The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop new cam bearings

I am rebuilding a 235. Over two years ago I took the block to a machine shop where its was cleaned, cylinders bored, and new cam bearings put in. After two years I retired again and have been working on the block. I am haveing a problem installing the old camshaft with the new bearings. The cam will go about half way an then gets tight when rotated. When the cam is fully in it is very hard to rotate. I believed this was do to dirt on the bearings and shaft having set for so long. I have been working with pentrating oil and wd40 hopeing to remove the crud. But I don't think thats the problem now. I have never put a camshaft in with new bearings so I don;t know what is normal. I would expect it to rotate stiff to moderate stiff. Anyone can tell me waht is NORMAL?

thanks
Ray

The cam should be snug, but not tight. I've been told that if you can't turn the cam by hand using the gear, it's too tight. Two possibilities, either one or more of the bearings is too tight, or they are misaligned. First check is with mikes and snap gauges in hopes that you find a bearing that's too small. Whatever you find, it's going to mean a trip back to the machine shop, I guessing that you don't have the boring tools needed.