Desmoquattro: Normal Cam Wear?

[Ivan]

Does this look like normal cam wear?





The lobes for the openers seem to have been polished.  The dark coating is mostly worn away, but the surface of the lobes feel perfectly smooth.  Is this a problem?


Here is the rocker from the same engine.  It looks like its wearing well.  You can see some wear where it makes contact with  cam, but the surface is perfectly smooth and there aren't any chips in the chrome plating.

[Oldfisti]

Best I can tell from the pictures, everything looks to be in order.

[Speeddog]

Best I can tell from the pictures, everything looks to be in order.

+1

[clubhousemotorsports]

The coating on the cam does wear off on many it is no big deal to see it gone, I have been told it is help with oil retention.

The rocker is in the era they had issues but looks fine, if you can slide a pick around on it and not catch then run it.

[Ivan]

Thanks all for the replies, I can now relax.     I was sure the rockers were OK based on all the descriptions and pictures that I've seen on-line, but the worn coating on the cams had me worried even though they are perfectly smooth. 

[Desmo Demon]

The cam looks fine to me, but I'm not exactly sure with the rocker. If you can run a fingernail across the surface and feel a lip or ledge where the wear starts, I'd replace it.

Here are two pictures of the same three rockers so you can see how the different angle, lighting, and background make a difference in the appearance of the rockers. The 1998 has significant wear and even has pitting. The 2002 rocker had a noticable edge on the area of wear so I replaced it, and the 2006 was an OEM repalcement when they were only $45. A year or two ago, the rockers went back up to $160+ and there are reports that they are still prone to flaking. Replated rockers are the way to go with replacements. I think Megacycle rockers are in the $80-$90 range with exchange.

[Ivan]

The cam looks fine to me, but I'm not exactly sure with the rocker. If you can run a fingernail across the surface and feel a lip or ledge where the wear starts, I'd replace it.

Here are two pictures of the same three rockers so you can see how the different angle, lighting, and background make a difference in the appearance of the rockers. The 1998 has significant wear and even has pitting. The 2002 rocker had a noticable edge on the area of wear so I replaced it, and the 2006 was an OEM repalcement when they were only $45. A year or two ago, the rockers went back up to $160+ and there are reports that they are still prone to flaking. Replated rockers are the way to go with replacements. I think Megacycle rockers are in the $80-$90 range with exchange.
[

Thanks.  Yes, the pictures can be deceiving.  The rockers pass the real test, the surface is perfectly smooth.  When I need replacements, I'll go with either the MBP replating or the Megacycles rockers.

[foggy123]

Thanks.  Yes, the pictures can be deceiving.  The rockers pass the real test, the surface is perfectly smooth.  When I need replacements, I'll go with either the MBP replating or the Megacycles rockers.

All my MBP rockers had to be replaced at last valve check.  Some are starting to use DLC. 

[clubhousemotorsports]

I also have had to swap out some megacycle hard weld rockers, they do not chip or flake but they did wear flat. for a bike that will not see high miles (track bikes) they are a good option.


I replaced the 1st generation  about 5% of the time                851 -95 916
I replaced the 2nd generation about 50%  of the time             916 and 748 first version in picture
I replaced 3rd generation about 30% of the time                    996,748 and st4  second version with punch mark on side of rocker
I replaced 4th generation about 20% of the time                    996,748 ,MS4 and st4 some st4s and ms4r  looks just like version 3 factory gave up on punchmark plan
I replace 5th generation about 5% of the time                       all non testastretta  dark gray  in pictures

I have changed literally well over a hundred rocker, some were even mine.

[Ivan]

All my MBP rockers had to be replaced at last valve check.  Some are starting to use DLC. 

DLC?  Is that the same diamond like coating that is used for forks?

[clubhousemotorsports]

Yes it is.
The process may be a little different (how it is applied) as well as thickness of the coating ETC.

I have been installing them for the last year, too early for me to know if they hold up well enough to recommend.

Ask again in a couple years.