• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Pitted cams - is this normal?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Guest
Hey guys,

This is a copy post from my build thread but really haven't gotten much feedback so I'm reposting here to hopefully get some answers. Anyway, I bought this 1988 GSX 600 motor recently for a engine swap project. I wanted to take a look inside before pulling the 550 in my '82 katana. The motor had 11k miles on it. Looked clean except for the following cam lobe. There's one other cam lobe that has the streaking but no pitting. Both are on the exhaust cam. I'm just trying to ascertain if this is a metal defect from the factory or something caused by neglect or abuse and is the cam shot or can it be run like this? I did a search on the net a found only a couple of threads with varying answers. If it's a metallurgy issue then I feel better about it. If not, then I'm probably going to have to open the engine up even deeper for inspection. Thanks for the input.

DSC03682.JPG
 
Definitely not "normal". I would not consider running an engine with cams in that condition.
 
Normal, no. Not that uncommon though. Some motors are more liable to this than others. The early 16V Kawasakis do it a lot for example.
What seems to be the sequence is, condensation causes a rust spot which if the motor is left long enough before starting again, becomes a pit. Once the surface is not uniform - and there are pieces of cam floating around - wear accelerates.
I'd look for a cam in better condition. Most cam grinders offer a build up and regrind service if you want to go this way. Whichever way you go, the follower for this lobe will need either resurfacing or replacement.
 
Same thing happened to me on a race bike. I used an oil that "formerly" had a suitable ZDDP content that the new formula lacked. Ruined a cam and rockers. Megacycle to the rescue for a replacement cam and re hard-faced rocker.
Don't use it as-is. More destruction is sure to follow. Paul
 
Ok that's what I was afraid of. That's some deep pitting all the way around the lobe which seems very unusual for a sitting rust issue don't you think? Either way, Looks like I'll need to find a replacement.

Is it ok to put in a used cam and use the existing followers?
 
Ideally, you replace cam and followers as a set. If you find a used cam complete with followers, there's no guarantee they'll go back onto the same lobes...
Find a good cam and get your followers refaced.
 
Sci85 said:
Is it ok to put in a used cam and use the existing followers?
Click to expand...

No. It's just like changing your old drive chain for a new one... and not changing out your sprockets too. The newly installed component just gets chewed up and spit out by the old worn out part. Best to install matched parts in matched sets.

If your exhaust cam is toast, best bet is to replace the exhaust cam and all the exhaust rockers. Sorry :mad:
 
One reason a lot of people use a top end oilier// That rocker and cam are toast !!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top