EW 350 camshaft springs

[oily bloke]

Hi all,
Back on the EW after a 7 month layoff due to another rebuild for a mate of mine but that's another story...........
I understand that the EW 350 and presumably all the following models with a similar engine, has springs and washers to stop the cams clattering the followers and to retain the cams on their shaft. Do the washers sit on top of the castellation on the outer face of the cam? What should the washers be made of? How strong should the springs be? Do the springs bear on washers on the outer cover? If so, what should these be made of?
Thanks,
Andy

[Boxer]

I only have 2 Photos of my spare engine on hand, may help?

Greetings Rudolf



Larger view

[oily bloke]

Thanks for your reply Rudolph, but I was referring to the springs and washers that retain the camshafts in position on their shafts as apposed the the valve springs and valves. The items I refer to are inside the timing chest. I apologise if I did not make myself clear.
Cheers and thanks again
Andy

[Boxer]

Ah yes,
sorry missed to make a photo when i opened the engine, perhaps there helps the schematic drawing. The only spring inside (EW350) I remember was the exhaust lifter spring.
Cheers Rudolf

P.S.

Hi there

Surely the illustration shows the camshaft of a 4hp engine which is a very different set up than that of the 350EW engine

Regards  SteveL

Steve is right, I now replaced it with the schematic of an EW350 out of my handbook.
Andy, I don't remember any shims and springs on the side of the timing cover, but I don't tear the cams.



Larger view

[oil baron]

Hi there

Surely the illustration shows the camshaft of a 4hp engine which is a very different set up than that of the 350EW engine

Regards  SteveL

[oily bloke]

Hi all,
I am really confused now
Have I got it completely wrong and the springs and washers simply don't exist? When I took my engine apart there were springs and washers bearing between the cams and the outer cover. I assumed that they were there to retain the cam against the crankcase. As they are both knackered and look like an afterthought, it is possible that they were fitted by an owner in the distant past as apposed to a genuine fitment.
If anyone can advise me if I should or should not have these springs fitted I would be much obliged.
Cheers
Andy

[roy]

Hi O/Baron, I have a 1927 EW and from memory there is NO spring or washer retaining the cam wheels.
Years ago they got up to all sorts to make the things go!!

Roy.

[oily bloke]

Thanks everyone.
The concensus seems to be that there should not be any springs or washers. So I shal not be fitting any. Happy days.
Thanks again
Andy

[Doug]

Andy,

The cam wheels are trapped between the front and rear cylinder cam followers, so nothing else required to maintain their axial location. In fact, you would not want to apply a side loading. If someone has ground material off the side face(s) of the cam followers, there may be too much axial clearance and the cam wheel. The cam followers rely on the side face rubbing against the cam wheel to keep them square (in rotation) to the cam. If there is too much axial Clarence with the cam wheel between the two cam followers, the followers may rotate too much and allow odd wear to occur on the cam and follower.

Doug