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Stuck cam lobes

Original Post
SS Minox · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2015 · Points: 5

Cam lobes seem bonded to the axle. Any way to save the cam? It doesn't seem safe to soak the cam in acid or vinegar. Would hate to weaken the metal. Suggestions other than manufacturers starting to use stainless steel & titanium?

Chuck Parks · · Atlanta, GA · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 2,190

I'd start with some penetrating oil.

Does this piece not see a lot of use? Seems odd it would completely freeze up in a short amount of time. Might also want to check for debris, broken springs, or some other sort of physical obstruction.

Matt · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 106

You can try to clean it off with some WD-40 and by dunking it in boiling water with a little bit of soap. Apply the WD-40 before soaking it in water and try to wipe off all the WD-40 afterwards. WD-40 works well to clean the unit and what not but will actually attract dirt into the unit when your in the field. Apply dry silicone lube like the stuff you use on your bike chain to make the cam feel all nice and new again.

Try to keep the WD40 away from the sling of the cam.

If that doesn't work, the cam lobes are potentially deformed and its time to buy a new cam unit.

SS Minox · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2015 · Points: 5

The WC forged friend cam was most likely wet for about a month. I probably need cams with no steel in them at all. It is possible the lobes were deformed, but I am unsure since they were in the pack being jostled around, it's possible. I'll try the boiling water next.

Ken Jones · · Grants, NM · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 80

I pulled a small cam off of a route in the Sandias this summer that was completely rusted in the fully cammed position. Over the next few days I applied penetrating oil and cam lube while trying to move individual lobes with needle nose pliers. Eventually I was able to free all for lobes and now the cam has smooth action and works well. With a new sling it would be quite usable.

SS Minox · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2015 · Points: 5

Haha! Cam fixed! I used the WD-40 and beat the lobes up and down with a hammer while holding with locking pliers.

Ted Pinson · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 252

YGD.

Tim Sherry · · Portland, OR · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 551

I know the problem is "fixed", but I thought I'd share my two cents on de-gunking cams.

Place cam lobes in boiling water. Be careful not to get any webbing or plastic components in the water. Can't remember how long, but doesn't take too much time. Allow the cam to fully dry. Apply cam lube or bike chain lube to re-oil. Lobes should move freely. I would not use WD-40, although MattBerry41's use of it to attract dirt before it seems logical.

I haven't tried penetrating oil on a cam before, but a combination of that and a hair dryer may be worth trying, though this is only if whatever previously lubricated the cam hardened. Not sure if it'll remove the gunk and dirt that typically jams cams.

Medic741 · · Des Moines, IA (WTF) · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 265

Um what. Household Acids... Weakening... Metal? Wd40's amazing stuff

Keep your cams lubed. Finish line you can get at a bike store works great, otherwise it'll gum up

Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492
SS Minox wrote:The cam was most likely wet for about a month. I probably need cams with no steel in them at all. It is possible the lobes were deformed, but I am unsure since they were in the pack being jostled around, it's possible. I'll try the boiling water next.
Was this a Wild Country cam by any chance? I've seen them rust to the point of immobility in a short time. Never seen any other brand so prone to axle rust.
john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

Really ? i got ton of WC cams and never had any issues. Compressed air and a small tube of graphite is all i have ever used.

Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492

I'm referring to bootied WCs that have been wet for a long time. Always a bummer to work a cam free only to find it rusted solid.

Tim Sherry · · Portland, OR · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 551
Gunkiemike wrote:I'm referring to bootied WCs that have been wet for a long time. Always a bummer to work a cam free only to find it rusted solid.
Makes a great paperweight or Christmas tree ornament
Andrew Williams · · Concord, NH · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 625

WD-40 is what Wild Country recommends to use on their cams as they say it hasn't no detrimental effect on the nylon slings.

Edit: "HAS NO detrimental effect"

Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492
Andrewww wrote:WD-40 is what Wild Country recommends to use on their cams as they say it hasn't no detrimental effect on the nylon slings.
Double negative? So it DOES harm nylon?

(Seriously, it doesn't)
Andrew Williams · · Concord, NH · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 625

Hahaha. Whoops, missed that one.

Russ Keane · · Salt Lake · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 392

This thread was helpful. I fixed my stuck .4 cam, and improved these two wonky Metolius' that have been gathering dust.

I went with the boiling water technique, but the "a-ha" moment came when I drizzled some Dr. Bronner's soap into the piping hot water. It took just several moments in that wonderful mixture for the cams to go right back to working like new.

John The Wolf · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 50
SS Minox wrote:Haha! Cam fixed! I used the WD-40 and beat the lobes up and down with a hammer while holding with locking pliers.
Just to make sure, you thought vinegar would affect your cam more than beating it with a hammer? I am incredulous...
Will Haden · · Colorado Springs, CO · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 90

I soaked in penetrating oil for 3 days, moving the lobes back and forth a couple times a day. Then dipped in boiling soap water for a couple minutes. Dried and lubed and good as new!

Shane Markus · · Index, WA · Joined Nov 2016 · Points: 5

After a sopping wet day in the alpine this fall my new BD ultralight cam lobes were super sticky on one of my units. Too sticky for safe use. So I tried the boiling water + WD-40 idea on the ultralight and on a sticky mastercam I have too. The lobes on both run smoothly now, but when I was dipping the UL in boiling water a slight burning smell was coming from it (no smell from the mastercam). Anyone experience this smell from another kind of cam? Could it have been the oil melting off?

The ultralights have a plastic stem cover and dyneema "cable" just above the head.I'm worried that the hot water partially melted the stem cover, but even more so worried that the hot water seeped in and affected the integrity of the dyneema. Dyneema supposedly melts at 145*C, but that smell was kinda scary! I'm probably gonna shoot BD an email, but also curious on your thoughts or if anyone else has experienced this smell. Curious too if anyone has tried cleaning a BD ultralight yet.

Thanks in advance for any insight!
Shane

Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0
ShaneM wrote:After a sopping wet day in the alpine this fall my new BD ultralight cam lobes were super sticky on one of my units. Too sticky for safe use. So I tried the boiling water + WD-40 idea on the ultralight and on a sticky mastercam I have too. The lobes on both run smoothly now, but when I was dipping the UL in boiling water a slight burning smell was coming from it (no smell from the mastercam). Anyone experience this smell from another kind of cam? Could it have been the oil melting off? The ultralights have a plastic stem cover and dyneema "cable" just above the head.I'm worried that the hot water partially melted the stem cover, but even more so worried that the hot water seeped in and affected the integrity of the dyneema. Dyneema supposedly melts at 145*C, but that smell was kinda scary! I'm probably gonna shoot BD an email, but also curious on your thoughts or if anyone else has experienced this smell. Curious too if anyone has tried cleaning a BD ultralight yet. Thanks in advance for any insight! Shane
I'm curious to see what BD has to say. You probably have to trash it. Check out their instruction manual. Anything above 110 degrees and you have to trash the cam.

demandware.edgesuite.net/aa…
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Trad Climbing
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