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dieseltdi Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2006 Posts: 538 Location: Grapevine, Texas
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 4:22 pm Post subject: Which cam? |
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I am about to start my first rebuild of a 36hp engine. I have rebuilt many VW engine but I have never had the problem of figuring out which cam gear goes in the engine. +1, +2, -1, -2, 0? Any way to figure it out without buying 3 or mare cams? Hayden |
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Dan22 Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2019 Posts: 465 Location: Battle Ground, WA
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2021 7:17 pm Post subject: Re: Which cam? |
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You can start by matching what came out of the engine. In reality the best ways is to sort it out as you assemble the motor. There is a backlash spec. Too tight and the cam pops out of its bearing as you rotate, or too loose and you feel the backlash. Then adjust accordingly.
The perfect gear may not exist but some vendors sell different numbered gears new. I do have a spare couple of gears. One is a +4 (new). _________________ 1-0900722 die langsame grüne Schildkröte
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=765074 |
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dieseltdi Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2006 Posts: 538 Location: Grapevine, Texas
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2021 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: Which cam? |
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problem is, I don't have the cam that cam out of this engine. I have a cam, but haven't cleaned it up yet but it is labeled as having come out of another block that I have. I am trying to rebuild the original numbers matching engine. I have the fully dressed crank but so far I haven't found the cam that goes with it. Hayden |
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Dan22 Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2019 Posts: 465 Location: Battle Ground, WA
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:18 pm Post subject: Re: Which cam? |
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Well it can be a starting point then. At least you have it and don't have to buy 3. With the one example cam you can use it, go up one, or go down 1. This assumes the cam journals and cam bearing surfaces are in good shape.
Somewhere I saw a reference to what the different numbers mean in terms of backlash. It could have been in the VW Trends rebuild article. Check that out at least. It is somewhere on this site. _________________ 1-0900722 die langsame grüne Schildkröte
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=765074 |
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glutamodo The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004 Posts: 26310 Location: Douglas, WY
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2021 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: Which cam? |
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The timing gear pitch radius is a way to correct for slightly different center-lines between the crankshaft and camshaft bores.
Put the crank in the case with its bearings. Along with the cam you have, mesh them correctly, make sure the bearings have some lube and spin the crank over by hand a couple of turns forwards. Then do it again backwards. Watch and feel all the time for signs of binding or the cam gear wanting to lift up. _________________ Andy T.
IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox. |
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dieseltdi Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2006 Posts: 538 Location: Grapevine, Texas
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: Which cam? |
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turns out the cam I have is a -4. I am going to see if I can find a couple of other cams and just use the one that "fits" the best. |
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dieseltdi Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2006 Posts: 538 Location: Grapevine, Texas
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Which cam? |
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OK I now have a few more cams with varying numbers on them from +3. +4, a 0, but I also have a cam that has absolutely NO number on it. Any ideas? |
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Dan22 Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2019 Posts: 465 Location: Battle Ground, WA
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69809 Location: Phoenix Metro
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