XR 400 cam shaft

[podgyduck]

Hi all,
I am currently rebuilding an xr400 engine, the old sleeve and piston were knackered so i chose to go down the line of the 440 option, new sleeve, piston and con rod. I've just finished replacing the valves and guides with new ones, the valves are kibblewhite items, I reused the valve springs as they measured up ok.

My dilema is, I have the old cam shaft, which I've just mic'd up, and it's getting near it's service limit. The question is, do I use the old cam or replace it with a standard one, a stage 1, or a stage 2? I use the bike mainly for green laneing and the odd bit on the road.

Are there any disadvantages to using a performance cam? I still want to keep the reliability and ease of starting.

Cheers in advance
Ian

[j]

performance, reliability and economy are all equal points in the triangle and these are build by the manufacturer. By altering one of the points then the triangle changes shape. Ie you increase performance then economy and reliability goes. You need to look at your riding style and where you ride and does it risk a possible mechanical failure in the future.

[jasonbc]

mines gone the other way from you lately. Mine had the high compression 12:1 440 weisco kit on it and it was a handful. Don't bother with the stage 1 cam get the original one. Someone else on this site recently had the same query i said try david silver on the 4 week wait and it wasn't much in it price wise from an aftermarket one. The thread is in the xr's section of the forum. Mines now back as standard from the factory and it's still more capable than i am and i think that can be said for all modern bikes
Cheers in advance
Ian[/quote]

[podgyduck]

mines gone the other way from you lately. Mine had the high compression 12:1 440 weisco kit on it and it was a handful. Don't bother with the stage 1 cam get the original one. Someone else on this site recently had the same query i said try david silver on the 4 week wait and it wasn't much in it price wise from an aftermarket one. The thread is in the xr's section of the forum. Mines now back as standard from the factory and it's still more capable than i am and i think that can be said for all modern bikes
Cheers in advance
Ian

[/quote]

Cheers for your reply, I sholud have mentioned, I'm in the lucky position of having two engines for my XR. One is standard and staying that way, the other I'm having some fun with. The one that I'm rebuilding had the previously mentioned perfectly balanced triangle, along with faultless service history but still decided turn the piston in to swarf.

Cheers for your advice, think I will follow it and go down the standard option unless anybody can give a good argument for an upgraded one.

cheers
Ian