Camshaft Locking Tool Instructions

[Oka]

I am in the same level of hell as you right now. For the locking tool, do like Robert in the video above: take the tool apart, attach each side of the tool to a cam, then pull the two side of the tool together and fasten it. Once those two arms are attached to each other, the cams will be aligned.

In my case, i cheaped out and bought the tool from Amazon, and the bolts were the wrong length. And the holes for the bolt that hold the tool together are misaligned! I ended making a spacer out of some old nuts to make the bolts fit int the cams. And I used a 3" steel clamp to hold the tool together. What a mess. But it works!

Got my tool also from Amazon. Thanks for your pointers
1. Now, am stuck. Below is what I have in my engine. How do I use the tool to lock both the cam and the crank? My crankshaft end looks different from all I've seen on line.
2. For the camshaft cap/plug, can't it be reused, if so, is there a nicer method/trick of removing the existing cap?
Thanks.

[hans747]

You must pop the the old camshaft end plug out. Basically stab it with a screwdriver and pry it out.

On the exhaust side, there is a bolt at the center of the cam sensor steel, turn it out, and then the cam sensor steel comes right out.

The bolts for the tool will thread into the ends of the cam. And that will hold the tool on.

If the bolts are too long, they will bottom out in the cam before securing the tool firmly. I solved that problem by finding two old nuts whose inner diameters were wide enough to sto slide onto the tool’s bolts.

If you look at the attached photo, you will see my janky setup. You can see the nuts being used as spacers, and then there is the clamp being used to hold it all together.

If you must go the clamp route, get a decent 3” clamp from Lowe’s or HD. They cost like $4. The one in this photo was $1 from harbor freight, and it snapped soon after this photo was taken.

[vtl]

2. For the camshaft cap/plug, can't it be reused, if so, is there a nicer method/trick of removing the existing cap?

They are cheap.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... en-1397381

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 90-1397381

[Oka]

2. For the camshaft cap/plug, can't it be reused, if so, is there a nicer method/trick of removing the existing cap?

They are cheap.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... en-1397381

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 90-1397381

Yep, I know they are cheap, but, living in Anchorage, Alaska, it would take a while to get to me. I'll check if the dealer would have it.
Thanks you for the information.

[BlackBart]

And as others have said, DO NOT crank the two long bolts into the cams. They are maybe 7mm and not the best steel and they will shear off INSIDE the camshaft. I did this.

[Oka]

. . . .
If you look at the attached photo, you will see my janky setup. You can see the nuts being used as spacers, and then there is the clamp being used to hold it all together. . . . .

Looking at your picture, I did not see a "janky setup". I see a brilliant setup!!!

So you used the clam because tool's bolt opening did not align. Now, what if the clamp had snapped while you were working on the timing? So, here, a solid steel (more robust) still clamp would have been safer?. You mentioned the clamp broke after the pic was taken..

In my picture, there was oil deposit on the crank side. On the cam side, lots of oil oozed out. Looking at the inside of the plug, looks like the oil has been there for a long time, since the bottom part of the plug got stained from the oil sitting there that long.
Are the oil deposits normal?

Thanks.

CamCrankOil.JPG (151.39 KiB) Viewed 1022 times

[vtl]

Yes, normal.

[Oka]

Yes, normal.

Wow, what a relief to know it's normal.
Thanks.

[Oka]

And as others have said, DO NOT crank the two long bolts into the cams. They are maybe 7mm and not the best steel and they will shear off INSIDE the camshaft. I did this.

What you mean is just to tighten the bolt enough to hold the tool tight enough. At 12 ft-lb.
It will be a nightmare if the bolt shears off.
Thanks for the warning.

[BlackBart]

Nightmare. Correct.