Engine Top End

Camshaft, Camshaft Cap Wear Inspection

~1min read

  • Remove the camshaft caps (see Camshaft Removal).
  • Cut the strips of plastigage (press gauge) to journal width.

Place a strip on each journal parallel to the camshaft installed in the correct position.
  • Tighten the camshaft cap bolts and upper camshaft chain guide bolts to the specified torque (see Camshaft Installation).
  • Camshaft, Camshaft Cap Wear Inspection

    NOTE

    Do not turn the camshaft when the plastigage is between the journal and camshaft cap.

    • Remove the camshaft cap again, measure each clearance between the camshaft journal and the camshaft cap using plastigage [A].

    Camshaft Journal/Camshaft Cap Clearance Standard: 0.038 ∼ 0.081 mm (0.0015 ∼ 0.0032 in.) Service Limit: 0.17 mm (0.0067 in.)

    If any clearance exceeds the service limit, measure the diameter of each camshaft journal with a micrometer.

    Camshaft Journal Diameter Standard: 23.940 ∼ 23.962 mm (0.9425 ∼ 0.9434 in.) Service Limit: 23.91 mm (0.9413 in.)

    If the camshaft journal diameter is less than the service limit, replace the camshaft with a new one and measure the clearance again.

    If the clearance still remains out of the service limit, replace the cylinder head unit.

    Test yourself

    A quick Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.