I suspect that my cam may be bad in my 2002 sportsman 700. Can I just remove the rocker cover and start the motor and observe the rocker arms, looking for minimum movement to verify a bad cam? I know that cam problems are not as common as the 500 but I have heard of some 700 being bad. Also do I have to pull the cylinder to replace the lifters if need be? Any other ideas how to identify a bad cam?

 

Lobe height on the 02 700 cam is .2170(intake and exhaust) If you had a dial indicator and magnetic base, you could probably zero it on the push rod side of the rocker arm and turn the motor over, by hand, and watch to see if it raises that far. Always use new lifters. Cylinder needs removed to replace the lifters.

 

Ok. I never thought an outing using a dial indicator. Hope I can get it in there, looks tight.

 

It will be tight, didnt know if your tank and fenders were off. I dont think it would be visable if it was running. Maybe, but I think it would be very hard to detect. Rolling over by hand you might be able to tell, but I really think a precision instrument is probably your best bet, aside from tearing the motor down and visually looking at the cam.