I'm doing a re-build and noticed some marks on a few of the cam caps.
Their like little black dots. There smooth if you run your finger over it but if you use the nail you can feel them.
1) Any ideas what these are?
2) I have another spare head: Can you mix and match cam caps?
3) Do cam caps cost as much as £20.00 each?
Cheers lads
dont mix n match the caps as they will be line bored, they are small pits,dont worry about them 
.
The bottom half on the head which have alot less surface area are in mint condition. No lines or dots on them.
What you mean line bored because I am putting in new schrick cams in. Does that mean I need to buy new ones anyway?
quote:
Originally posted by bikecarbfred
What you mean line bored because I am putting in new schrick cams in. Does that mean I need to buy new ones anyway?
So I will use the old caps in the exact same position. That is okay. I am glad there is no lines or that would have been it. Especially having spent
hours cleaning the head lol.
Anyway I think I know what you guys mean now when it's line bored.
So it is irrelevant if you use OLD or NEW camshaft as it is all about having a true "circle" between the top cap bearing and the
one on the head where it meets.
quote:
Originally posted by bikecarbfred
So it is irrelevant if you use OLD or NEW camshaft as it is all about having a true "circle" between the top cap bearing and the
one on the head where it meets.
I'm not using new (cam caps) journals . Like you said you can't get them. I've been searching online and could not find new ones.
I am just going to use the original cam caps in their correct order and put a two new camshafts in.
There is no other options now
[Edited on 15/11/15 by bikecarbfred]
quote:
Originally posted by bikecarbfred
I'm not using new (cam caps) journals . Like you said you can't get them. I've been searching online and could not find new ones.
I am just going to use the original cam caps in their correct order and put a two new camshafts in.
There is no other options now
[Edited on 15/11/15 by bikecarbfred]
Sorry for that. Noob here. Right I get it!!!
Yes the schrick cams are made for my specific engine (AFH) so they should fit from the box.
The cap's will be fine, Just make sure they are clean and returned to the same positions where they came from
Thanks lads. Continuing building my 1st engine.
ANY queries just ask
Always better to ask than take a chance, bolt it together and it goes bang 
New camshafts need new followers. Using the old ones could wreck your expensive new cams. Don't forget the oil seals as well.
Yep. I've bought new followers and will get new oil seals.
Guys I just bought some crankshaft bearings from VWdirect (5 sets) for £100.00
3 of the sets had scratches on the inside along with a few of, what I can see is small craters. Like chunks missing out. About 4mm long
2 of the sets seems okay. There is one very very small pit mark which you can feel but I guess this will be okay to keep?
I told them on the phone I will keep two of the sets and return three off.
This company supplies only genuine products so we would they come from the manufacture like this?
And is that important. I kind of laughed because the ones that are coming off seem in better nick.
Difficult to advise without photo's, but might they have been seconds ?
There are the pictures:
They are supposed to be new.
2 out of 5 seem okay but even one of them has a small pit mark (one dot) I can just feel it but I told the seller two of 5 were okay.
Technology for making this type of bearing has been around for over 140 years. I cant believe its manufacturing fault but due to poor handling or
storage.
I would get full refund, i would expect them to be spotless, are the oem parts hard to get or very expensivre?
These are oem.
But buying them from VW they cost £38.00 per set as apposed to the £20.00 per set I bought.
Do you guys think the third pic is okay? The one with the little dot, You can't fell this with the finger but you can dig it with the nail.
Shall Sand it slightly with 1200 grit and polish it off?
[Edited on 18/11/15 by bikecarbfred]
You can use abrasives on the crank but abrasives and soft bearing material don't mix, abrasive particles can become embedded in the surface.
And use cam lube when you build it back up, should come with the cams
Also look at the cam bedding in instructions
Just learning about journal holes 
There's a hole in the main bearing which allows oil to get into the hole of a journal and and because of the groove on the bearings, oil is
allowed to circulate around the journal.
Question: Why does oil need to get into the journal it self? Is it for cooling because of the friction of spinning along the bearings?
The hole in the crank main bearings is drilled through to the big end bearings. The oil comes in from the pump through the main bearings and the crank
"floats" on that oil. It then goes into the crank and out to the big ends. That explanation is 2 beers down so I hope if it is
incomprehensible somebody sober comes along...
By the way. That crank looks in good condition but it is no way clean enough. First rule of an engine build is that you should be able to leave all
parts on the kitchen table without the other half complaining. You need to clean out all those drillings on the crank. Cotton buds, pipe cleaners ,
paraffin , air , your little finger...no not THAT!!
So that's why those journal holes are drilled at a angle. As they go to the main bearing.
What's best way then to blast any muck out all the way through the journal holes.
I have a cheapy pressure steam cleaner but won't I be making it worse by blasting some dirt into the next big end bearing journal.
A paraffin bath/gun and an airline - pipe cleaners or mini bottle brushes - that sort of stuff. Some folks swear by brake cleaner. Sitting needle -
bit of string etc etc but do get it clean.
I would avoid the dishwasher - not for the obvious reason - does a great job on heads - but because the salt gets corroding right away.
Right got another seller selling me a brand new set of bearings. NPR for around £35.00 for all 5 sets.
But I can see some marks on the left side. Anything to worry about?
Just my 2p but when re-building an engine if the bearings aren't perfect I wouldn't fit them
(Always difficult to advise without seeing the item's up close though)
Do you have a local engine re-conditioner's that has a trade counter or similar ?
At least then you can check the quality of the bearings before fitting them
Guys I am abit worried about getting my refund from this shop. The gentleman in question has taken responsibility in an email saying it was his
warehouse staff that should have checked the items.
I know believe after reading the following that there lies more to that story as in the below link he seems to find it easy to blame the staff.
I also thank god made sure i paid approx £8.00 in sending the items back via royal mail insured delivery:
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10632505.Royal_Mail_scam_saw_car_parts_dealer_claim_free_postage/
I truly believe if I had not done there would have been a chance I would have been told the items were not received.
I always knew something fishy was up when first doing the deals as he seemed quite desperate to sell me the items.
I always seem to know when something is not right. Like a gut instinct but went ahead and bought the items in good faith.
Seriously just buy local or ONLY from reputable sources
Trouble is with some of these on-line places you think you are saving money, but by the time you've sent things back and messed about on the
phone or by email/s you could have had the engine built up.....
quote:
Originally posted by perksy
Seriously just buy local or ONLY from reputable sources
Trouble is with some of these on-line places you think you are saving money, but by the time you've sent things back and messed about on the phone or by email/s you could have had the engine built up.....