Simple Guide To Car Camshaft

A mechanical constituent of an internal combustion engine is a camshaft. The inlet and exhaust valves of the engine block would be opened and closed at the right time, with the perfect stroke and in an accurately defined sequence. It is the crankshaft which drives the camshaft by gear wheels, a toothed belt or a timing chain. With a transmission ratio of 2:1, the rate at which the camshaft would rotate would be half that of the crankshaft.

When a car engine has a designation OHC which stands for Overhead Camshaft, it means that the camshaft is in the cylinder head. If there are two overhead camshafts in a car engine, then one is to operate the intake valves and then the other one is for the exhaust. This is known as DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft) engine.

Are you searching for the different types of camshaft? All you have to do is to have a look below:

According to shape of cam

1. Radial or Disc cam - When it comes to the radial cam, the profile of the car (which is also known as shape of cam) is designed in such a way that the follower moves according to the shape of the cam or cam profile in perpendicular direction to the cam axis.
2. Cylindrical cam - The follower axis and cam axis are parallel to each other in a cylindrical cam. It is a cylindrical shaft and its profile is made up of a cylindrical surface by machining.
3. Translation or wedge cam - The cam is reciprocated and then that movement moves followers in this type of cam. There is a specific shape and profile of the cam by which the movement of followers is done.
4. Conjugate cam - In a conjugate cam, there are two discs which are connected to each other and their axes are offset by the distance, so that cam profile can be formed. A follower has a surface contact with cam profile by two rollers. Now, as the cam starts rotating, the follower starts following it.
5. Globoidal cam - This type of camshaft is a shaft, and it has a concave or convex circumference. It’s one groove is made by machining, and the other groove would be utilized to give movement to the follower.
6. Spherical cam - It is in a spherical shape on which groove is made. The follower has a surface contact with this groove.

According to follower movement

1. Dwell Rise Dwell Return Dwell cam - In this type of camshaft, the movement of the follower is considered. According to the name, the movement of the follower is done in a way that first dwell then rises again dwell then return and again dwell.
2. Dwell Rise Return Dwell cam - The movement of the follower would be considered in this type of camshaft. The movement of the follower would be done as per its name, first dwell then rise then return and again dwell. All of this process would be done in one rotation (360 degree) of cam.
3. Rise Return Rise cam - In this type of camshaft, the movement is done in a way that first it rises and then returns. This process is done in one rotation (360 degree) of cam.
4. Dwell Rise Dwell cam - The movement of the follower would be considered in this type of camshaft. The movement of the follower is done as per its name like first dwell then rise then again dwell.

According to the Camshaft Material

The material of the camshaft plays a very essential role in stopping premature wear of performance camshafts.

There are a lot of materials of the camshafts which are manufactured from:

Cast Irons:

• Hard enable iron
• Spheroidal graphite cast iron known as sg iron
• Chilled chrome cast iron

Steel Camshafts:

• Carbon steel
• Alloyed steels
• Nitriding steel

Are you searching how the camshaft works? Then all you have to do is to have a look below, and then you will understand everything.

1. Single Overhead Cam - If there is an overhead camshaft, then it will have a single overhead cam if all the cylinders are in line. There is a requirement of only one camshaft for each line of cylinders. If an engine has a V in front of the number of cylinders, like V8, then there would be a total of two camshafts, one for each of the lines of the cylinders. An overhead camshaft operates in a different manner than a regular camshaft. The lobes which are there in an overhead camshaft moves the rockers at the top of the cylinder, which opens and closes the valves. The springs, which are very strong, operate the valves.
2. Dual Overhead Cams - The engines which are very powerful have four valves in each cylinder and then the dual overhead cams are also employed. It means that there are two camshafts for each line of cylinders, which can accommodate all the valves. It would be a lot for a single camshaft. If there is more fuel and air to enter the cylinder, the gases are expelled harder, leading to more power.
3. Timing - There are a lot of car engines which allow just one timing, which is the rotation of the camshaft and the speed with which the valves open up and then close. There can be some variations. In some automobiles it is possible to alter the valve timing, or it can be moved little ahead. It shifts when the valve closes or opens up.

Do you want to know some frequent problems which might occur in the camshaft? Have a look below to know some frequent problems with the camshaft:

1. Cracked / Broken - When a camshaft starts breaking, it is usually a result of some component failure. Now in this case the pushrod engines might contact with a broken conrod.
2. Picked Up / Seized - The camshafts which have old design engines like side valve or pushrod engines are less prone to camshaft seizure or pick-up. It only appears if the cam bearings are not fitted in the right manner.
3. Flogged / Worn Out - The lobes of the camshaft are very prone to wearing out or being wiped.

Repairing a camshaft is rarely recommended because of manufacturing processes. Although some high-performance engines have repairable camshafts, this is not a cost-effective or realistic option for the average car on the road. Instead, if your car needs a new camshaft, the safest option is to replace it.

Do you want to repair your car camshaft on your own? In that case you should have the correct tools which are required for repairing your car camshaft. Have a look at the most important tools which you might require repairing your car camshaft:

• Hydraulic floor jack
• Jack stands
• Pry bar
• Ratchet
• Sockets and Extensions
• Repair manual
• Torque wrench
• Wheel chocks
• Crankshaft Holding Tool

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• Dorman (Oe Solutions) Camshaft And Parts
• Sealed Power Camshaft And Parts
• Mr. Gasket Camshaft And Parts
• Blue Streak (Hygrade Motor) Camshaft And Parts
• Clevite Camshaft And Parts
• Techsmart Camshaft And Parts 
• Edelbrock Camshaft And Parts

There might be a big-picture overview of car camshaft in your mind, and now it’s time to look at its related components.

• Camshaft Position Sensor
• Camshaft Sprocket
• Rocker Arm
• Exhaust Valve
• Cylinder Head
• Camshaft Actuator
• Engine Oil
• Timing Chain
• Oil Filter
• Oil Pan

Do you want to change your camshaft on your own? Then have a look at the steps of changing the camshaft below:

Step 1

First you should park your automobile on a hard, level surface and then the parking brake should be applied. The hood should be opened up and then the car engine should be allowed to cool down.

Step 2

The wheel chocks should be placed around the rear wheels.

Step 3

Then the front of the vehicle should be jacked up.

Step 4

The jack stands should be placed under the body pinch welds. Then the vehicle should be carefully lowered down onto the jack stands.

Step 5

Then the engine drive belt should be removed carefully.

Step 6

After that, it is essential to remove the timing cover.

Step 7

The connectors on the ignition coils should be disconnected.

Step 8

Then the ignition coils should be carefully removed.

Step 9

The valve cover mounting bolts and the valve cover should then be removed.

Step 10

The ratchet and the appropriate socket should be used to rotate the engine by utilizing the crankshaft pulley center bolt.

Step 11

Then the next step would be to carefully remove the timing belt.

Step 12

The camshaft bearing cap retainer bolts should then be removed. A ratchet and the appropriate socket should be used for this.

Step 13

The bearing caps should be removed and should be placed aside.

Step 14

The camshaft should be removed by grabbing it and pulling it straight up.

Step 15

After that, the camshaft gear should be carefully removed.

Step 16

The camshaft gear should be installed onto the new camshaft.

Step 17

After that, the camshaft bolt should be installed. Then it should be torque as per the specifications set by the manufacturers.

Step 18

Then the camshaft should be installed onto the cylinder head.

Step 19

The camshaft bearing caps should be installed back into their original locations.

Step 20

Then you should torque the bearing cap bolts.

Step 21

The camshaft timing marks should be realigned.

Step 22

The timing belt should then be reinstalled onto the camshaft gear.

Step 23

Carefully tighten the timing belt.

Step 24

We should turn the car engine to ensure correct camshaft alignment.

Step 25

The new valve cover gasket should be installed onto the valve cover.

Step 26

Then it is essential to install the valve cover onto the engine.

Step 27

Install the timing cover by utilizing its mounting bolts.

Step 28

Then the next step is to install the ignition coils.

Step 29

After that you should install the ignition coil connectors.

Step 30

Then the engine drive belt should be installed.

Step 31

The vehicle should then be lowered down and then you should make sure that the car engine is running properly.