Question about my cam install
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 30
From: Chesapeake Beach Maryland
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
Question about my cam install
Last night I slid the cam into the block. It felt a little tight going into the front bearing, but all went well until the rear bearing. If I seat the cam into the rear bearing it is very difficult to turn. If I pull it out of the rear bearing and let it rest on the other journals it will turn very nicely. Can anyone provide any insight to what might be happening back there?
I plan to pull it back out this morning, clean it off and mic the journal surfaces just to make sure they are equal. Also I'm going to try to look down or up into that area and try to see if there is any goop or junk in the bearing surface of the last bearing.
Thanks
I plan to pull it back out this morning, clean it off and mic the journal surfaces just to make sure they are equal. Also I'm going to try to look down or up into that area and try to see if there is any goop or junk in the bearing surface of the last bearing.
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
I would suspect the trouble is in the rear bearing not the cam journals. I am guessing these are new bearings. Bunches of possibilities. Dirt,metal debris, a burr,bad bearing or distorted from bad install. If debris or a burr you should be able to see or feel it. If the bearing is distorted to the point the cam is both difficult to seat or turn the bearing will be scored. That you should be able to see. A very small score might be correctable but new bearings may required.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 30
From: Chesapeake Beach Maryland
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
The engine is in the car, and these are not new bearings. I basically slid the old cam out on Thursday and was sliding the new cam in on Friday. I was extremely carefull not to bang anything up on the removal or installation, and put a very thin layer of cam lube on both the journals and lobes.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
To quote Shrek: "Well that explains a lot." I'll say again I doubt there is a difference in the cam journals. It would be interesting,however, to measure all the journals on both the new and old cams for a comparison. Also interesting to know how the old cam fits and rotates when replaced.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 30
From: Chesapeake Beach Maryland
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
To quote Shrek: "Well that explains a lot." I'll say again I doubt there is a difference in the cam journals. It would be interesting,however, to measure all the journals on both the new and old cams for a comparison. Also interesting to know how the old cam fits and rotates when replaced.
I haven't reinstalled the old one again to see if it will rotate. I'm going down to the garage in a bit to pull the new out and do the measuring etc. and then I'll slide the old one back in for comparison.
Would the cam lube on the Journals cause this by chance? I read in the FSM just now that I should have only put cam lube on the lobes and motor oil on the journals.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 30
From: Chesapeake Beach Maryland
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
I think I'm Screwed
I just pulled the new cam; bigger than life there is a bur on the rear most Journal, just on the edge. I can't frikin' beleive it. I was so anxious to get the cam in last night that I didn't inspect it very good at all. I would have never in a million years thought it would be bured. It looks as if someone has set the cam down on end on a concrete floor and roughed it up. I have carpeting in my garage around my work area and I just don't recall setting the cam down on end like that.
Now I'm afraid I have F%$%# Up all my bearings!!
The burr is just enough to cause a rough feeling when you pull the cam through the bearing. I used a very fine flat file to knock the bur down and now it is gone, but I don't know if it will be ok to install the cam at this point.
Advice Please
Pulling the engine is a LAST resort. I'm supposed to settling on a house and moving here shortly and I just don't have the means to do the long block at this time.
Scewed In Maryland
Now I'm afraid I have F%$%# Up all my bearings!!
The burr is just enough to cause a rough feeling when you pull the cam through the bearing. I used a very fine flat file to knock the bur down and now it is gone, but I don't know if it will be ok to install the cam at this point.
Advice Please
Pulling the engine is a LAST resort. I'm supposed to settling on a house and moving here shortly and I just don't have the means to do the long block at this time.
Scewed In Maryland
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 30
From: Chesapeake Beach Maryland
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
I'm really bummed about this, becasue this whole thing has gone very smooth up unitl now. Goes to show that just a little inattention to detail can ruin the day.
I'm going to try to inspect the bearings as good as I can with the motor in the car, and make a decision based on that inspection. But Gene also gave me the same advise you did. I'll just have to cross my fingers and hope all is ok.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
If the bearings are damaged, not much you can do short of pulling it the block.
Put the cam in, turn it by hand, see how it feels.
Look, if the bearing goes anyway, you'll have to tear it down. Question is do you want to do it now, or do it later?
If you take your chances, you may not have to do it at all......
I't take a shot and hope for the best but expect the worst.
These kinds of things always seem like bigger deals than they turn out to be sometimes.
Put the cam in, turn it by hand, see how it feels.
Look, if the bearing goes anyway, you'll have to tear it down. Question is do you want to do it now, or do it later?
If you take your chances, you may not have to do it at all......
I't take a shot and hope for the best but expect the worst.
These kinds of things always seem like bigger deals than they turn out to be sometimes.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 30
From: Chesapeake Beach Maryland
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
I deburred the edge of the journal that was bummed up and polished it up with some fine scotchbrite. I also stuck and flashlight into the cam tunnel to get some light on the matter and peering through the lifter bores and whatever cavities were to be had I could catch glimpses of most of the cam bearings, although I couldn't see the tops of them or 100% of them, from what I could see, I didn't see anything that looked out of place. So, I re lubed the cam and stuck it back in. This time I could turn it by hand.
I feel better now, but I know that I could end up with problems later down the road. You all know that you'll be the first to know!!
I feel better now, but I know that I could end up with problems later down the road. You all know that you'll be the first to know!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 30
From: Chesapeake Beach Maryland
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
Thanks!! On to the next challenge
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 19
From: CLT, North Carolina
You should be able to fix a nicked cam bearing; this shouldn't be a problem. Is the new cam straight by the way? A little cam core runout will prevent the cam from sliding in easy or turning easily.
