Kent Cams question
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Kent Cams question
What do Kent cams / ported head feel like to ride on the ole seat of the pants dyno? Eg power characteristics
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sanddune51
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Re: Kent Cams question
Pretty damn quick by the seat of my pants
Albeit with big valves and Fcr's, indecently quick and oodles of midrange grunt if you take the time and effort to dial the cams in spot on using slotted cam sprockets. I generally find myself short shifting and taking advantage of the abundant torque. Only really need to rev it to 8k at trackdays whilst chasing inline 4's down the straights.
This thread shows my dyno charts:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9626#p98380
Mark.
Albeit with big valves and Fcr's, indecently quick and oodles of midrange grunt if you take the time and effort to dial the cams in spot on using slotted cam sprockets. I generally find myself short shifting and taking advantage of the abundant torque. Only really need to rev it to 8k at trackdays whilst chasing inline 4's down the straights.
This thread shows my dyno charts:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9626#p98380
Mark.
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Re: Kent Cams question
On their own (and assuming that you already have FCRs and a free flowing exhaust) - about 4 to 5 bhp if you are lucky. BUT, it should all be in the midrange so you should be able to feel it.
I'd recommend some dyno time to get the fuelling right
I'd recommend some dyno time to get the fuelling right

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Re: Kent Cams question
Cheers, just where you want it, did you have to adjust your can timing / use slotted sprockets?
- dandywarhol
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Re: Kent Cams question
You'll need to slot the sprockets to properly degree the cam in - especially if the head is skimmed
1996 TRX 850, blue, Ohlins 46HRCLS, Race Tech Gold Valves, 0.90 springs, Venom pipes, R6 brakes............
1974 Yamaha RD250A, Candy Blue
1998 Yamaha SZR660, blue of course
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, Blue and white
1974 Yamaha RD250A, Candy Blue
1998 Yamaha SZR660, blue of course
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, Blue and white
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NWS870R
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Re: Kent Cams question
I'd disagree - can you expand on that please?dandywarhol wrote:You'll need to slot the sprockets to properly degree the cam in - especially if the head is skimmed
Life is not about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself.
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Re: Kent Cams question
I like to have cams timing as close to spot on as possible and using a degree disc and slotting the holes if needed. Early years I even cut out crescents of alloy to fill the slots in case the cams slipped but that was overkillNWS870R wrote:I'd disagree - can you expand on that please?dandywarhol wrote:You'll need to slot the sprockets to properly degree the cam in - especially if the head is skimmed
If the head has been skimmed then the cam timing will retard as the chain run from the crank to the cams hasn't altered but the cam sprockets are closer to the crank sprocket so slotting the sprockets will be essential for the cam timing to be advanced back til it's correct.
Last edited by dandywarhol on Mon Mar 24, 2014 12:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
1996 TRX 850, blue, Ohlins 46HRCLS, Race Tech Gold Valves, 0.90 springs, Venom pipes, R6 brakes............
1974 Yamaha RD250A, Candy Blue
1998 Yamaha SZR660, blue of course
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, Blue and white
1974 Yamaha RD250A, Candy Blue
1998 Yamaha SZR660, blue of course
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, Blue and white
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sanddune51
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Re: Kent Cams question
Spot on expalanation Dandy
Was just going to reply myself. Fortunately you posted just a few seconds before I started bashing away at the keyboard
Mark.
Was just going to reply myself. Fortunately you posted just a few seconds before I started bashing away at the keyboard
Mark.
- dandywarhol
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Re: Kent Cams question
I than-queue......................sanddune51 wrote:Spot on expalanation Dandy![]()
Was just going to reply myself. Fortunately you posted just a few seconds before I started bashing away at the keyboard![]()
Mark.
Alan
1996 TRX 850, blue, Ohlins 46HRCLS, Race Tech Gold Valves, 0.90 springs, Venom pipes, R6 brakes............
1974 Yamaha RD250A, Candy Blue
1998 Yamaha SZR660, blue of course
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, Blue and white
1974 Yamaha RD250A, Candy Blue
1998 Yamaha SZR660, blue of course
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, Blue and white
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Kent Cams question
There is very little in it though - even with a couple of thou skimmed off the head - is as near as dammit though with standard (non slotted) sprockets.

- dandywarhol
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Re: Kent Cams question
A couple of thou barely cleans the head up - I'm talking of skimming a head 0.25/0.40 mm to raise the compression - then you need to slot the sprockets
1996 TRX 850, blue, Ohlins 46HRCLS, Race Tech Gold Valves, 0.90 springs, Venom pipes, R6 brakes............
1974 Yamaha RD250A, Candy Blue
1998 Yamaha SZR660, blue of course
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, Blue and white
1974 Yamaha RD250A, Candy Blue
1998 Yamaha SZR660, blue of course
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, Blue and white
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NWS870R
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Re: Kent Cams question
As Phuk pointed out there is so little in it i can't see it's worthwhile, the Kent YAM9 re-profile is so mild that it certainly wouldn't warrant slotting the cam sprockets IMO. Had my head skimmed/flowed some 15 years ago & all is good without altering cam timing/slotting?
Life is not about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself.
- dandywarhol
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Re: Kent Cams question
Horses for courses, or horses for little expense?? 
1996 TRX 850, blue, Ohlins 46HRCLS, Race Tech Gold Valves, 0.90 springs, Venom pipes, R6 brakes............
1974 Yamaha RD250A, Candy Blue
1998 Yamaha SZR660, blue of course
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, Blue and white
1974 Yamaha RD250A, Candy Blue
1998 Yamaha SZR660, blue of course
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, Blue and white
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NWS870R
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Re: Kent Cams question
Sorry, i don't don't do riddles

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Re: Kent Cams question
I hadn't thought of this ...good to know! Head-shave is coming up on my list in the next few weeks. How many cam degrees thereabouts would we be looking at?I'm talking of skimming a head 0.25/0.40 mm to raise the compression - then you need to slot the sprockets