Hi guys, Im going to be installing my S2:T2's next week but one thing still worries me. How am i supposed to get the old gears off the old camshafts aren't they tq'd on at 40lbs...can i undo it while they're still in the head and vice versa when tq'ing them down once im done.

search didn't give me anything

 

Not sure about undoing the gears with the cams in the head as I have not done that before...stand the cams upright and zap the bolt off with air gun/ratchet.

Make that GUN...ratchet won't do it

 

I don't have one(air gun) i'd have to take the camshafts to a garage and again to get it put back on not very practical for me. can't find any YT vids either

 

I Can't be the only person that wants to keep the stock gears ? how did you guys do it(with out air guns) pls

 

anyone ??? did everone just go get new gears ?

 

You can loosen the bolt with the cam still installed in the head. Made easy if you have the crank pulley holding tool. If you do not have the crank pulley holding tool. You can stick a thick shaft screwdriver through one of the cam gear pulley holes and brace it against the engine. Then give the bolt a quick snap with a wrench.

Or you can remove the cam and carefully place it in a vice. Brace it using two pieces of wood/rubber covering the jaws of the vice. Then tighten the vice and loosen the bolt. I've done it all three ways without issue. Key in doing it this way is to be patient. Ensure the cam is secure in the vice and do not mark up the cam journals or lobes.

 

You can also use a timing belt as a strap wrench to hold the cam gear while you loosen the bolt with a socket wrench.

 

im a little weary of the vice idea plus i don't have one. i might try wedging something inbetween the gear spoke and head.

@Gagnar i can't fully visualize that ? i don't have a spare timing belt if that's what you meant.

but thanks guys

 

You wrap a timing belt around the gears of the cam shaft pulley. Then you use vice grips or wrap the excess belt around a handle of a hammer. Then use it to hold the gear from turning. Kind of like using a belt style oil filter wrench.



That is how you have to hold the crank pulley on a lot of domestic engines.

 

ok i sort of get it now but i NEED a spare/second timing belt correct ?

 

You can loosen the cam bolts with a ratchet while the timing belt is still on.

Then after the bolts are out of the cam gears, you loosen the timing belt tensioner and slide the belt off the cam gears.

This may be tough with some aftermarket cam gears.

If you have the cams out and the gears are still on with the bolts tight, you can do this like I did it in a pinch:

http://instagr.am/p/SlyUH8FJtd/

Whatever you do, don't use air tools on cam bolts!

 

Ok thanks that pic cleared it up for me. is that just a pole in the pic ?

 

The timing belt trick works if the cams are out or the timing belt is already off.

But if the timing belt is still attached all you need to do it is to find a way to hold the crankshaft still. You can use the pulley removal tool like someone mentioned. But honestly 40 ft-lbs is not very much. I usually just put the car in gear and put on the e-brake. If the front end is in the air have someone hit the brakes or hold the tire. There is enough resistance that you can easily get 40 ft-lbs on the cam bolt before the car will move.

 

Ok i'll give that a try. im just used to messing with my little SOHC in which the bolt is only 27lbs. thanks

 

+2 on the crank pulley tool. Such a useful tool to get especially if you dont have airtoools i feel, and if your household/family is full of hondas, thats more reason. It was one of the first tools i got and ive used it numerous times already at junkyards and at home. I think it was around $20 or so too. best way id see to get those cam gears, but all other methods seem logical.

 

you will see better gains from those cams by degreeing them in. the vice and wood is a good method of getting them off tho


Posted from Honda-tech.com App for Android

 

Just get a screwdriver snag between the head and the camgear and the tool you are trying to undo the Cam bolt with a soft mallet its the impact that makes them come loose usually not the force.