How do you tighten cam sprockets

Normally, I would help the sprocket by holding it with a sprocket compass, thus while you are tightening with one hand, you are counter acting the force with the other.

Regards, Alberto

 

An old trick Bob Cressman taught me and we have used it probably 100 times is to take one of the bearing caps off. Cut a piece of a business card and place it between the camshaft and the bearing cap. Torque the bearing cap back in place and the cam will not turn If you feel better do it with two of them. Once you have torqued the sprocket remove the business cards re oil the cam and bearing cap and you are done. Mr Cressman said he was taught this at a engine school at the Factory. Contact me if you have any questions on this.

 

The paper in the cam caps is a tried and tested technique that works extremely well. Sometimes the simple solutions are best and do not think you are getting any better a job because a complicated cam holding tool is being used. I have used the paper trick and it works very very well.

 

Get set of mole grips and clamp it around the camshaft, jamming the head of the grips against the cylinder head. If it slips use two,best if they are placed near the cam sprocket. Camshaft is sufficiently hardened not to score or mark the material.

 

+246

I have done this dozens of times and it works perfectly

 

Here is my high tech solution for a cam locking tool. Piece of flat bar that lays across the timing chain opening and is inserted between the sprocket and the cam cover studs. I rounded the edges for a better fit. Worked like a charm!
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

sounds a little primitive, but it works very well and is easy and quick!

 

I agree, it does work, but, it definitely will mar the cam. Vise grips inside an engine, brrrr...

Regards, Alberto

 

A piece of paper folded a few times will provide the necessary protection. If not oh well, just say it came that way from the factory

 

Hate to bug you Luigi, but Stilsons, Visegrips, and other hardware tools are just that.
You may wish to use them, yet they are inappropriate as are little pieces of paper et al.

I had a great friend, that his basic tools where 3 crescents, and 2 visegrips.
Would not let him touch anything mechanical.

Proper tools for the proper job.
A vernier compass, and most likely, the proper tool is a lever with two pins that goes on the face of the sprocket and has a hole for the bolt, is so utterly cheap, makes the job soooo much easier, that it does not even make sense to waste time with peculiar doodads.

Step 1. Put vernier caliper on, torque the cam sprocket.
Step 2. have something cold

Regards, Alberto
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I have not a clue, as I have not gotten to that point in my engine assembly. I will certainly post my version, whenever I get to it.

Possibly, this is a better question posed to the tech. section.

Regards, alberto

 

Guys you are thinking too deeply, it does not mark the cam as it too hard. This isnt rocket science and you are making a really easy job very difficult.

It is not some bodge approach to a very delicate operation, you need to lock the cam so you can tighten the bolt.period

Mole grips works just fine and you dont get iron filings either unless you want to shear the bolt off.