I just purchases a WMW Mild Street Cam and when installing it I noticed something that I need to confirm is OK before I finished the install.... once I put the cam on and before installing the bolts.. I tried to rotate it to spread the assembly lube (spin it) by hand and It would not complete a full revolution... I took the upper caps and rockers off and it sill wouldn't spin all the way around... So we inspected the cam and found this slight imperfection on the end... I'm wondering if this is normal? Will the cam break itself in or is this something that will eat my head up??? We put off completing the install until I can figure this out..

I also set the original cam back in and it spins freely by hand...

Any help would be greatly appreciated... Here is a pic.. Its very minor and hard to get a good pic of.

 

You are sure the lobes are not hitting/rubbing against the spark plug tubes?

 

I checked the lobes but I will check again just incase I missed one.
If there is one hitting.. how do you adjust/modify the tubes to prevent this?

 

I have a RMW Dominator and although Jan does not mention the fact, when I installed it I did use a gauge to test it, yep they all hit. Now not enough to bind the thing up but I did not want the lobe to wear a hole in the tube, something that has happened. What I did, right or wrong, was to; have everything tightened down, rotate cam so lobe contacted the tube, used a flat tip screw driver that I lightly tapped so that the tube would be dimpled (the tube is aluminum and quite soft compared to the cam), used the gauge again and repeated the process to each plug tube. I carry a plug socket that I ground down so that it would clear the dimples.

Now the imperfection could be the issue but if the you test the lobes and they are not hitting, it would be logical to assume there is something wrong with the new cam, therefore, I would get back with Way.

 

I just rechecked it and the cam lobes are not hitting the spark plug tubes anywhere.. It's binding up somewhere and the only thing I can see it this small imperfection on the end.. I was hoping it was hitting the tubes because that would be fixable..

Now I gotta deal with exchanging it for a new one and the shipping times associated with that process.. ..

I found these instructions on dinting the spark plug tubes just incase anyone else has this question..

Thank you Whine not Walnuts for helping me out.

 

That part shouldn't be in contact with anything.

If I see your picture correctly that is the opposite side from the timing chain?

If so that is a part of the cam that doesn't actually contact anything.

If you have the caps off and the rockers off and you still can't spin it then I would send it back.

 

 

Im thinking of getting the same cam ….you ever hit Ace Café ?I would like to feel how it performs

 

Where is Ace Cafe'? I am in Central Florida..

 

Downtown Orlando …..Ive been to 3 Mini Cooper meetings at Ace Cafe

 

I'm kinda surprised way hasn't chimed in here. have you contacted https://www.waymotorworks.com/. I have found them to be more then help full in these matters. i put the link to possibly draw his attention to this thread. or he could still be recovering from mtts.

 

Way was more than helpful..
He sent out a replacement cam that should be here soon.. Great customer service.. I've had no problems with his shop and will continue to shop at his site. It appears to me this cam has a slight factory defect... which is bound to happen from time to time..

 

Ok.. we are close then.. I'm a member of MINIs of Brevard and they take road trips all the time.. It's hard for me to make most of them because of the family but if I see they are going to Ace Cafe' I'll make arrangements to go... and i'll let you know... more that happy to show off the cam upgrade to you..

 

just saw this as I haven't been on NAM lately as we've been busy in the shop. But actually already shipped another out yesterday as he had emailed me about this over the weekend so he should have it tomorrow.
As for why this is happening I have no idea as we've never seen this happen with any cam. I can't tell from the pic as he emailed that to me what the mark is, unless it's been dropped or something. Good thing is we can inspect it when we get it back.
Since this is our Mild cam it doesn't have too much lift that it will hit the spark plug tubes so we know that isn't the issue either.

 

Replacement cam arrived today. This one spins freely..
I almost have the car put back together.. will finish tomorrow after work..

Now a spark plug question for this setup.. I looked at the plugs I have and they say NKG R. Will these work with my new setup?

JCW Head w/ WMW mild street cam and fresh valve job.
Blue 380 fuel injectors
15% Pulley
CAI
JCW exhaust.
factory coil and plug wires
2003 JCW tune

Way I will be sending the other cam back tomorrow.. Thanks for getting the replacement out so quickly..

 

With that setup you want the NGK BKR7EIX or another brands equivalent. (1 step colder than stock)

 

Got the Mini back together tonight.. Runs great.. cam and pulley pulls down the road nice.. I went with the NGK BKR7EIX.. Thanks BlwnAway!!

My only issue so far is the ABS, traction control, and tire pressure warning lights are on now.. Gonna have to check all my electrical connections..

Thanks for all your help guys!!