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Tech. Advice: Series 'B' / 'C' 500cc/1000cc Bikes
Catastrophic camshaft and follower failure - any ideas?
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<blockquote data-quote="BlackLightning998" data-source="post: 5868" data-attributes="member: 109"><p><strong>Update - I made it to the Manx......</strong></p><p></p><p>Evening All,</p><p></p><p>Thanks to everyone for their support on my trials and tribulations of Vincent Ownership.</p><p></p><p>Thought I'd post an update to my "cam and follower" failure.</p><p></p><p>I've just returned from the Manx GP - 1000 miles in total. A wonderful trip, a great week and I felt priviliged to be there at all on the Vincent bearing in mind that just two weeks before setting off my engine, having been expensively re-built just 4000 miles ago, ate it's cams and followers and required a few other bits and pieces too.</p><p></p><p>I was lucky to fall on my feet and find an experienced and capable Vincent man to re-build it for me, and we were supported by Patrick Godet who let me have a set of cams, Maughans who supplied followers and other odds and ends.</p><p></p><p>Russ at VinParts was his usual wow self and supplied all the bits and pieces in stock, and in double quick time - this included some standard valve springs to replace the ones we found to be ten thou oversize. Also, trying to look on the bright side we took the opportunity to fit the VinParts Exhaust valve lifter oil seal modification - 1000 miles and not a drop through there (although I'm still chasing on or two other leaks though!).</p><p></p><p>We also fitted a set of Neil Videan V3 seals that I'd bought through Vince Farrell - I hadn't expected to fit the top and bottom pushrod seals quite so soon though. Again - no oil problems with them in 1000 miles.</p><p></p><p>Not sure we'll ever get to the real bottom of my problem, perhaps poor parts in either the cams or followers contributed, although the oversize valve springs that were fitted I think may have been unhelpful, particularly as they didn't appear to sit comfortably/at all in the upper guide and in one case I suspect had been sitting at an angle and caused noticeable wear in the upper valve guide in just 4000 miles. There have been a few little engineering adjustments which have been completed (which I am sure are well known to those in the know, but new to me) whilst putting it all back together again too. There were some interesting mixes of new and old parts - it would have seemed sensible tome to replace the valve caps, collets and ring when fitting new valves, pistons and overhauling the heads with new valve seats. So, some lessons learned, lots more money spent - but it all moves to the background (a bit!) as I was riding round the Isle of Man on such a wonderful bike.</p><p></p><p>There is certainly no sign of any oil starvation anywhere in the engine to be found.</p><p></p><p>I'll get the spelling wrong I'm sure, but "caveator emptor" I think is the phrase most appropriate, oh - and "all that glisters is not gold" is another.</p><p></p><p>The engine is quite a bit quieter now too (surprise, surprise). She started first or second kick all week (after I sheared the shear pin on my electric start) and ran superbly, all after a two week re-build and just two short shakedown runs in the two days before I left.</p><p></p><p>I plan to have a word with Gary Robinson and see whether there is any merit/way of having the cams and followers tested to see if they can tell a tale.</p><p></p><p>I'll post the link to Jtan too - as quite a few Jtaners had been helpful along the way too.</p><p></p><p>Thanks again to Forum members for words of encouragement, suggestions and offers of assistance and spare bikes - great guys.</p><p></p><p>Stuart</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BlackLightning998, post: 5868, member: 109"] [b]Update - I made it to the Manx......[/b] Evening All, Thanks to everyone for their support on my trials and tribulations of Vincent Ownership. Thought I'd post an update to my "cam and follower" failure. I've just returned from the Manx GP - 1000 miles in total. A wonderful trip, a great week and I felt priviliged to be there at all on the Vincent bearing in mind that just two weeks before setting off my engine, having been expensively re-built just 4000 miles ago, ate it's cams and followers and required a few other bits and pieces too. I was lucky to fall on my feet and find an experienced and capable Vincent man to re-build it for me, and we were supported by Patrick Godet who let me have a set of cams, Maughans who supplied followers and other odds and ends. Russ at VinParts was his usual wow self and supplied all the bits and pieces in stock, and in double quick time - this included some standard valve springs to replace the ones we found to be ten thou oversize. Also, trying to look on the bright side we took the opportunity to fit the VinParts Exhaust valve lifter oil seal modification - 1000 miles and not a drop through there (although I'm still chasing on or two other leaks though!). We also fitted a set of Neil Videan V3 seals that I'd bought through Vince Farrell - I hadn't expected to fit the top and bottom pushrod seals quite so soon though. Again - no oil problems with them in 1000 miles. Not sure we'll ever get to the real bottom of my problem, perhaps poor parts in either the cams or followers contributed, although the oversize valve springs that were fitted I think may have been unhelpful, particularly as they didn't appear to sit comfortably/at all in the upper guide and in one case I suspect had been sitting at an angle and caused noticeable wear in the upper valve guide in just 4000 miles. There have been a few little engineering adjustments which have been completed (which I am sure are well known to those in the know, but new to me) whilst putting it all back together again too. There were some interesting mixes of new and old parts - it would have seemed sensible tome to replace the valve caps, collets and ring when fitting new valves, pistons and overhauling the heads with new valve seats. So, some lessons learned, lots more money spent - but it all moves to the background (a bit!) as I was riding round the Isle of Man on such a wonderful bike. There is certainly no sign of any oil starvation anywhere in the engine to be found. I'll get the spelling wrong I'm sure, but "caveator emptor" I think is the phrase most appropriate, oh - and "all that glisters is not gold" is another. The engine is quite a bit quieter now too (surprise, surprise). She started first or second kick all week (after I sheared the shear pin on my electric start) and ran superbly, all after a two week re-build and just two short shakedown runs in the two days before I left. I plan to have a word with Gary Robinson and see whether there is any merit/way of having the cams and followers tested to see if they can tell a tale. I'll post the link to Jtan too - as quite a few Jtaners had been helpful along the way too. Thanks again to Forum members for words of encouragement, suggestions and offers of assistance and spare bikes - great guys. Stuart [/QUOTE]
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Tech. Advice: Series 'B' / 'C' 500cc/1000cc Bikes
Catastrophic camshaft and follower failure - any ideas?
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