4.0 splined camshaft separation

[mike1064]

I have a 06 explorer that I have had the camshaft separate twice and allow the cam timing to slip and bend valves. I have never seen a splined camshaft before, even bought a new one from Ford and it also separated, not sure if I the oi pressure it too high and the tensioner puts too much pressure on the cam and walks it out, or if somehow I am binding the the camshaft, please let me know if anyone has ran into this before.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I have a 06 explorer that I have had the camshaft separate twice and allow the cam timing to slip and bend valves. I have never seen a splined camshaft before, even bought a new one from Ford and it also separated, not sure if I the oi pressure it too high and the tensioner puts too much pressure on the cam and walks it out, or if somehow I am binding the the camshaft, please let me know if anyone has ran into this before.

View attachment 435210

usually bending valves happens when the chain slips from lack of tensioner pressure. odd that it separated though, thats not supposed to happen. im doubtful its the tensioner however? welcome to EF!

 

[mike1064]

I rebuilt the engine as a reman was not available at the time, I did put a high pressure oil pump in, but I don't know why the camshaft separated like this, and it looks like the slippage was in the splines and not caused by low oil pressure

 

[donalds]

Looks like those splines could use a drop of retaining compound

spline retaining compound - Google Search

 

[mike1064]

It was brand new from ford, lasted about 1 minute of run time

 

[donalds]

.. I wanna hear what some of the other members say and think about this

 

[Josh P]

That is interesting, What is the torque spec you tightened the bolt on the face of the sprocket to?

 

[boominXplorer]

Last time I saw this happen someone swapped cam sprockets left to right. The offset on the gear is different.

 

[mike1064]

That is interesting, What is the torque spec you tightened the bolt on the face of the sprocket to?

45 ftlbs and 90 degrees

 

[Turdle]

I too was wondering about the sprocket splines

 

[mike1064]

Last time I saw this happen someone swapped cam sprockets left to right. The offset on the gear is different.

they were marked left and right on the cassettes but they are aftermarket cassettes, and i dont have any problems with the left bank.

Last time I saw this happen someone swapped cam sprockets left to right. The offset on the gear is different.

 

[mike1064]

I too was wondering about the sprocket splines

no, no splines, keyways or alignment pins

I too was wondering about the sprocket splines

 

[Josh P]

Which way did the bolt turn to tighten?

 

[boominXplorer]

they were marked left and right on the cassettes but they are aftermarket cassettes, and i dont have any problems with the left bank.

Yeah it looks like you have the thicker one on the back like it's supposed to be. How about Josh's question, was it left or right hand thread on the gear bolt? I'd assume if you bought a cam from ford they'd give you the right one.

Can you take a wider pic from overhead? How about looking down the chain guide, is it lined up when the gear pulls out?

 

[mike1064]

Which way did the bolt turn to tighten?

bolt was left hand thread, torqued to 45ftlbs + 90 degrees, and yes the chain was lined up in the guide

 

[Josh P]

I'm at a loss, the parts are correct. Not sure what else could fail to cause this?

 

[boominXplorer]

So after the splines pull out it is lined up in the guide or at initial install? That's a solid 3/8" gap on those splines if not more. The jackshaft gear is pretty skinny so even if you put it on backwards it would still line up in the same plane. I need more pictures to shed more light

 

[TDI Ranger]

Mike, did you figure anything out? I experienced the same issue about a year ago with my 2011 Ranger. It ran less than 1 minute. I am just now revisiting the problem. I pulled the engine and inspected the rear timing components. All looks ok. I suspect my method of torquing the rear jackshaft bolt lead to this problem.

How exactly did you toque the front and rear jackshaft bolts. Do you have all of the tools including the rear jackshaft sprocket wrench?

I don't want this to happen again. So I'm trying to figure out what went wrong.

 

[boominXplorer]

Mike, did you figure anything out? I experienced the same issue about a year ago with my 2011 Ranger. It ran less than 1 minute. I am just now revisiting the problem. I pulled the engine and inspected the rear timing components. All looks ok. I suspect my method of torquing the rear jackshaft bolt lead to this problem.

How exactly did you toque the front and rear jackshaft bolts. Do you have all of the tools including the rear jackshaft sprocket wrench?

I don't want this to happen again. So I'm trying to figure out what went wrong.

Do you have a picture of the gear you had on there?

 

[TDI Ranger]

Here are pictures of the gear set. It is from an aftermarket Cloyes kit. I read a thread a long time ago where someone installed the spacer backwards causing this problem. I installed it with the taper facing forward. That should be correct?