Cracked cam cap repair

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bengone1
Posts: 77
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:15 pm
My Bike: 1994 ZXR400
Location: Virginia Beach USA
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Cracked cam cap repair

Post by bengone1 »

Admission of wrong doing enclosed:
So I swapped out the Jap cams for the UK cams a while back, adjusted valves etc. . Since then I have done a track day and a few long rides so maybe 30hrs on the engine since I was playing with it. I left one of the exhaust valves on the loose side so I had a light tapping that I attributed to that. The cyl #1/#2 exhaust cam cap had epoxy keeping the oil supply piece together. The last owner must have tightened down the cam cap with out tightening down the chain guide at the same time. It seemed to be holding so I left well enough alone. While I was buttoning up the right side timing chain cover I found two silver dowels on the ground. I looked and looked and could not figure out where they went (in the timing chain cover area). I put them on the tool box and said a little prayer. The smart bums already figured out they were the camshaft cap dowels.

I went for a ride with a friend after doing a all fluids, filters chain, sprockets, tires, and rigged the fairings back on. Needless to say his bike ran great mine developed a nasty tap. So I parked it and pulled off the valve cover and noticed the epoxy job coming undone. Undid the cams and found one bolt for the #1/#2 intake cam cap bolt was loose. A little marring on the lobe. Still smooth to the fingernail so I will let it ride. I look down at the head and lo-n-behold there are the empty spots for the dowels. No wonder the bolt worked loose.

Any suggestions for epoxying this cam cap back together? It is only the oil feed. Nothing load bearing.
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Mori Man
Blingmeister
Blingmeister
Posts: 1976
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 3:30 pm
My Bike: ZXR400J2
Location: JAPAN

Re: Cracked cam cap repair

Post by Mori Man »

You come up with any solution for this ?

i thought JB weld was ment to sort anything :smt002

MM!
Nothing worse than having an H and not being able to scratch it !
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bengone1
Posts: 77
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:15 pm
My Bike: 1994 ZXR400
Location: Virginia Beach USA
Contact:

Re: Cracked cam cap repair

Post by bengone1 »

I went with this Quick steel putty BS that I didn't like. I did however place a small spring clamp around the puttied pieces and placed some more putty on it to secure it further. It didn't come off on installation. I went for a few short rides and will be pulling the cam cover to re shim a couple exhaust valves that I left on the loose side. I will also be inspecting the followers. I get a nasty tap when fully warmed, which I think is odd. Cold it is much quieter.

A happy note: I think the carbs are finally sorted. Starts easy hot or cold. Time to play with jets!
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