Rusty Cams

Jim Paterson · Jul 26, 2011

I removed the oil pan today so I could look up into the block and I noticed that the lobes on the cams have some rust on them. Will it be necessary for me to replace the camshaft or have something done to the lobes? Any suggestions would be helpful.

Bob · Jul 26, 2011

It's probably NOT unusual for an "elderly" tractor that has sat for a while without being run to have some surface rust on the cam lobes.

NOT a GOOD thing, but something that happens in the real world.

Fresh oil and then working it a bit will tell the tale... either things will polish up or it's too badly pitted and the cam will fail after a while. WHO can know?

Dalex · Jul 26, 2011

I"m also working on a Super "A" , same symptom.I have the cam out so I polished it on the Lathe , but one lobe has alot of pitting . I believe it will be ok .The lifters are plenty wide enough to carry the load even with some pitting ....

Anonymous-0 · Jul 27, 2011

take some scotch brite to it and knock the big chunks off best you can then put like lubriplate grease on it, after you take the scotch brite to it you can see if they are pitted or not. if they arent, i wouldnt worry about it too much, especially if its been sitting a while

JRSutton · Jul 27, 2011

I'm assuming the tractor's been sitting?

If it's been running and they're rusty, you've got problems!

But assuming it's been sitting...

The only problem with a corroded lobe is that it could wear the lifter a little more quickly than a well machined lobe would. But, unless it's REAL bad, you're talking thousanths of an inch over many years. Which is nothing.

If you ever do change the cam, you'd have to change the lifters too anyways, so you're not risking anything by running it as is, even if it's real bad.

So I wouldn't worry at all. I would however make sure they're well lubed before starting it. The most damage that would come from them would happen in the first few seconds of running them dry.

After that, you can forget about them.

You should probably change the oil sooner than you normally would after the first start up, just to be safe.

Jim Paterson · Jul 27, 2011

Thanks guys. I'm going to take the Scotch Brite idea and the pre-starting lubrication idea and stop with that. It has been sitting for about six years and it looks like it is only fine surface rust (no chunks). I just got this tractor (Farmall H 1944) about a month ago for free. I can't wait to get it restored and drive it in my towns Memorial Day parade next year. Thanks for all your advice.

Rusty Cams

Jim Paterson

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Bob

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Dalex

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Anonymous-0

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JRSutton

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Jim Paterson

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