Broken Camshaft!

[cjsdad 18]

:banghead: I have had this C-85 for a few years now and used it mainly for plowing the snow in winter. At the end of the first winter while plowing the road the rod decided it was through playing nice and committed suicide. I put a new/used rod in it and put everything back together It ran great! Used it all year for some garden plowing, some ground leveling, driveway improvements and such.

Then, this last winter while plowing the snow off the road the engine started knocking again. It sounded like the rod was chewing it's way out of the block! I parked it for a few months then tried starting it again a few weeks ago, The knock was noticable just turning the engine over and I imagined a loose rod cap or other such catastrophic problem but when I took the pan off the rod was fine!

Started turning the crank by hand and CLANK! It isn't the rod! It is the camshaft! The camshaft is cracked at the base of the gear. As it turns past high lift on one of the valve lifters the cam jumps forward and the valve slams shut! That is the knock!

I checked all the usual suspects and have only found two cams on the web. $60 on ebay! That seems a bit much since the crank can be found as low as $10.

I suppose I will pay it if there are no other alternatives. Does anyone know if it is cast iron or cast steel? Can it be welded if it is steel? Just grasping at options here! :confusion-helpsos:

[Fun Engineer 859]

Check for a PM.

[VinsRJ 723]

Keep in mind that rods and cranks are the most common area of issue and are most often saved from a parted out motor. Cam shafts do not tend to fail, therefore, are not as plentiful.

[SousaKerry 503]

I got a few laying K-181's laying around give me a pm and I'll see what I can dig up, I think I have one in peices in a box somewhere in storage that I picked up in a package deal. May just let the whole thing go cheap

[VinsRJ 723]

I just found a cam shaft and pin if you no comes through for you.

[jay in nc 210]

i just tore open a used k181 shortblock that i need to put in my commando 8 to go to the big show and i found the cam broken too. so the commando might not make it to Pa. on the bright side the member that sold me the short block refunded my money no questions asked! thanks bean. i took a picture. Jay

[cjsdad 18]

Here are a couple pics of the broken cam in mine. When it is lined up correctly the crack is hard to see. It is amazing the engine was even running with the amount of movement the camshaft has. The movement of the cam also damaged the advance weight return springs. You can see how much the arm of the advance weight has been hammered by the back and forth movement of the cam. Without that, the engine probably would not be running.

[cjsdad 18]

This is an older thread but it's time for an update. I bought a used camshaft from another user that is in good shape, but the lobe that operates the points has a shallow groove worn in it by the cam follower. This seems to be a common problem with used cams. The following pics are from two different used cams.

[cjsdad 18]

So I made a new cam follower! I made it from a vacuum cleaner beater bar shaft. The larger head on the new follower bridges the groove in the cam lobe. It is noticeably heavier than the original but I think the spring pressure of the points set is strong enough that it should not have any effect.

Now to get a gasket set and put this thing back together!

[SousaKerry 503]

Wow ingenuous solution....I would have never thought to check there for wear. Sure seems like a rare design flaw from kohler wonder if it is a lube issue

[rmaynard 16,343]

Brian Miller's web site has a fix for this using the existing push pin and threading a 10-24 or 10-32 x 3/8" hardened hex nut onto it. The info can be found at http://gardentractorpullingtips.com/ignition.htm about halfway down the page.

[MarkPalmer 81]

The original worn rod cracked the cam a while back as often happens with K181's which is why its always important to shut down and repair K181's any time rod noise develops. The engine can often run for a long time with the crack until the cam finally cuts loose. Kohlers seem to be hit and miss with the points lobe wear- either the cam has it or it doesn't. I don't think there was any design flaw, more a maintenance thing with keeping oil clean.

-Mark-