Whats the concensus? Even a mild cam needs re-springed.....even though the manufacturers don't recommend it? Anyone not re-springed with a lot of hours on their Raptor? Thanks!!

 

If it was me I'd go ahead & put some good springs in there. Just for piece of mind if nothing else.

 

The downfall to stiffer springs is faster cam wear........a give and take situation.

 

IMO heavy valves spring dont do anything. We tried to put heavy duty valve springs on a 400ex with hi performance cam and it ended up floating a valve and puting it through the piston. We have been running the stock valve springs for about a year with now problems. The only time when you might want to put them in, is if you are running a hi-rev black box.

 

The stiffness of the valve spring needed depends on the aggressiveness of the cam lobe. A stock lobe is rounded so the rocker comes up slowly. A high performance cam lobe is pointed so the rocker is forced upward violently fast. The valve springs keep the rocker from bouncing by taking up the slack in the valve train. With high lift/duration cams, stock springs, and high RPM's, the springs can't keep the rocker up against the cam and you see a major valve float.
Use only shot peened springs. The roughness of the peened exterior will hold up better than regular springs.

TitieWhitie, were those springs you put in the 400ex made by RD by chance? I used a set of their springs in an old big bore 250x and I dropped a valve due to float. After checking the springs with only 30 hours or so on them, the pressure wasn't much more than stock because they had worn out. I won't run RD again.

High valve spring pressure will not wear you cam out if you keep good oil in it. If the closed pressure is too much you can wear the valve seat though.

I've spent many hours working with hydraulic, hydraulic roller, solid, and solid roller auto engines and a few bike/atv engines.

 

Gary ~ I'm not "SPRINGING"! I've talked to several folks with stock springs and they haven't had probs yet. There are 3 manufacturers of cams, that I know of, that say the stock springs are sufficient for their mid-cams.

I haven't heard of any floating anywhere yet... I'm taking MY chances!

Sorry MOOSE.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Well, I have to disagree with the "don't need spring" group. I have done alot of reading, speaking with RAP owners and well known engine builders on this topic for some time. The concensus is that the Rap stock springs are too light for any cam bigger then the stocker. And I have even heard and been told, that the stock springs aren't providing enough pressure for even the stock cam.

"I personally" would not take the risk.

Trinity has played with, asked for changes of spring mfg, etc. and now have a good reliable source for the springs and retainers. For the couple hundred bucks and peace of mind, it "could" save you ALOT more $$$$ down the road.


Just my thoughts fella's.


Swy

 

i have a 696/697 web cam and was running stock springs.my intake valves were always needing adjusted,they were to tight.my exhaust valves did not have the same problem.when i did the head the first time my tranny let go, the intake valves were allready pounded,we cut them but i knew then they couldnt be cut again there wouldnt be enough margin left.sooo imo the springs are either to weak for the stock cam, or the intake valves are made of inferior material.witch one i dont know but i ordered new stainless valves and springs.i got webcam springs and retainers through sam coe performance for 150.00.seems like cheap insurance since the valves were 55.00 a peice.

 

Thanks swytak & derbyking for backing me up!!

While the mild cams may not need stronger springs. Theres nothing wrong with putting in better springs. There's a reason some springs cost $5 each & some cost $50 each.

If I had my head off & even if I was putting the stock cam back in I would put in higher quality valves & springs in the head.

It's one less thing I'd have to worry about. I'd rather pay a couple of hundred dollars now that several hundred later when a valve spring breaks.

Like the man says you can pay me now, or you can pay me later.

 

I would not put new springs on the stock valves, The valves are soft ! We have
played with this and have seen a bunch of beaten stock valves with no cure other
then new after market ones. I am now trying Webs 696/697 cam with the stock
valves and have had no problems. I called many builders and got mixed reply's and
thought we would try it ourselves.

Hope this helps.