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Why Does the Camshaft Break?

Model: (Various brands) Various
Part: Checks and maintenance

Video tutorial

What the YouTuber shows us is a camshaft, a fundamental part of the engine that opens and closes the valves to allow the engine to breathe. The one shown has deformed and is no longer in phase, meaning the valves do not open and close at the right time.

In the past, the rounded parts (the olives) that push the valves were made from a single block of metal; today, to save weight and costs, these parts are produced separately and force-fitted onto the shaft. It is clear that this type of construction is more fragile: if the engine suffers a backlash (for example, if the timing belt breaks), the impact force can shift the olives from their correct position.

Thus, they are no longer aligned with the correct angle, and the engine never goes into phase, meaning it never functions correctly, even after replacing the timing belt. When this happens, there is no way to repair the camshaft; it must be replaced with a new one.


Posted on 17 April 2026 by ScegliAuto


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