Tool for turning cam on v8?

[darkgun82]

Someone told me today I will need a special tool when I change the timing belt incase I have to turn the left cam slightly to adjust so timing is correct when I put the new belt on. Any truth to this, and if so where can I get this tool.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Yes... its a wrench. We don't need a super secret wrench to turn the camshafts. But a fan clutch wrench helps for the cooling fan clutch removal.

 

[Ask10]

^^Well, it is pretty specialized. I mean, only a 17mm wrench will work on that camshaft bolt right?

Just kidding though, wrench and 17mm socket = you're good.

 

[darkgun82]

Thanks fellas. I'll start my search for the elusive "17mm socket". Haha

 

[Ask10]

Hope that could have been taken as a jest. I only joke because I always hear of people trying to discourage others because everything needs a "special tool" and such. Yes, it's nice to have specialized tools on occasion and sometimes they are necessary, but most of the time they're not.

That's all I was joking about, not you yourself.

 

[nevada]

Thanks fellas. I'll start my search for the elusive "17mm socket". Haha

a breaker bar may work a little better than a ratchet. sometimes with cams, if you turn them, and go just a little too far, the cam lobe will cause the cam to twist the other direction quickly. with a breaker bar you can control this, but a ratchet will just spin the other direction.



I hope that makes sense...

 

[awdjunkies]

a breaker bar may work a little better than a ratchet. sometimes with cams, if you turn them, and go just a little too far, the cam lobe will cause the cam to twist the other direction quickly. with a breaker bar you can control this, but a ratchet will just spin the other direction.



I hope that makes sense...

Breaker Breaker... 10-4 :yo:

 

[Sungod]

There is a reason for the specialty tool. It is so you don't use the cam pulley bolt to turn because you could break the bolt lose. It is only torqued to 80ft/lbs so it doesn't take much for it to turn. I used my clutch fan wrench to position the cam pulley.

 

[darkgun82]

Hope that could have been taken as a jest. I only joke because I always hear of people trying to discourage others because everything needs a "special tool" and such. Yes, it's nice to have specialized tools on occasion and sometimes they are necessary, but most of the time they're not.

That's all I was joking about, not you yourself.

I don't take anything serious on the Internet. I took it as a joke :hatsoff:

 

[BlackWorksInc]

There is a reason for the specialty tool. It is so you don't use the cam pulley bolt to turn because you could break the bolt lose. It is only torqued to 80ft/lbs so it doesn't take much for it to turn. I used my clutch fan wrench to position the cam pulley.

As long as you turn it clockwise you'll be fine, the engine rotates that direction so you'd be snugging the cam bolt if any thing.

 

[nevada]

As long as you turn it clockwise you'll be fine, the engine rotates that direction so you'd be snugging the cam bolt if any thing.

it also doesn't take 80ft/lbs to rotate the cam.

I have used the cam bolt on many cars, including the 4.7 v8 in my 4runner without issue.

 

[Sungod]

it also doesn't take 80ft/lbs to rotate the cam.

I have used the cam bolt on many cars, including the 4.7 v8 in my 4runner without issue.

Break torque is not the same. It doesn't matter how many times you are lucky if one time you are not. My point is that there is a reason for the specialty tool. If it were perfectly ok to use the bolt, there would be no need for a tool. I don't think the risk worth it. I mean what is the worst that can happen? Your pulley comes off? It really won't do that much damage, now will it?

My big concern would be a dealer mechanic taking a short cut. I would expect them to use the proper tools.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Break torque is not the same. It doesn't matter how many times you are lucky if one time you are not. My point is that there is a reason for the specialty tool. If it were perfectly ok to use the bolt, there would be no need for a tool. I don't think the risk worth it. I mean what is the worst that can happen? Your pulley comes off? It really won't do that much damage, now will it?

My big concern would be a dealer mechanic taking a short cut. I would expect them to use the proper tools.

My question is, how are you going to loosen the bolt if you're turning the engine clockwise (the direction it naturally turns?) At worst, you'll tighten the bolt up and/or if you're particularly stubborn and jam up the valves into the pistons (at which point you probably shouldn't be doing timing belts if you end up doing that) possibly snapping the bolt off if you force it like a maniac. The tool is mainly for getting a better grip on the camshaft pulley in terms of it rocking back and forth; nothing that couldn't be accomplished with a 17mm wrench.

Some SSTs are more for being "special" than really anything else.

Here's the super secret service tool for turning camshafts:

Anyways, if anyone if really that concerned about it; the part number is:

SST: 09960-10010

 

[Sungod]

Why would Toyota spec a tool when there is a 6pt bolt when every mechanic has a set of metric sockets and a breaker bar?

Also, turning clockwise a cam that may have moved clockwise would mean that you are rotating the cam 360 degrees. On an interference engine, I was taught that is a bad idea since you could have a piston at TDC and you risk dropping a valve on it. I was instructed you should rotate the cam back to the closest mark.

 

[nevada]

like I said, I use the cam bolt without a second thought. if I bought a special cam holding tool for EVERY different engine I worked on, i would have piles of tools, that i only used 1-2 times a year, if that.
the manufacture specs a special tool because they are the manufacturer.

i agree that its technically the "correct" way, but its definitely not the only way.