how do i see if some of the cam followers are bad.... or do they go bad
Jun 13, 2006 at 9:20 AM
GMC Bad Cam Followers or Lifters
GMC
SYNCRAIT
- ✓Experienced Mechanic
- 235 POSTS
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what are these cam followers in? do you mean lifters? i'm familliar with cam followers in cat and cummins engines.
Jun 29, 2006 at 3:54 PM
Yes, cam followers, or lifters as they are also known as, can and do go bad. As how to tell this you may have to go to the point of pulling intake and removing them to vissualy inspect them. However, you can try pulling your valve covers off and manually turning motor over-not starting it- and see if any of your rocker arms aren't moving as much as the others. If the rocker arm doesn't compress spring as much on one as it does on another you may have a bad lifter, which I'm sure you know will cause the valve not to open all the way. This leads to weak firing cylinders or missing alltogether. Do you have any tapping or knocking? Backfiring? Be sure all your plugs are firing and your timing is correctly. Hope this helps you out some. Good luck.
Jun 30, 2006 at 11:11 AM
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Suggested Repair
Cam followers (lifters) can fail. With the engine off, remove the valve covers and turn the engine by hand to compare rocker-arm movement; a rocker that compresses its spring less than the others may indicate a bad lifter. Visual inspection may require removing the intake and lifters. Also check for tapping, knocking, or backfiring, and confirm that all plugs are firing and the timing is correct.
Conversation Summary
The owner of a GMC with an unknown year and model asked whether cam followers can go bad and how to check them. An expert confirmed that cam followers, also called lifters, can fail and cause weak or missing cylinders. Suggested checks include comparing rocker-arm movement with the valve covers off while turning the engine by hand, visually inspecting the lifters if needed, and verifying spark and timing.