The Ford Barn

oljoe001 · 03-11-2012, 05:29 PM

I put a Stipe cam (which I love) and Dan McEachern gears in. The motor runs so much smoother than the reground cam that I had in it. also the laminated gears where to tight and out of round. the new gears have correct backlash. but now the spring on the cam plunger works till the motor warms up then fails (to weak when hot) so my question is.......
Who makes a good plunger spring? I have read people have had issues with some of the new ones currently on the market.
Thanks
Joe

V4F · 03-11-2012, 05:35 PM

i changed to the timing cover with a adjustable bolt with a pad on the end for the cam . never moves ............

James Rogers · 03-11-2012, 06:58 PM

What makes you think the plunger and spring is failing?

Pete · 03-11-2012, 07:45 PM

Stock spring and plunger for stock engines.
Adjustable bolt for modified engines.

Lawrie · 03-11-2012, 08:46 PM

I had a noise in the same area,
My fix was to make a spacer behind the plunger to limit its travel to .006 .
I still fitted the spring.
Lawrie

Glenn C. · 03-11-2012, 08:52 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Lawrie's fix has worked for me on three engines so far with no problems.

oljoe001 · 03-11-2012, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Rogers

What makes you think the plunger and spring is failing?

I have changed it with a little longer one and it works till the engine warms up. then the cam shaft starts moving back and forth ( I pull the side cover off and can watch it while it is running. only does it when its warm. the tension of the spring less the warmer the engine.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 03-12-2012, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oljoe001

I have changed it with a little longer one and it works till the engine warms up. then the cam shaft starts moving back and forth ( I pull the side cover off and can watch it while it is running. only does it when its warm. the tension of the spring less the warmer the engine.

Joe, The moment I think I know it all, I can't get my head out of the danged office door. Bill W.

James Rogers · 03-12-2012, 05:05 AM

I had one like that once, turned out to be the oil pump. The cover was too close to the gears and was dragging when it got hot and expanded. Check other things before condemning the plunger.

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 03-12-2012, 05:16 AM

Yeah, I'm with James on this. To an extent, the hotter spring would gain tension because the metal would expand but the root of the problem needs to be found. "Why" is the camshaft walking? At a steady speed (RPM) or under acceleration, the cam should stay seated, ..and the only time the spring should be needed is under decel, --and this is because of the angle the gears are cut.

George Miller · 03-12-2012, 07:53 AM

I would check the timing gear mesh could be to tight. or oil pump, oil pump drive gear, dist. some thing is to tight.

James Rogers · 03-12-2012, 08:34 AM

George and Brent are right. The cam and crank gears should have .003 lash, the pump should have .010 between the gears and cover and, the distributor drive should be new and in a good or new bearing. Like George says, something is too tight.

Brentwood Bob · 03-12-2012, 11:46 AM

The distributor should be held snug, but not tight. Bob

03-11-2012, 05:29 PM	#1
oljoe001 Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Brodhead Ky Posts: 39	camshaft spring plunger "need advice" I put a Stipe cam (which I love) and Dan McEachern gears in. The motor runs so much smoother than the reground cam that I had in it. also the laminated gears where to tight and out of round. the new gears have correct backlash. but now the spring on the cam plunger works till the motor warms up then fails (to weak when hot) so my question is....... Who makes a good plunger spring? I have read people have had issues with some of the new ones currently on the market. Thanks Joe __________________ "The moment I think I know it all! I cease to learn."

03-11-2012, 05:35 PM	#2
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,522	Re: camshaft spring plunger "need advice" i changed to the timing cover with a adjustable bolt with a pad on the end for the cam . never moves ............ __________________ V4f

03-11-2012, 06:58 PM	#3
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: camshaft spring plunger "need advice" What makes you think the plunger and spring is failing?

03-11-2012, 07:45 PM	#4
Pete Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,418	Re: camshaft spring plunger "need advice" Stock spring and plunger for stock engines. Adjustable bolt for modified engines.

03-11-2012, 08:46 PM	#5
Lawrie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 4,225	Re: camshaft spring plunger "need advice" I had a noise in the same area, My fix was to make a spacer behind the plunger to limit its travel to .006 . I still fitted the spring. Lawrie

03-11-2012, 08:52 PM	#6
Glenn C. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Didsbury Alberta Posts: 838	Re: camshaft spring plunger "need advice" Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Lawrie's fix has worked for me on three engines so far with no problems.

03-12-2012, 05:05 AM	#9
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: camshaft spring plunger "need advice" I had one like that once, turned out to be the oil pump. The cover was too close to the gears and was dragging when it got hot and expanded. Check other things before condemning the plunger.

03-12-2012, 05:16 AM	#10
BRENT in 10-uh-C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Tennessee Posts: 11,537	Re: camshaft spring plunger "need advice" Yeah, I'm with James on this. To an extent, the hotter spring would gain tension because the metal would expand but the root of the problem needs to be found. "Why" is the camshaft walking? At a steady speed (RPM) or under acceleration, the cam should stay seated, ..and the only time the spring should be needed is under decel, --and this is because of the angle the gears are cut. __________________ . BRENT in 10-uh-C . www.model-a-ford.com ...(...Finally Updated!! ) .

03-12-2012, 07:53 AM	#11
George Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 2,975	Re: camshaft spring plunger "need advice" I would check the timing gear mesh could be to tight. or oil pump, oil pump drive gear, dist. some thing is to tight.

03-12-2012, 08:34 AM	#12
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: camshaft spring plunger "need advice" George and Brent are right. The cam and crank gears should have .003 lash, the pump should have .010 between the gears and cover and, the distributor drive should be new and in a good or new bearing. Like George says, something is too tight.

03-12-2012, 11:46 AM	#13
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,267	Re: camshaft spring plunger "need advice" The distributor should be held snug, but not tight. Bob