Roller cam bearings
 

Are there any real advantages to using a roller vs. a Babbitt bearing? I’ve never had any personal experience using them.

Re: Roller cam bearings
 

depends on the application--

Re: Roller cam bearings
 

Really interesting question. A person's intuitive reaction would be "of course, look at things like roller lifters and rockers", but I'll bet there aren't many engine builders who have actually done an A-B-A comparison of cam bearings.

Re: Roller cam bearings
 

Babbitt is the only way to go.

Roller bearings, when turning the camshaft on the engine stand, the camshaft feels drag free and it turns easily. However, during engine operation and load, there is more drag while turning. When using high spring pressures, the loading may cause the needle bearings to fail.

Re: Roller cam bearings
 

The biggest advantage of roller bearings are that they do not need pressurized oiling. So in most V8's you are blocking off 5 oil leaks inside an engine.

Re: Roller cam bearings
 

YES

Re: Roller cam bearings
 

So the advantage would relate to less oil coming from the cam journals, reducing windage in the crankcase?

Re: Roller cam bearings
 

My engine guy told me that Jesel experimented with roller cam bearings and the negative harmonics were real bad. That was quite a few years ago, maybe someone found a way to correct?

Re: Roller cam bearings
 

The roller bearings still need some pressurized oiling; they do not oil by themselves and although there are claims oil splash is enough, I have seen enough damaged roller bearings due to lack of oiling especially on endurance engines.
If you have the right cam journal an lifter bore clearance, you will not have to worry.
Yes, they are known to create harmonics issues and it shows in Spintron testing.

Re: Roller cam bearings
 

Not Legal in Stock ,,, correct ?