Help Identifying a Cam
- Thread starter marshg246
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Theres a possability it may be a 4 S , as it seems to be stamped ' 4 S '
' 6000 '
THERE .
Now a 4S is a 2 S with .020 of of the base . No doubt a shirt fight'll start.
over that .
Were early cams with a .020 greater base radius .
When they started hitting the tappet guide block / Bottoming out , etc - with the High Lifts - past the 2S which was the olde factory RACE CAM ,
In the first ' P R ' Knortons etc .
They lost 20 thou off the heel , so they gcould grow a bit on the peak ( lobe )
So there you are .
Stamping can be a bit funny . A close look at the ' 3 S ' on removal ,
was evidance it was really a ' S S ' but stamed on the circumferance a S appeared as a 3 unless you were out in the sun or used a eye glass .
' 6000 '
THERE .
Now a 4S is a 2 S with .020 of of the base . No doubt a shirt fight'll start.
over that .
Were early cams with a .020 greater base radius .
When they started hitting the tappet guide block / Bottoming out , etc - with the High Lifts - past the 2S which was the olde factory RACE CAM ,
In the first ' P R ' Knortons etc .
They lost 20 thou off the heel , so they gcould grow a bit on the peak ( lobe )
So there you are .
Stamping can be a bit funny . A close look at the ' 3 S ' on removal ,
was evidance it was really a ' S S ' but stamed on the circumferance a S appeared as a 3 unless you were out in the sun or used a eye glass .
Last edited:
Nose of the nearest lobe looks like it has spalled.
marshg246
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Base circle is .872
Looking with a strong magnifying glass I can see that the MS and the 000 are clearly stamped. The 6 is not nearly as clear - its definitely a 6 but not as deep. The M may have been stamped over something else, but if so, it can't be made out.
marshg246
VIP MEMBER
That one lobe does have a small imperfection that appears to be a manufacturing defect.
Fast Eddie
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Whatever the cause of that imperfection, it’s on the nose, smack in the area of greatest stress and wear.
That cam is therefore either scrap or a donor for hard welding IMHO...
That cam is therefore either scrap or a donor for hard welding IMHO...
marshg246
VIP MEMBER
I agree.
Part of what I'm trying to figure out is if it can be reground to standard or Combat or something else useful. I have no way to measure its timing. If someone can identify it, and then if I can find its parameters, I can decide.
I would think the price of sorting it out and regrinding to a useful profile is approaching if not exceeding the price of a replacement cam.
Time Warp
.......back to the 70's.
That base circle diameter seems small so maybe a stock regrind... That sure does look like a factory stamped T with the M partially stamped over it and Delta Camshaft in WA sprang to mind.
A moot point if the lobe is failing.
Time Warp
.......back to the 70's.
If the base circle is already reduced so the lobe could be ground even on a stock profile I doubt it could be redone that way without build up of the marked section, but that area is not clear in the picture.
It might be better to post a clear picture overhead of that marked lobe for someone like JC or DD to look at or it is just guess work or speculation.
marshg246
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You are most likely right and I am already looking for a replacement.
The only new ones available are expensive. I can get new Hepolite cams at a reasonable price, but they are chilled iron and I'm not sure I want that and I've not heard good or bad about them. The Hepolite billet cams are quite a bit more expensive. AN is out of stock and even more expensive still..
This is another of my dumb ideas. I got a decent deal on this bottom end and planned to rebuild if for the next guy who came to me with a blown engine. Having to buy a cam makes that not so smart unless I can find a good used one. Fortunately the crank and rods are good.
marshg246
VIP MEMBER
Hepolite is a company that has existed for a very long time, legally. They make pistons, rings, cams, etc. for Vintage British Motorcycles, some (all?) in the UK. They were bought by Wassell in 2011 if I remember right.
Good quality and selection with these folks:
https://www.megacyclecams.com/
comnoz on this list sells web cams which have a good reputation.
jseng on this list sells his proprietary cams; they may be geared towards race tune but he can chime in here.
There was a person in the Pacific Northwest (Johnson cams) who made a few grinds but I don’t know if he is in the fray.
There should be an abundance of NOS OEM stuff and custom out there but buyer beware.
'Hepolite' was a trademark used by Hepworth & Grandage which was a company that became part of AE, then much later Federal-Mogul.
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Hepworth_and_Grandage
"1947 Acquired by Associated Engineering Group."
Wassell acquired the 'Hepolite' trademark so it's Hepolite in name only.
https://www.totalbikebits.com/wassell_history.html
"In 2011, the Company acquired the Hepolite brand, trademark and goodwill from the Federal-Mogul Group. Originally Hepolite was a brand name of Hepworth & Grandage, who later merged with Wellworthy Pistons Ltd, to form A E Piston Products Ltd"
marshg246
VIP MEMBER
Ok, as usual, I stand corrected.
Hepolite is a brand not a company. Since the 60s I've known them as piston makers and always thought the Hepolite was the name of the company.
I suppose a great many companies and brands are in name only.
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