My C15F camshaft seems to be u/s. Does anyone know of a secret stash of NOS C15F camshafts? Alternatively, does anyone know whether this would be retrievable by a clever engineer? I've heard of nitriding and reprofiling - but I don't quite understand how you could reprofile without somehow building the cam up first. Has anyone had such work done?
Unfortunately the picture is of very low resolution. All I could see was some dirt on the lobes, which can be cleaned with some wet+dry paper.
It is possible to reprofile a cam, and put whatever cam design you require, but why..? You don't want to race your C15 do you..? Stock profile is best for VMCC cafe runs.
I'll try again with the piccie!
That does look like pitting caused by damp in the engine. The cog is also pitted.
I think the pits are less than 4 thou deep, so if they are well lubricated, and the engine run hot, then it should be Ok for another 20,000 miles.
I'd be tempted to run the bike like that , maybe run a carborundum stone across them gently.
Monitor the valve clearances obviously.
Probably caused by the engine sitting with old acidic oil for ages.
It'll run fine and let you ride it whilst looking for a replacement.
From my researches, the engine was last run in 1982. Most of the intervening time was spent in tea chests with various owners - possibly in damp garages etc..
I have had a magnetic sump plug made up (I do that on all my bikes) - so I guess that frequent inspections of the plug will give me an indication of how the wear is progressing.
Hi,
What are the cam followers like? If they are like this as well then they will wear against each other.
Have a look on ebay. It looks like there is reasonable one for £29 and good ones for a bit more.
Using the cam you have should be an absolute last resort as even if it lasts a while there will be metallic sludge in your engine. Your magnetic plug will catch it but not after it may have circulated and caused some damage.
Dave.
All the ones on eBay that I can find are for the distributor C15. Mine is the post 1965 with side points, which have a different camshaft. The cam followers are fine - but I take your point about using this corroded cam. Hopefully one of the correct type will appear on eBay soon enough!
Hello TF
I have 13,000 miles on my A7 with a reprofiled cam and followers. The reprofiling was done by a shop in the Montreal area.
In your area try Newman Cams. Also google "BSA forum cam reprofiling" for more information.
Jim
The pitting seems to be on the flank of the cam not on the top. I would run with it. I have a cam in my B33 like that and has been running for years with no problems.