Have I compromised a camshaft?
 

I just replaced the tensioner pads on my engine and I made a newbie error while disassembling the cams. After reading from several sources and watching videos I went ahead and removed the camshaft cover on bank 2 with the crankshaft 360 degrees off of where it should have been and I didn’t have a tool installed to hold the ends of the cams in place as the cover came off. As a result cylinder 5 was on the intake stroke the intake cam lobes were pushing on the valves and so the end of that camshaft lifted about an inch or 2. I quickly put retainers on the cams to bring them back to where they should have been.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1633195958.jpg

Before reassembly I turned the engine to where it should have been and used a tool to hold the camshafts in place while reinstalling the cover.

I have since read that the camshaft can break if it is not removed correctly. The engine turns over by hand with seemingly no ill affects. Did I dodge a bullet or is it possible that the camshaft will break once the engine is running?

I have no real expertise so just my opinion..
I'm actually doing the same job right now and I was waiting for tensioners to arrive to put my engine back together.

When I took my cam covers off I did remember to turn the crank 360° to put the opposite bank at top dead center and my cams did not move very much if any..

That said since 5 chain motor uses the cam covers to retain the cams if everything gets back together correctly and spins freely I would imagine you're fine.

Good luck!

Although it`s possible, it needs quite a bit of force to break the camshaft. It`s not ideal to let one side rise while the other side is clamped down because it generates tension, but the camshafts should withstand that amount of force. And if it breaks, you will notice it. So I think you should be ok. It`s always a good idea though to use proper tools for this job and it`s easy to make one to hold down the camshafts while doing this job.

I posted this question on the Rennlist 996 forum and got this reply. See post #11.
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/1260439-ims-sprocket-slip-experience.html
I think that this winter I will remove the camshaft and have it magnafluxed just for peace of mind.

I bought a dye pen kit which is supposed to expose and surface cracks. Did the procedure on the intake cam, which is the one that is worrying me and found no indication of a problem. A crack would be indicated by a red line in the white developer.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1638829542.jpg

So I can will the cams and tensioner back together.

See? Told you so! :dance: