Author Topic: cam cover and camshaft seats.  (Read 963 times)

Offline ricardo

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cam cover and camshaft seats.
« on: September 22, 2018, 11:23:59 AM »
Good morning everyone. Anyone got anything happy to say about my cam shaft and cover.
After removing the cam cover for a spruce up by a pro I noticed 1 of the bolt holes had spilt. As these keep the cam cover firmly over the centre of the camshaft I felt this was not a great idea. I showed it to my pro and he got his pro to give an option. He noticed some excess wear on both end cam  shaft seats. Middles seemed okay.  I acquired a second hand cover just in case and we compared them together. The replacement cover had almost pristine seat surfaces. 

There is some wear on the cam shaft surfaces in the same places as the cover was worn. No surprise.

Big question. Do I need a replacement shaft. Do I need to remove shaft to inspect cylinder head elements.
Any other suggestions. EG do I need a remortgage

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: cam cover and camshaft seats.
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2018, 11:57:43 AM »
You will find there is more wear on the cylinder head seats as the cam chain is pulling the cam shaft down and the rockers are pushing it down so wear is expected. You say the ends of the shaft are worn, do you just mean general overall slight signs of wear or deep scores, ruts and ridges. Post a photo if you can.

Here is my camshaft, shows minimal wear but no damage.

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And here is the cylinder head, once again, showing minimal wear with no damage.

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« Last Edit: September 22, 2018, 12:13:56 PM by Nurse Julie »
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Offline ricardo

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Re: cam cover and camshaft seats.
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2018, 12:14:49 PM »
Thanks. I'll get some to you as soon as it stops raining.

Offline ricardo

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Re: cam cover and camshaft seats.
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2018, 11:29:12 AM »
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[ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] Hi all esp Julie.
Here are 2 pics of the current cam ends. I 'daren't remove the camshaft  to show seats. The worse one is the r side and the other the left. Centres are good. The old cover is being picked up today. Do you want a pic of the respective seats??
The new one I've got has very good seats.

Offline ricardo

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Re: cam cover and camshaft seats.
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2018, 11:34:21 AM »
Apologies for duplication

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: cam cover and camshaft seats.
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2018, 11:56:00 AM »
Looking at that bottom photo, if you run your nail across, can you feel scores and ridges?, it looks like you will be able to but difficult to see on a photo really.
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline ricardo

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Re: cam cover and camshaft seats.
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2018, 01:59:29 PM »
it feels very smooth to me.  a very slight suggestion of roughness over a tiny bit at one end

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: cam cover and camshaft seats.
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2018, 04:35:04 PM »
So, in reality the camshaft looks like it will live to see another day if you cant find another one. It makes sense to me that the middle seats of the rocker cover are in better condition than the end seats as the cam chain is pulling everything downwards in centre. I would want to find out why there is a lot more wear on the right end than the left end of the shaft. You already have a replacement rocker cover , which you say is in better condition than the one that was fitted, so that bit is sorted. I think you must really remove the camshaft and see what the seats are like on the cylinder head. This will determine how much further you need to investigate.  Looking at the cam lobes, i assume they are little drops of water and not quite large pits ?. Have you had the bike running and was you riding it recently ?. The reason i ask is that if everything was OK and you are only delving deeper because you removed the rocker cover to have is spruced up and found a damaged bolt hole, maybe you are looking for work that is not required......just a thought.

Just noticed in your photo, is that a crack in the lobe ?
« Last Edit: September 24, 2018, 04:44:47 PM by Nurse Julie »
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: cam cover and camshaft seats.
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2018, 04:51:09 PM »
Also, i am almost at the limit of my technical knowledge relating to camshafts / rocker covers etc here, I only learnt all this basic stuff from stripping my own engine, so if it gets much more in depth hopefully someone else on the forum with a lot more knowledge than i have will help out with advice. :) :) :)
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline ricardo

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Re: cam cover and camshaft seats.
« Reply #9 on: September 24, 2018, 06:08:09 PM »
Hi All esp Nurse Julie.

It was just a general strip down. It's newly acquired and had very poor power at low revs so I thought I'd service fuel system . I took the cam cover off as there was an oil leak- very minor- from the seal. It turns out it was from the breather cover seal. the other stuff was noticed then.
I've replaced the new cam cover and things turn over fine. Petrol tank off for respray so I'll  fit the electronic ignition and check the sparks before feeding it petrol over the next few days.

Thanks

 

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