Help! Cams cleanup

[jonnybonds84]

I've searched around and can't find anything on removing rust from a camshaft, my question is can I sand them down or is there any specific kind of cleaner than will do the job. They are pretty stubborn rust on it, they dont seem to wanna get off even with a hard brisel brush and WD40.

[Vegascorbin]

#1 Do not use WD-40. It has water in it. (read the can)

#2 I would just use some fine steal wool. If that won't take care of it then I would take it to a machine shop and pay them to clean it right. Or just replace the cam.

My $0.02

[jonnybonds84]

Fine steel wool, huh. Ill try it tommorrow

[Rucca]

I would finish by polishing it with some fine grit sandpaper (like 300ish grit). I'm not sure how fine fine steel wool is but you want your cam lobes to be nice and smooth.

[jonnybonds84]

Yeah that sounds like a good Idea, what do you think about buffing it? Should be fine, right? Thats my guess.

[Vegascorbin]

...you want your cam lobes to be nice and smooth.

Thats the important part. weathr you use sandpaper or steel wool or a buffing wheel just make sure you are not changing the profile of the cam by removeing too much material and that you end up with a nice smoth surface.

Sandpaper vs Steal Wool vs buffing wheel will probably depend on how bad the rust is.