How to clean camshafts before installation

[Spetz]

Hi guys,

I had my camshafts out to get a linish(?) done to them as there were some stains from the engine not starting for many years.

Anyway, I assume they polished some metal off and hence I need to clean the cams before installation.

How would I clean them?
What would I use?

Please note I don't have a parts washer or anything like that.

The cam place told me to clean them with white spirit but I am not sure if I can use cloth to wipe them or not?

 

[JC1]

Is there a film of some sort on the cams? What about trying brake cleaner and a blue shop towel?

 

[Spetz]

I would assume brake cleaner should do the job but I am not sure and as I am concerned of introducing contaminants into the inside of the engine I wanted to do it right.

 

[Ducked]

You can use whatever you like as long as it is clean, isn't abrasive and doesn't shed large particles.

I use a lot of toilet paper/paper towels when I do anything with engine internals. They may shed a few cellulose fibres, but as long as these aren't big enough to be potential oil-passage blockers, I don't worry about them.

Of course oil or grease it when re-installing. There are special assembly lubes, which tend to feature molybdenum, and even special camshaft lubes, though I'd be very surprised if you can get them in Taiwan.

http://www.penriteoil.com.au/products.php?id_products=109

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/search/Assembly+Lube+%26+Valve+Compound/N0408/C0139.oap

If you can't/won't get those, but wan't something heavier/more persistent(?) than oil, some people use vaseline, which allegedly disperses OK in the oil.

 

[Trav]

I just use brake cleaner and blow it off with compressed air or wipe it with a lint free cloth. This cam will require break in lube on the lobes and bearing saddles as it sounds like its been re-ground, don't miss this step.
Use a high zinc engine break in oil and bring the engine up to 2000-2500 RPM as soon as it gets oil pressure and keep it there for 20 min. its very easy to blow a re-ground or new cam and trash the rest of the engine with it. Drive it about 100 miles and dump the oil and filter for normal fill.

 

[Spetz]

Thanks guys.

The cams have not been reground, they just had basically a bit of a polish done to them because of this:

And how they are now:

Will I need to break them in?
I was planning on squirting them with normal oil during installation

 

[Trav]

IMO breaking them in would be the smart thing to do, the surface hardening from break in is very easily removed. Being an OHC you will probably get away without a dedicated break in oil as the pressure on the lobes is less than a push rod engine but I would use a cam break in lube anyway.

 

[Chris142]

Brake cleaner and paper towel. Not rags.

 

[spasm3]

I've always used a thin coat of moly assembly paste on cams and lifters.

I've used soap and water, like joy soap. I use a bristle brush , followed by brake cleaner and then wd-40 to displace any moisture.

 

[Robenstein]

Brake cleaner and wipe down with a shop towel. Blow off with some compressed air to remove any shedded fibers. Then put on some Isky rev lube or other cam lube and run in properly like a new cam just to be safe.

 

[HerrStig]

Bead blast them with CO 2 pellets.

 

[Brybo86]

Rinse with mineral spirits, air dry , install

 

[KingCake]

Use coffee filters. Blue shop rags leave tons of FM.

 

[Fred_Garvin]

Use solvent or soap and water' let dry. Lube the journals and bearings upon installation.

These are roller cams so no need for break in. Just a squirt of oil will do. I would lube the rollers on the followers with oil and spin them so you know they are lubed.
I would not put a grease especially one with moly on the lobes or rollers. Moly could actually cause the rollers to slide or skid and cause premature wear and flat spots.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: Fred_Garvin
Use solvent or soap and water' let dry. Lube the journals and bearings upon installation.

These are roller cams so no need for break in. Just a squirt of oil will do. I would lube the rollers on the followers with oil and spin them so you know they are lubed.
I would not put a grease especially one with moly on the lobes or rollers. Moly could actually cause the rollers to slide or skid and cause premature wear and flat spots.


Thats a good point! I never really thought about that. The moly paste is a carry over from the flat tappet cams.

 

[Fred_Garvin]

Yea I have a couple tubs of it for when I build a flat tappet engine. Just don't put it on the side of the lifters or in the bores. Also have used it to lube fasteners when it is called for.

 

[Spetz]

Thanks everyone for all the valuable info

 

[philipp10]

I do all this cleaning in a class 10 cleanroom......