How to Loosen Cam Lockring Nut

[305explr]

The cam unit sits on my bench, and I cannot get purchase anywhere along the camshaft to hold it immobile in order to loosen the cam lockring nut (left-hand threads - I know).

I wrapped the coarse-threaded end with a cloth and pinched it with vise grips, and am beginning to damage the threads. Where else do people grab the camshaft in order to prevent it from spinning freely while attempting to loosen the lockring nut? (which is TIGHT!)

...Or have I misunderstood something about this disassembly?

Thanks,

Andy

[LOUD MOUSE]

I use Vise Grip pliers on the tapered (left) side of the sprocket body. I then use a flat front chisel to drive the large nut to the right. ........................lm

The cam unit sits on my bench, and I cannot get purchase anywhere along the camshaft to hold it immobile in order to loosen the cam lockring nut (left-hand threads - I know).

I wrapped the coarse-threaded end with a cloth and pinched it with vise grips, and am beginning to damage the threads. Where else do people grab the camshaft in order to prevent it from spinning freely while attempting to loosen the lockring nut? (which is TIGHT!)

...Or have I misunderstood something about this disassembly?

Thanks,

Andy

[jwbert]

You can also wedge a piece of oak or other hardwood block between the chain sprocket and head itself, this will allow you to drive the locking nut loose. jwb

[305explr]

Got it. Thanks, guys. A problem remains, however.

When I followed Bill Silver's guide and "tapp[ed] on the end of the lockring bolt until it free[d] itself", the entire cam unit slid sideways until the the bearing retainers popped free of their holes in the head.

I got the right side of the cam to separate from the timing sprocket housing, but it all hangs limp but trapped within the head b/c of the bearings/retainers.

Silver's manual does not address this as far as I know. The last thing I want to do is force anything and damage the retainers or the casting.

Surely this happens all the time. How do I proceed removing the cam at this point?

[LOUD MOUSE]

I'm not aware of any bearing retainers. ................lm

Got it. Thanks, guys. A problem remains, however.

When I followed Bill Silver's guide and "tapp[ed] on the end of the lockring bolt until it free[d] itself", the entire cam unit slid sideways until the the bearing retainers popped free of their holes in the head.

I got the right side of the cam to separate from the timing sprocket housing, but it all hangs limp but trapped within the head b/c of the bearings/retainers.

Silver's manual does not address this as far as I know. The last thing I want to do is force anything and damage the retainers or the casting.

Surely this happens all the time. How do I proceed removing the cam at this point?

[djohns]

By retainers do you mean the ball retainers that keep the balls separated? If the "cages" came apart than the bearings no good anyway. Like LM stated there are no retainers on any of the 4 cam bearings. A nice picture will be worth a thousand words. Thank heaven for the digital world.

[305explr]

A pic...as requested.

As you can see, the rt. half of the cam is separated from the right side of the cam sprocket. Note also how the ENTIRE cam assembly is headed right, and is hanging free. My questions is... now what?

1.) How to get the rt. side assembly out of the engine.
2.) How to separate and remove the left side from the cam sprocket.

The ball bearing "cages" are intact and a-ok. In my above post, I called them retainers b/c that's the vocab in bicycle mechanics, which is what I'm familiar with. Bearing retainers as opposed to sealed bearings, as opposed to loose balls. I'll gladly use bearings if that term keeps things clear for everyone.

Hope this helps!