Camshaft Identification

Discuss all things 1970 & later Airheads right here.
SamH
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:35 am
Location: Tas, Australia

Camshaft Identification

Post by SamH »

Hi all, I've come to Boxerworks looking for a bit of information.

I've recently picked up a 74' R90S in bits and am in the process of putting it back together. It's a slow process as every part has to be located in the boxes and then checked to make sure its good. There are a heap of spares with the bike and it's often hard to figure out which part is the original. This process is made harder still by the original owner (who I've never met or spoken too) having brought or sourced a heap of aftermarket or performance parts and then chucking them in with the standard bits.

At the moment I'm trying to figure out which of the two available cams to use. The best I can do is measure lift and take pictures.

Here's the two side by side

Image

Here's the lift numbers

The cam marked 921 measured 6.75mm lift on all four lobes, x1.39 = 9.3825mm or 0.3693"

The cam marked 630 measured 7.64 lift or near enough on all the lobes, x1.39 = 10.6196mm or 0.4180"

If anyone's got any idea what either of these two are I'd love to know.

Cheers

Sam
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Ken in Oklahoma
Posts: 3182
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:10 pm

Re: Camshaft Identification

Post by Ken in Oklahoma »

Welcome to the forum Sam.

It looks like you're going to need a lot of help/support/wise ass comments. And finally we have somebody to admire our vast reservoirs of airhead lore.

This is a match made in heaven!

Uh, or maybe not. For many of us our greatest expertise is in the construction of clever remarks about posts that catch our eye.


Ken
____________________________________
There's no such thing as too many airheads
Garnet
Posts: 3108
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:24 pm
Location: Victoria BC Canada

Re: Camshaft Identification

Post by Garnet »

How did you measure the lift?

This way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0WaGnhklso

Or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tULdhaOyu8A

The second takes a bit more set up but gives a measurement that will match factory specs.

Welcome to the nut house. 8-)
Garnet

Image
SamH
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:35 am
Location: Tas, Australia

Re: Camshaft Identification

Post by SamH »

Checked them in the lathe with a dial indicator on the bed.

All comments are appreciated, even wise ass ones.
ME 109
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Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:00 am
Location: Albury, Australia

Re: Camshaft Identification

Post by ME 109 »

SamH wrote:All comments are appreciated, even wise ass ones.
Careful Sam, that's like a red rag to a bull. There sure are some wise asses here.
If I can, I'll try and point out the worst offenders to you.
Lord of the Bings
Major Softie
Posts: 8900
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:46 pm

Re: Camshaft Identification

Post by Major Softie »

SamH wrote:
All comments are appreciated, even wise ass ones.
I'd use the one that wasn't all rusty. :mrgreen:
MS - out
ME 109
Posts: 7307
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:00 am
Location: Albury, Australia

Re: Camshaft Identification

Post by ME 109 »

Major Softie wrote:
SamH wrote:
All comments are appreciated, even wise ass ones.
I'd use the one that wasn't all rusty. :mrgreen:
There ya go Sam, there's trouble maker No.1
We do try to keep him in line. It can be difficult. :roll:
:P
Lord of the Bings
SamH
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:35 am
Location: Tas, Australia

Re: Camshaft Identification

Post by SamH »

The rusty one's been cleaned, it's all shiny now. It's also the one with the higher lift.
Major Softie
Posts: 8900
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:46 pm

Re: Camshaft Identification

Post by Major Softie »

I just noticed, looking closer at the photos, that the cams do not appear to be the same length. Is this just a trick of perspective because the bearing carrier is holding one up higher? If not, I think I'd use the one that was the correct length.

Edit: nevermind. In researching, I see you've gotten an answer on advrider. Interesting that I can't find anything else on the web about the numbers printed on your cams.
MS - out
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mattcfish
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Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 11:18 pm

Re: Camshaft Identification

Post by mattcfish »

Quote:

The cam marked 921 measured 6.75mm lift on all four lobes, x1.39 = 9.3825mm or 0.3693"

The cam marked 630 measured 7.64 lift or near enough on all the lobes, x1.39 = 10.6196mm or 0.4180"


BMW specs.
308 has a lift of 9.4mm
336 has a lift of 10.68mm
284 has a lift of 8.62mm

Lucky you. #630 has the lift of a 336. An early one with a key drive on the OP is a rare thing......#921 is a 308.
Bellingham, WA USA
1975 BMW R90/6
1975 BMW 2002
1971 VW Westfalia
1985 VW Vanagon
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/b ... s.1074183/
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