Tooling component for camshaft removal and installation

Abstract

A kit for both removal of a camshaft from a cylinder block and for installation of a camshaft into a cylinder block includes a minimum of six unitary, molded plastic camshaft guides, an extraction tool, and a pilot to be attached to a rear face of the camshaft in order to provide additional support. Each camshaft guide has a generally C-shaped body and is constructed and arranged to fit onto a corresponding one of the camshaft lobes. Due to the “beyond center” configuration of each camshaft guide, a significant pulling force is required to remove each guide from its corresponding camshaft lobe. Each guide includes an internally-threaded hole which mates with a threaded end on the extraction tool and the extraction tool is used to manually pull each guide off of its corresponding lobe. The pilot includes a generally cylindrical body and a rod inserted therethrough having a threaded tip at one end and an enlarged head at the opposite end. Positioned between the enlarged head and the end face of the body portion are a pair of spacers and O-rings. A tightening nut is used on the threaded end to pull the enlarged head toward the body portion. As this occurs, the O-rings are compressed and expand and this technique is used to wedge the tip portion of the pilot into the hole in the rear face of the camshaft. The camshaft guides protect the camshaft lobes during removal and installation and the pilot provides additional support for the trailing end of the camshaft during removal and the leading edge during installation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.