Sloppy cam- what now?
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 579
Likes: 26
From: Virginia
Sloppy cam- what now?
I just put in my new woods W6 cam with the thrust washer and bolted the cover on. The cam moves back and forth a lot! I added up a few feeler gauges and I got .07 inches of room between the thrust washer and the end of the cam if I pull it out towards the timing cover. I'm assuming I need to buy some shims unless I'm missing a piece. I didn't drive my cam bearing in too far did I? If I need a shim, what size?
Last edited by zimm; Nov 10, 2013 at 08:31 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Ohio
I've noticed that some aftermarket cam cover gaskets are thicker and throw the clearance off, found that out when switching cams, changed nothing else and had the same clearance issues like you are having.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 5
From: Florida
You can't drive the bearing in too far, unless you bust the retainer machined into the boss on the case out. Bearing depth wouldn't have any effect on cam end play anyway, unless it wasn't driven in far enough.
While the moco specs are "generous" on cam end play @ .001-.050, most consider that too generous, and shoot for .005-.015 clearance. I have mine set @ .009 w/ a .070 shim, using a Cometic gasket (which is slightly thicker than OE).
Although you could "get away" with .020 clearance, I would just get the correct shim to get around .010 or so, and unless you are 100% sure, go ahead and order a couple more @ .005 above and below your target number. They are cheap, and not worth waiting again if you realize you need a bigger/smaller shim.
Don't forget to check your breather valve shim clearance as well. I needed a thicker one due to wear on the old one/thicker gasket. Clearance on this is pretty tight @ .001-.011
While the moco specs are "generous" on cam end play @ .001-.050, most consider that too generous, and shoot for .005-.015 clearance. I have mine set @ .009 w/ a .070 shim, using a Cometic gasket (which is slightly thicker than OE).
Although you could "get away" with .020 clearance, I would just get the correct shim to get around .010 or so, and unless you are 100% sure, go ahead and order a couple more @ .005 above and below your target number. They are cheap, and not worth waiting again if you realize you need a bigger/smaller shim.
Don't forget to check your breather valve shim clearance as well. I needed a thicker one due to wear on the old one/thicker gasket. Clearance on this is pretty tight @ .001-.011
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 5
From: Florida
If you have any, check with a local indy shop, they may have the shim you need.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 579
Likes: 26
From: Virginia
My Indy shop should be open tomorrow, I'll call them. If not I'll mail order. Breather gear is okay, s&s came with a bag of shims. I used the service manuals number of .006? (Can remember off the top of head) for gasket squish, I'm using the thicker cometic gasket.
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From: la la land jerzey
it could be just me but i dont see the large thrust washer that is .060 thick in the picture - or maybe what is in the picture is the large one and the adjustable smaller one is covered in lube -- johnjzjz