cam removal problem

cuzncletus

cuzncletus

Senior Member
I'm trying to get my "new" 8ba disassembled for cleaning/magnafluxing. There were the usual stuck valves, etc. associated with getting it apart but the final step has me flummoxed. I can't get the cam out. It will move about half the distance of a bearing, then something hits some sort of obstruction that prevents it from moving further. The lifters are out, the fuel pump pushrod is out, the idler gear at the back of the cam moves freely. The owner and the main machinist at the machine shop where I work part time were baffled, too. The owner thought it might be a tight spot on a bearing but he also felt the solid obstruction. It's not a "slow" sticking like a tight bearing but makes a pronounced ringing in the cam when the obstruction is hit. I don't want to go for the bigger hammer theory yet.

All keepers are out and accounted for. Using a light no one can see what's keeping the cam in. Any idea of what gives? Or in this case, doesn't?
 
I didn't remove the idler gear. It turns freely and rotates without problem as cam starts to slide out. It looks like it's on a press fit pin. I didn't think this had to be removed every time you would change a cam, in turn neccessitating removing the engine or at least dropping the trans, clutch, and bell housing.
 
Are you sure the WHOLE fuel pump pushrod came out? There is a solid piece about an inch long on the very bottom of the hollow tube.
 
I remember a post made by Walt Dupont over a year ago about having trouble removing a camshaft. He found a piece from the end of the fuel pump push rod that was still down in the hole preventing the camshaft from coming out. He magnetized the end of a screwdriver to pull that piece out which then allowed the camshaft to come out.
 
I'll say it again, along with others. I think you'll find there is a piece of the of the fuel pump push rod down the hole. it only has to be about 1/4in. long. Take a pen light and look down the hole and see if you see something funney down there. It may be hard to get out. Walt
 
Have you tried turning the block upside down? It seems like if there is a piece of push rod holding the cam, it might fall out in that position. FWIW
 
Run a tap into the fuel pump bushing. Using a slide hammer pull the bushing.
Now I usuallu install the rear cambearing 90 degs blocking the pushrod hole and tapping the bushing hole and installing a plug. We did this on the 294.
 
cuzncletus said:
I didn't remove the idler gear. It turns freely and rotates without problem as cam starts to slide out. It looks like it's on a press fit pin. I didn't think this had to be removed every time you would change a cam, in turn neccessitating removing the engine or at least dropping the trans, clutch, and bell housing.
Click to expand...

You have to remove the gear.
 
I'll look again. I got this piece of advice from the local flathead guru and checked the pushrod hole again. The pushrod wasn't in this engine when I got it. I can look down the hole and see the cam moving back and forth when I try to pull it out. I think I can see the bearing surface of the cam but I left the block at the machine shop so it might be a day or two before I can get to it. I'll see if it's a sleeve around the pushrod that's interfering. I don't know much what elese it could be or someone here would have had the solution.
 
cuzncletus said:
I'll look again. I got this piece of advice from the local flathead guru and checked the pushrod hole again. The pushrod wasn't in this engine when I got it. I can look down the hole and see the cam moving back and forth when I try to pull it out. I think I can see the bearing surface of the cam but I left the block at the machine shop so it might be a day or two before I can get to it. I'll see if it's a sleeve around the pushrod that's interfering. I don't know much what elese it could be or someone here would have had the solution.
Click to expand...

You have to remove the gear.
 
Cam should come out without removing pump idler gear.Is the top of the push rod bushing flush with the hole in the block and not installed to deep?

R
 
I could imagine that if the oil pump and idler gear were frozen and couldn't turn that the idler gear could cause some problem. Never seen it but maybe possible.
 
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