Hamilton Cams
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- Joined
- Jun 28, 2007
- Messages
- 2,639
I have had two customers in the last year have an issue galling their camshaft journals very soon after startup. In both cases they were new builds that had unprimed lubrication systems. To try and eliminate any lubrication issues with new cams I thought it might be helpful to post up this info. In both cases the cams were sent back and and given a full warranty, and in both cases I polished the cams and ran them in a shop truck with no issues. There were no issues with the cams at all so from now on any Journal oiling issues will be the responsability of the installer. That being said, to make sure there are no other issues please follow these revised instructons.
If you are installing a new performance cam of any brand, you have higher lift that even without performance springs means more pressure. The higher duration means more pressure for more degrees of rotation. Multiply that times twelve and even without heavier springs your journals have much higher loading, add springs and the pressure on the journals goes up a good deal. If you are installing a cam into a runing truck, then your oil system is primed and the lubriplate 105 will suffice for a split second until oil pressure comes up. If it is a new engine and the system is not primed the cam will be turning in the block with only the lubriplate between the cam and the block until pressure comes up. THis is where the problems originate. If only for a split second the cam breaks through the lubriplate there cam be a scratch or a gall where the surfaces of the two pieces will either make a mark or create enough heat to transfer metal to each other. The cam is much harder so it will win every time which is why I have been able to polish the returned cams and run them. If you do not catch it in time it will ruin your block.
To keep this from happening do not let the engine start until you have oil pressure, be sure to fill your oil filter prior to installation. Either disconnect the fuel shutoff solenoid or unplug the injection pump or injectors until oil pressure has come up. The issue is the lubriplate does not have enough film strength for the engine to spin for 30 seconds without oil pressure. To fix this Mix the lubriplate 105 with Lucas oil additive. THis will give the lube a much higher viscosity and film strength and will be an insurance policy until pressure comes up. There is no need to add Lucas to the oil of a new engine as it will prolong the time it takes the rings to seat in. Only apply the mix to the cam and lifters.
Since we have widened our lobes we have eliminated lobe wear. Now we are redesigning our camshaft core again to provide a larger surface area for the journals. Each journal is going to be .030" wider and we are adding .060" length to the back jounal as there is right at .094" excess room to play with.
If you are installing your camshaft into a new engine, please take caution in letting the engine spin long periods of time before you read oil pressure.
thanks,
Zach
If you are installing a new performance cam of any brand, you have higher lift that even without performance springs means more pressure. The higher duration means more pressure for more degrees of rotation. Multiply that times twelve and even without heavier springs your journals have much higher loading, add springs and the pressure on the journals goes up a good deal. If you are installing a cam into a runing truck, then your oil system is primed and the lubriplate 105 will suffice for a split second until oil pressure comes up. If it is a new engine and the system is not primed the cam will be turning in the block with only the lubriplate between the cam and the block until pressure comes up. THis is where the problems originate. If only for a split second the cam breaks through the lubriplate there cam be a scratch or a gall where the surfaces of the two pieces will either make a mark or create enough heat to transfer metal to each other. The cam is much harder so it will win every time which is why I have been able to polish the returned cams and run them. If you do not catch it in time it will ruin your block.
To keep this from happening do not let the engine start until you have oil pressure, be sure to fill your oil filter prior to installation. Either disconnect the fuel shutoff solenoid or unplug the injection pump or injectors until oil pressure has come up. The issue is the lubriplate does not have enough film strength for the engine to spin for 30 seconds without oil pressure. To fix this Mix the lubriplate 105 with Lucas oil additive. THis will give the lube a much higher viscosity and film strength and will be an insurance policy until pressure comes up. There is no need to add Lucas to the oil of a new engine as it will prolong the time it takes the rings to seat in. Only apply the mix to the cam and lifters.
Since we have widened our lobes we have eliminated lobe wear. Now we are redesigning our camshaft core again to provide a larger surface area for the journals. Each journal is going to be .030" wider and we are adding .060" length to the back jounal as there is right at .094" excess room to play with.
If you are installing your camshaft into a new engine, please take caution in letting the engine spin long periods of time before you read oil pressure.
thanks,
Zach
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