camshaft pulley! - page 2 - Troubleshooting - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• #15 by burn_your_money on 15 Dec, 2009 14:29
• I've seen about 3 cams that broke because of people using the cam lock to tighten/loosen the cam. One snapped right at the #4 bearing
• #16 by Makebeleaf on 17 Dec, 2009 02:59
• You can get the tool from Princess auto for $15 from Princess Auto. Pretty darn cheap and no messing around!
  
  http://www.princessauto.com/tools/auto-repair/auto-repair/8159808-camshaft-holding-tool?keyword=cam+tool
  
  
  
• #17 by smutts on 18 Dec, 2009 03:22
• Bit of lead flashing to protect the cam lobe, seems easiest.
• #18 by Vincent Waldon on 18 Dec, 2009 06:35
• My thoughts are:
  
  - if you use the cam lock to to loosen the cam sprocket you will very often get this result:
  
  
  
  It's not designed for those forces evidently.
  
  - if done properly, this is safe:
  
  
  
  "Done properly" means the wrench is very carefully adjusted so that it's grabbing the sides of the cam lobe rather than the profile that actually engages the lifter.  That way even if a nick results it's not on the part of the cam that pushes against the lifter.
  
  - having said that, the tool on the bottom (as suggested by Makebeleaf) is dirty cheap and works extremely well for all kinds of different sprockets:
  
  
  
  
  I can't imagine taking the risk with any other method... just my opinion.
• #19 by rabbitman on 18 Dec, 2009 12:49
• I really doubt an adjustable wrench could hurt a cam lobe, that stuff is sooo hard.
  
  I have a junk cam I will smack with different stuff (hammer, screwdriver, punch, chisel yada yada) and see how it takes it.
• #20 by theman53 on 18 Dec, 2009 13:13
• I smacked one with a hammer as hard as I could once. It was an accident I was using a punch to get out a headbolt and missed the punch . It did make a mark on the cam, but I ran it afterwards with no ill effects. I could basically see it, but not really feel it, and it was off to the side so it wasn't on the lifter squarely.
• #21 by smutts on 28 Dec, 2009 09:17
• If anyone in experimenting with a knackered cam with a hammer, mind your eyes if the result is shrapnel.
• #22 by Rabbit on Roids on 29 Dec, 2009 11:48
• ok, well, if someone does some valid testing, and the cam doesnt scratch, i will use that method next time i do something up there. i could see it working if you used a wrench with nice clean jaws, and no burrs anywhere to mar the cam, and with it nice and tight against the cam and tightened so it couldnt slip or twist, it seems like it would work fine. i keep forgetting these cams are SUPER hard alloy, probably harder than any tool alloy really.
• #23 by Vanagoner on 29 Dec, 2009 12:50
• Please help school me up-  I always leave the cam free and hit a wrench with a brass hammer to loosen it.  I tighten it up that way too when I'm done.  Am I hurting the belt or anything else by doing so?