QuestionQUESTION: I have replace the camshaft and plastic gear with a metal one. The engine starts but runs extremely rough. I suspect that it must be the timing. I lined up the marks on the camshaft gear with the crankshaft gear. Since the crankshaft turns several times to one turn of the camshaft. Is the crankshaft suppose to be in a certain position (possibly one of the pistons at TDC) then line up the camshaft gear to the crankshaft gear.
ANSWER: I really need to know what brand of engine you are working on. I also don't understand why a replacement camshaft would be metal. Are you using the OEM recommended parts? Please give more information as I cannot give you a answer with what I have.
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QUESTION: John Deere 445, garden tractor, 22 hp Kawaski, water cooled, gas engine. This tractor came with a plastic camshaft gear. After approximately 650 hours the plastic camshaft gear fails/breaks. I have a new camshaft with a metal gear. After I installed the new camshaft and alligned it with the marks on both the camshaft gear and the crankshaft gear, I can start the engine, but it runs rough. I would like to know the proper position of the crankshaft (maybe the crankshaft must be in a position with one or the other in the TDC). I know the crankshaft makes several resolutions in comparison to one turn of the camshaft gear.
I just need to know the exact procedure to time the engine.
ANSWER: If you have the timing marks lined up, the engine is in time. Have you checked the valve adjustment? If you haven't checked them you may find a big difference between the new and old cam, or it's even possible that one of the rocker arms have come off of the pushrod and isn't opening at all. Keep in mind this is a 4 cycle engine so when the timing mark of the cam is 180 degrees out the crankshaft is in the same position as when the cam timing mark is lined up with the crankshaft timing mark.
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QUESTION: I have adjusted the valves and I can get the engine to run, it is extremely rough and hard to start. I don't know if the engine needs to be fine tuned, I have no idea how that can be done with the Kawasaki 2 cylinder, gas and water cooled. I did line up the timing marks on both the camshaft gear and the crankshaft mark. I am at a loss as what the next step would be to fine tune the engine. I don't think there is a distributor on this engine.
AnswerI really didn't get any information about what happened that led to the camshaft failure. I would check the carburetor, even if it looks clean, the jets could be plugged up and you may not know it. The only other thing I can think of right off is the ignition system, check the plugs, and the gap on the ignition coils.
