centering the camshaft

[Brett]

I've just re-built my engine.

After centering the camshaft, I torqued up the head only to find the camshaft end covers didn't fit in all the way because I hadn't tapped the bearings all the way in. So I loosened the head nuts and bolts before the sealant dried and tapped the bearings home. They now sit in an equal distance (5.2mm) from the outside face of the cylinder head.

I think the camshaft moved when I tapped the bearings in. My question is, if both sets of bearings are all the way in, and the same distance, does this automatically mean that the camshaft is centred? (I don't want to take the cylinder head cover off to check)

Thanks
Brett

 

[retiredgentleman]

Yes, that should work just fine.

 

[grizld1]

Brett, that's exactly right and by the book. With the bearings on the shaft all the way to the stops, centering is done by equalizing the distance from the outside edge of each outside bearing to the edge of its journal.

 

[Brett]

Great, thank you, that's puts my mind at rest. The Haynes manual was unclear on that. I can get it finished now.