310 Problem Diagnosed

Jim Meade

Member
I posted two earlier messages about the problems with my 310 turbo diesel that was overhauled two years ago, ran fine, and was running on a grain vac at full power when it simply died.
Several of you offered suggestions for troubleshooting for which I am grateful.
Today, I pulled the front cover off the engine and found the camshaft broke right behind the gear. The cam bearing was perfect. I guess I'm going to check the runout on the crank gear and make sure it is running true and not putting a side load on the cam gear.
The break was clean and didn't show any signs of prior cracking.
I have another cam so I guess I'll put it in.
Does anyone have any sure fire solutions to keeping the lifters from dropping? Otherwise, I'm thinking I'll pull the engine and lay it on it's side so the lifters don't drop down on me.
 
Is this the improved camshaft? How much backlash did you have and how many place did you check it. Good heavy rubber bands to put pressure on the pushrods always worked for e.
 
I don't remember on the backlash. I'll make a point to check it.
How did you use the rubber bands to put pressure on the push rods and keep the lifter up?
 
By doing this you are overlooking a huge general rule of the thumb. This rule is never mix used lifters with a used cam. You will peel the cam either sooner or later there is no getting around it. I know of some folks doing this and getting away with it but it"s just something one doesn"t do.

If you decide to go with it just keep an eye on your oil filter media or your oil dipstick for metal particles.

If your previous rebuild didn"t use new lifters on a new cam this may be the reason your gear sheared off, you had some galling on a cam lobe.

Good luck
 
I would measure the lobes on you replacement cam. I parted out a few 310s and it seemed like about 1 in 3 had significant wear on just one lo be. It was usually one lobe and you could see it just by eye.
 
I have 12 of the pencil "fetch" magnets that I hold the lifters up with. Worked pretty slick on a 4010 JD that I did a while back. Magnet sticks to the lifter and the block holding it in place.
 

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