cam caps and sealing
 

Once again i come to the forum seeking knowledge.......
When replacing the cam chains and tensioners do you have to put a sealant under the front cam cap between the cap and head surface to stop oil squeezing out the front face and down the engine.
I understand the need to put sealant at the 4 corners and front edges between casket and cam cover...BUT am uncertain in regard to under the front cam cap where the seals are.
Anyone done the job

This video might be of help....

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4629118/12377608

By cam caps do you mean the front and rear cam bearing saddles, or the circular sealing covers that cover the ends of the cams? There was a nice sheet of Loctite 574 under the cam caps on the '91 motor I disassembled. Gives that nice whiff of anaerobic sealer when you pop the saddle off. Don't recall any sealer on the round covers, nor is there anything in the WSM about it.

add some loctite 574 to the cam caps, so oil wont seep out. ( just the end caps)
also add some hondabond to the head/cap joint ( where the edge of the cap meets the head) to seal the cam cover gasket in this joint

Yes Rob under the bearing saddle as you call it.
When I pulled the cams hence the bearing saddles I didnt see any sealant under the "saddle" between saddle and head face.
I thought this was a concern for leakage.
The rears should be OK as there is the question of shorter cams and I have updated to the dowell plugs in the oil journal.
Your view is appreciated.
Regs
Peter

Matt
thanks for the link I will be unable to view at work as we have a block on streaming sites...so at a pinch I will view tonight at home.
Thankyou
Peter

Merlin thanks for chiming in.
So under the front and rear caps between cap and head face even with the shorter cams and no real pressure at the rear as it has the upgraded dowells.
Regs
Peter

I'd never seen that, THANKS for posting it!

If you take a fresh razor blade and hold it perpendicular to the surface of the head sealing are and rub it back and forth you find a small bit of white powder coming off the sealing area(____I_____ I= the perpendicular blade) also clean the end caps the same way, acetone can be used once the blade has been used

OK Roger that
So both front and rear..??

if you remove a cap then you must reseal it.
if you dont remove the cap then dont touch it if it isnt seeping oil.
Still use the hondabond for the head to cap angle( this helps the gasket to seal better and prevent leaking)

Merlin you were correct "again" powdery stuff on the edge of the blade.
Cleaned it off best I could and ran some loctite on the caps - torqued down....job done.

ahh what kind of loctite did you use?? was it Orange 574??
if not then you may have a problem

We can only get 574 thru the dealership here in Oz and i live in a remote area so spoke to the loctite rep and he recommended 518. so thats what it got