I have a set of cam followers I intend to send off to be reconditioned. I'm encouraged to read that they're being renewed to factory spec, and not just ground to a convex shape. I send one off years ago to be 'fixed' (the other three showed no wear, but this one was badly dished.) When it returned it had been ground to a smooth, convex profile. It was a thing of beauty! However, when installed, it would not rise to even come close to contact the feeler gauge, just as the OP found out with his. I shrugged it off as it cost less than $20, postage included. I learned something, at least, and it was an inexpensive lesson.
Fortunately, I acquired a spare motor at the same time and was able to use a follower from it: it was the only one in great shape.
That was about 14 thousand miles ago, and this past winter (about 3000 miles ago) I did a budget rebuild after the right piston melted due to a botched timing adjustment. The cam followers were showing much more dishing this time around, but I figured that they would be fine as long as I could still set the valves to spec. And, with about three thousand miles clocked since then (and apparently I got the timing set correctly!) I think they still work as they should- the bike runs and sounds great and revs cleanly to redline. I checked the valve lash at the 1000 mile mark and found only had to make very slight adjustments to them.
What gives me some worry though, is just what I might be giving up in term of performance by not having the followers at their OEM spec/profile. Does it matter that they are dished if they can still allow the proper adjustment of the valve lash? In other words, at what point are they worn out, as opposed to just worn?
