What Are the Effects of Motorcycle Camshaft Wear?
2 Answers
When a motorcycle's camshaft is worn, it will produce significant noise. Specific details are as follows: 1. Camshaft: The camshaft is a component in a piston engine. 2. Function: The camshaft controls the opening and closing of the valves. Although in a four-stroke engine, the camshaft rotates at half the speed of the crankshaft (in a two-stroke engine, the camshaft rotates at the same speed as the crankshaft), it generally still operates at high speeds and must endure substantial torque. Therefore, the design requires high strength and robust support for the camshaft, and it is typically made of high-quality alloy steel or alloy steel.
Previously, the camshaft in my motorcycle was worn out, and the bike felt completely off. During acceleration, there was no power at all—it felt like being dragged along, and fuel consumption suddenly increased by nearly 30%. A full tank wouldn’t last long. The engine noise grew louder, making nighttime rides sound like driving a tractor, which really ruined the experience. Even worse, the vibrations intensified, making long rides exhausting. I discovered the issue was mainly due to delayed oil changes—insufficient lubrication worsened metal wear, and misaligned valve timing caused a full performance drop. If not fixed promptly, the engine could have been completely ruined, turning a few hundred in repairs into thousands. Since then, I’ve made it a habit to check the oil level every quarter to prevent such issues. Now, the bike runs much smoother, making rides safer and more comfortable.
