My Mk3 camshaft has the letter "P" stamped into the side of the lobe furtherst from the tacho drive.
Can any one identify the cam? I assume it's a standard cam, although I believe it has been replaced by a previous owner, according to the bikes history. There are no other markings.
Thank you.
Regards Graeme.

The "P" refers to Parkerizing. This is a type of metal finishing to give it corrosion resistance. It isn't used to identify the cam itself.

Hi rx7171,
That's what someone else said, Norvil I think. Andover said they couldn't see why it would be parkerised, but didn't know what the P was for.
I can't see why it would be "Parkerised" as it's located in the dark oily inards.
It certainly has nothing to do with the hardness, or the engineering machining quality, as it was very soft and the lobes weren't ground flat with the shaft.
So it's been reground to standard and nitrided.
Thank you for answering.
Regards Graeme.

''Parkerising'' doesn't harden the shaft but is applied to a mildly phosphate etched shaft to aid lubrication on intial start up. Most auto cams have the lobes ground on an angle to aid lifter rotation,I think some shops are to lazy to reset the grinding wheel square when they grind other shafts.Thats my 2cents worth.

Graeme

Splatt is probably correct.

I just installed in my bike a New Old Stock standard commando Cam that also had the P stamped on it.

The finish on the entire camshaft was a soft medium gray. Like a very thin gray paint. I think this is the Parkerised surface.

Bob