Camshaft degreeing tools

[Maido]

I am sure someone out there can help, I am after a tool or an idea to help with degreeing cams. I have only done a couple of engines and am keen for some help if anyone knows a better way.

When ever I have degreed cams thus far I have used an extension on the end of the dial guage (usually a blunt brass rod of about 1 1/2mm diameter) that rests on the shim bucket. The problems I have had in the past is that, because everyting is very tight and there isn't much room between the cam lobe and bucket, the extension ends up resting on the unmachined surface on the cam.
Of course, when you rotate the cam the unmachined part resting on the extension can make for some interesting measurements.

My question is, is there a tool that makes this job easier to do, or is it much easier to put the cam in the lathe and skim the part of the cam that is causing the mis readings? (Could this be classed as modifying the cams in a production class?)
Am I actually approaching this the right way!

Anyways, advanced thanks and +rep squares for anyone who can shed a light on this.

Regards
Jeremy

[Shaun P]

On some engines there is enough room to get at the buckets on the end of camshafts furtherest from the timing chain using a dial gauge with an extension, so you will not contact the cam at all, eg no 1 cylinder inlet and exhaust.

Also I made an spreadsheet to make the job easier.

[Shaun P]

To use the spreadsheet input your own measurements of when the inlet and exhaust cams open and close @ 1mm lift, in the LH white cells. Then input your desired lobe centers in the RH white cells which will then give you your duration, lobe center and what degree the valves open.

[Ozzy27]

I am sure someone out there can help, I am after a tool or an idea to help with degreeing cams. I have only done a couple of engines and am keen for some help if anyone knows a better way.

When ever I have degreed cams thus far I have used an extension on the end of the dial guage (usually a blunt brass rod of about 1 1/2mm diameter) that rests on the shim bucket. The problems I have had in the past is that, because everyting is very tight and there isn't much room between the cam lobe and bucket, the extension ends up resting on the unmachined surface on the cam.
Of course, when you rotate the cam the unmachined part resting on the extension can make for some interesting measurements.

My question is, is there a tool that makes this job easier to do, or is it much easier to put the cam in the lathe and skim the part of the cam that is causing the mis readings? (Could this be classed as modifying the cams in a production class?)
Am I actually approaching this the right way!

Anyways, advanced thanks and +rep squares for anyone who can shed a light on this.

Regards
Jeremy

Hi Jeremy
The best thing that I have found for making a pointer for your DTI is an old carb needle. You can wind this into the thread on the DTI and bent it to have a curve to get around the cam and get at the bucket and has A nice fine point and is long enought to get the DTI out of the way a bit.
I'm sure you will have some old 2 stroke ones floating about.
Cheers
Chris

[kickingzebra]

yes, err, having machined cams can get you in trouble in 600ss.. cough. not that anyone apart would even think of getting away with such a thing... cough...

Now if you were on a suzuki, you would never even need to entertain such a thought... LOL

[Shaun]

yes, err, having machined cams can get you in trouble in 600ss.. cough. not that anyone apart would even think of getting away with such a thing... cough...

Now if you were on a suzuki, you would never even need to entertain such a thought... LOL

especially if you can actually ride one fast enough--- het in touch mate

[Maido]

yes, err, having machined cams can get you in trouble in 600ss.. cough. not that anyone apart would even think of getting away with such a thing... cough...

Now if you were on a suzuki, you would never even need to entertain such a thought... LOL

Degreeing not machining, there is a large difference there!
check your sports production rule book, item 3-19 and 3-20

[Shaun]

Degreeing not machining, there is a large difference there!
check your sports production rule book, item 3-19 and 3-20

He was joking man, I think he know's about that rule first hand, as some one protested him some where on a bike he was loaned that was not quite write shall we say

[Maido]

click! haha, I see what you mean now!
On another note, I can't believe someone actually protested, that is almost unheard of! As if anyone in the 600 class would ever "bend the rules"!