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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: TOW'D on April 02, 2008, 07:20:12 pm

Title: cam photo and a couple of questions
Post by: TOW'D on April 02, 2008, 07:20:12 pm

Hi Gang,
Have a look at the lobe on #3
(http://towd.smugmug.com/photos/274035594_ESRPa-M.jpg)

I'm replacing the T/Belt on our '85 Golf and the first thing I saw was the cam lobe.
The motor starts and runs just fine but that cam has me worried- all the rest looks good and I didn't find any metal flakes.
What do you think- should I get a replacement cam?
Then of course I'll have to adjust the valves.

#1
Where is a good place to get the replacement cam and valve adjusting shims?

#2
In my Bentley repair manual
to remove the valve cover  they say to remove a socket head flange bolt
near the cam gear
the 6mm socket head bolt I removed holds on the engine lifting eye.
Is this the correct socket head bolt to remove or is there another one that I didn't see?

thanks
hank

Title: cam photo and a couple of questions
Post by: rabbitman on April 02, 2008, 08:08:32 pm

How is the tip of the lobe? The backside of the lobe shouldn't touch the lifter so you might be ok. If the part that hits the lifter is screwed up you'll have to get another cam 'cause it'll wear fast then.

Title: cam photo and a couple of questions
Post by: dieselsnowmobile on April 03, 2008, 05:32:13 pm

Adjust the vavles?  You have a hydro head, correct?  Hydro heads do not need the valves adjusted.

Title: cam photo and a couple of questions
Post by: TOW'D on April 03, 2008, 07:17:10 pm

rabbitman- the tip looks good Any Idea why that lobe is so screwed up?

dieselsnowmobile- I didn't have a clue on if it is a solid or hydro lifters
just that it looked like most solid ohc lifters I've worked on(240 Volvo)
good point but how to tell?
cheers
hank

Title: cam photo and a couple of questions
Post by: TOW'D on April 03, 2008, 08:51:17 pm

reading my Bentley it seems that from 1985 to late '86 the diesel had
solid cam followers

Title: cam photo and a couple of questions
Post by: dillenger1 on April 04, 2008, 07:27:05 pm

You have a hydrolic head ,I can see the return in the pictures :) This is good(no valve adjustment)

Title: cam photo and a couple of questions
Post by: jtanguay on April 05, 2008, 04:56:21 am

is that surface smooth or bumpy or what?? if it was jagged i'd be worried about it possibly damaging the lifter over time... might be a good idea to inspect the lifter for superficial damage.  if that breaks you will be needing a new cam, and possibly valve & head if you were going fast enough  :shock:

if its a smooth blemish then i wouldn't be worried.  as stated above the most pressure comes from the tip.

Title: cam photo and a couple of questions
Post by: TOW'D on April 05, 2008, 08:30:56 am

the tip of that cam lobe is smooth and I don't see any wear on the "shim"
all the rest of the lobes are smooth

Title: cam photo and a couple of questions
Post by: jtanguay on April 05, 2008, 01:08:17 pm

Quote from: "TOW'D"

the tip of that cam lobe is smooth and I don't see any wear on the "shim"
all the rest of the lobes are smooth

looks like you're good to go then!