ZT190 KV6 Camshaft Oil Seal Swap - Tips?

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Randyjim

... but the fact that 2 respected specialists have elected not use them during the last 2 belt changes raises the question of "why not?"!

Hello again Jim,

The reason why two respected specialists have elected not to use them is because new end caps are very difficult to fit without using a woodworker's cramp and they don't possess that tool.

To answer your question "why not" use a standard seal instead, it's because the end of the camshaft is left exposed resulting in rust. I have witnessed this on a KV6 and it's not a standard I would work to.

Originally Posted by vitesse

Simon is quite right again, the caps don’t fall out but rather fly out under pressure ...

Hi Mike,

In those circumstances the cause of the pressurisation, which you say is due to "blockage of the crankcase gases", should be rectified at source, then the end caps wouldn't "fly out". I have frequently recommended the unblocking of the breather orifices in the cam covers which isn't difficult to do.

Six years ago I refitted an original end cap to one bank of my engine and managed to push a new end cap into the other bank. Neither has flown out.

My contribution to Jim's thread was intended to answer his question; how can he stop an oil leak caused by a fractured camshaft damaging the oil seal. He could fit an end cap which might contain the oil. Alternatively he could tackle the root cause and replace the camshaft and the damaged seal, leaving the end cap off if he's happy with that, or he could fit one to restore the engine to factory spec.

Simon