Farmall M engine

Trent Couch · Aug 18, 2018

I got a new camshaft for my tractor a 450 camshaft with the LH threads I think it actually came from YT but I ran the camshaft in with a drill and watching it spin I noticed that the first part from the front bearing to second its straight and from the second the third bearing the shaft is wobbling pretty significant. I?ve heard of tappin on the camshaft with a hammer and straightened it back out I know it?s a tractor not a race car but what would you guys do?

scott mcintosh · Aug 18, 2018

Did you put in new cam bearings?If so maybe they sent you wrong ones also I would mic the cam to see new cam is machined right.Scott

ih560 · Aug 18, 2018

If you can, mount it on a set of vee blocks or a lathe and run a dial indicator against it to see how bad it is out. I've straightened them with a hydraulic press before with the cam on vee blocks and a dial indicator to carefully measure how much I am moving things. You typically have to go a little past straight and when you let the pressure off it will give back a little.
You can also do it with a hammer, but I always felt more comfortable with the gentle force of a press.

caterpillar guy · Aug 18, 2018

Last cam I saw adjusted was on a car and they broke it as soon as it had any sideways force at all. If it is not true I would change it, or use it anyway. Are you sure the true is not the casting surface . As between the lobes and main bearing journals on the cam would be the rough casting surface.

ih560 · Aug 18, 2018

Here is one being straightened by a machine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJSHYswoPvU[/url]

gene bender · Aug 18, 2018

I would use a dial indicator and measure the lobes lift at different places to see if the lobes are in spec who cares if the shaft seems bent

rustred · Aug 19, 2018

me, i would not use it if bent. thats not right. how are the cam lobes and followers to wear and turn properly and even valve adjustment. if you can see a wobble its junk.

robgIN · Aug 19, 2018

If the cam is actually bent you should feel it bind when turning. If not you are probably just seeing the un machined part and it is an optical illusion.

David G · Aug 19, 2018

I agree with Rob, if it does not bind when installed, then it is probably an illusion.

Farmall M engine

Trent Couch

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scott mcintosh

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ih560

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caterpillar guy

Well-known Member

ih560

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gene bender

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rustred

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robgIN

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David G

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