is top notch quality. Got the cam sprocket, too.

[jays375]

Man quit posting this stuff.I just about have my 350 done and will be thinking about another project.lol.Glad to hear it rips.

[ironchop]

Its not a good idler but hell the lobe separation is like 102.5 degress and I think that doesn't allow for a smooth idle.

[Scootertrash]

Thanks for the write up ironchop! I have plans for one of these set ups in a 200X and an autoX

[DohcBikes]

Its not a good idler but hell the lobe separation is like 102.5 degress and I think that doesn't allow for a smooth idle.
I was waiting for somebody to say it. With lots of lift and LSA, I'd be disappointed if it idled smoothly, lol.

[atc007]

Great thread.And yes,another vote for her being on top of things. Thanx for taking the time ironchop.

[userj8670]

:drool:How about a video if her idling? I wanna hear this rough idle