I've got a couple of used cams, one is a kent 234 which i think looks ok.
how do i know if its ok or knackered?
How should I go about fitting it into my engine - do i use followers from the existing cam, new followers, special lube or ??? etc
[Edited on 15/10/09 by MikeR]
Check the lobes for wear. Anything from kent will need very careful checking. Or indeed wera may be obvious. You can also use a vernier to check the
lobes all give the same lift.
Pitting on the lobes is bad!
If the old followers are perfect, use those. If not numbered and you are locost, a little time resurfacing the faces using 1200 wet and dry with WD40
on a PERFECTLY flat surface should do the trick.
I don't think special cam lube is needed on a used cam, I have never bothered. The micro surface should be well sorted. But if worried it will do
no harm.
a worn out cams pretty obvious as the lobes are not usually worn right across and if worn will have a slot cut out the top. You could also simply measure lift and compare it against the details in the Kent cam specs, you'll find them on the web.
Measure the lobes with a vernier caliper, or micrometer and compare against the Kent Cams spec for that particular cam.
if it was worn there would be ridges on the lobes. just fit it douce with oil and see how it goes
Followers are wider than the lobes so no slots or ridges. Not as simple as measuring the lobes and consulting the specs as the base radii on Crossflow cams vary depending on the grind, not forgetting the rocker ratio as well.
Cam wear is caused by a lack of lubrication to the lobes, something that doesn't affect crossflow cams because they are buried deep in the block
and are literally soaked in oil. I've never seen a worn aftermarket crossflow cam shaft.
I'd use new followers though...
quote:
Originally posted by Memphis Twin
Cam wear is caused by a lack of lubrication to the lobes, something that doesn't affect crossflow cams because they are buried deep in the block and are literally soaked in oil