29 replies to this topic

[BMGTZ]

Arnt the gears balanced??

no...there are no drillings to suggest there has been any balancing done....even so I could run 180 opposed and use two bolts

[mymidlifecrisis]

Yep I too was a little concerned about the 'engineering' on these fidanza's. The nuts and screws don't look particularly robust - especially if you're running heavy springs/ larger lift etc. I asked my tuner to put them in my 7 last week with a cam swap but he flatly refused. I didn't argue with him. Now I got 2 sets to get rid of. If I was to build a fail safe mechanism into them I'd drill and tap a grub screw through the whole unit and use locktite.

Edited by mymidlifecrisis, 12 October 2012 - 01:21 PM.

[Evo-00x]

Yeah the small nuts and bolts that hold them on appear to be quite fragile alright. I had a look at retensioning mine yesterday (engine is out of the car) and guess what, snapped the 2nd last one by trying to 'feel' for the correct torque by hand lol. It seemed to have let go earlier than the others I tensioned but thems the breaks. Its pretty difficult to feel for their recommended 40-45 inch/lbs (5Nm MAXIMUM) by hand no matter how much experience you have. I put my hand up to blame for this one without consulting the torque wrench because mine doesnt go as low as 5Nm

Did some searching around and found that bicycle shops actually sell 5Nm preset T-bar torque screwdrivers which will be perfect for periodically checking the torque settings on your cam gear nuts
CDI have the orange one, and Ritchney have the black one. All you need is a 10mm socket adapter to fit into the end of it and you're set. These things cost $30+ though and the upper quality torque scewdrivers cost more than torque wrenches in some cases lol. So you might want to invest your $$ in a 1/4" drive mini torque wrench that can go as low as 5Nm and use it for multiple jobs, not just a dedicated 5Nm job. Food for thought.

Now.... back to searching for a replacement camgear bolt because all I can find online is a complete replacement Fidanza camgear bolt set for $30
Will pop by into Newcastle hi-tensile bolts after work one day to see what they have. Easy fix.

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

Edited by EVO-00X, 10 February 2013 - 01:52 AM.

[bazeng]

Why is there a nut there?

Tool looks handy! Ill have to go check it out

[Evo-00x]

The allen key bolt goes on the reverse side, threads in throught back plate and the lock washer and nut goes on the front face of the cam gear. When I saw the threaded back plate I also wondered to myself why a nut is even needed? and why didnt they just put the allen head bolt on the front face like most other camgears. But I suppose its much easier to tighten and undo a 10mm nut from the front than an allen head bolt what can strip internally. An a 10mm nut is easier to tell if it loosens up too I guess.

[GSRWRC]

I replace mine with grade 12.9 steel capscrews. Not pretty, but do the job!

[jack be nimble]

Nice upgrade ^

[Evo-00x]

OK, I bought a whole set of 10 x 304SS nuts and bolts and it only set me back $10.50 ex GST (see pic)
Each bolt was only 82 cents each and nut 23 cents each. I didnt feel comfortable paying under $1.00 over the counter for only 1, so I bought a whole set as spares or can use them elsewhere
Beats paying $30+ shipping for an official 'Fidanza' set.

For future reference the specs are IMPERIAL 10-32 UNF size button head bolts at 5/8" length.
The nuts are just normal 10-32 UNF nuts that coincidentally are the exact same size and thickness as the Fidanza nuts.
I fitted one into the camgear and its identical in size and length.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

Edited by EVO-00X, 15 February 2013 - 07:27 AM.

[jack be nimble]

Were you tempted to go up one size for the extra strength?
Even if you have to tap the holes bigger

[Evo-00x]

It would be nice to go bigger and tap larger for extra strength, but if they made it like that then they must hold OK with the 5 bolts... one would hope lol