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Toyota Skid Steer 4SDK3 4SDK4 4SDK5 4SDK6 4SDK8 4SDK10 factory workshop and repair manual

What follows is a concise, step‑by‑step, beginner‑level guide to removing and replacing the camshaft on the Toyota 4SDK series small diesel engines (4SDK3, 4SDK4, 4SDK5, 4SDK6, 4SDK8, 4SDK10). It covers the theory (why the camshaft matters), all the parts you’ll encounter, a practical walk‑through of the job, inspection criteria, common failure modes, and pitfalls to avoid. This is general guidance for this class of Toyota OHV (cam‑in‑block) diesel engines; always cross‑check every torque, clearance, and procedure with the factory service manual for your exact model and serial number.

Quick theory — what the camshaft does and why replacement is needed
- The camshaft is the timing “brain” that opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves in correct sequence and lift. Each cam lobe converts rotation into linear motion that lifts a lifter (tappet) → pushrod → rocker arm → valve. In diesels the cam also often drives fuel pump timing gear.
- Think of the camshaft like a railroad track with hills (lobes). As the cam (track) rotates, the lifter rides up each hill and drops into the valley — that’s valve lift and dwell.
- If lobes wear, journals score, or bearings fail, the valves won’t open/close correctly: you get loss of power, misfires, noisy valve train (ticking or clattering), poor fuel economy, smoke, metal contamination in oil, or even catastrophic engine damage if a valve contacts a piston (rare on OHV with head intact but possible with timing or assembly errors).
- Reasons to replace: worn or flattened lobes, severe journal wear or scoring, bent or damaged cam, cracks, pitting from corrosion, excessive endplay, or damage from oil starvation/contamination.

Components you will see and what each does (detailed)
- Camshaft: shaft with lobes and journals. Lobes push lifters. Journals ride in bearings and must be smooth and correctly sized.
- Cam lobes: the raised sections that control valve timing and lift.
- Cam journals: bearing surfaces along the shaft that ride in the block or in replaceable bearings.
- Cam bearings / bearing bores: the surface in the block (or separate shell bearings) that support the cam journals.
- Thrust plate / thrust flange: limits camshaft endplay.
- Timing gear / timing sprocket / timing chain: transmits rotation from the crank to the cam. In many 4SDK engines a timing gearset or chain links cam and crank.
- Timing cover / front cover: houses timing gear/chain, seals and keeps debris out.
- Timing marks / timing holes: alignment references used to set cam/crank relationship.
- Timing chain tensioner / guide (if chain): keeps chain tension; if gear drive there may be no chain tensioner.
- Lifters / tappets (hydraulic or solid): ride on the lobes and transmit motion to pushrods. Hydraulic lifters self‑adjust for lash; solid lifters require manual adjustment.
- Pushrods: thin rods transferring motion from lifters to rocker arms (present when cam is in block).
- Rocker arms / rocker shaft or pedestals: pivoting arms that press on valve stems when pushed by pushrods.
- Valve springs, retainers, keepers (locks): close the valve after the rocker lets it drop.
- Valve stem seals: prevent oil from running down valve stems into combustion chamber.
- Valves (intake and exhaust): open/close ports.
- Cylinder head: houses the valves, springs, guides; bolts to the block.
- Head gasket: seals head to block.
- Oil galleries / oil passages: supply oil to cam bearings, lifters, rocker shaft.
- Oil pump: pressurizes engine oil — oil starvation kills cam and lifters.
- Rear cam seal and front cam seal (on gear/cover): prevent oil leaks.
- Distributor/fuel pump drive (if gear driven off cam): may be driven through cam gear on some diesels; keep alignment.
- Gaskets, seals, O‑rings, bolts: consumables you will replace.

Tools and special equipment you’ll need
- Factory service manual (for torque values, timing marks, clearances) — indispensable.
- Basic metric hand tools and sockets.
- Torque wrench.
- Feeler gauges (if adjusting lash) or dial indicator for lifter movement.
- Micrometer/calipers for checking lobe lift and journal diameters.
- Plastic or brass mallet.
- Camshaft bearing puller/driver (if replacing bearings).
- Seal driver for front/rear seals.
- Valve spring compressor (if you remove valves or springs).
- Timing alignment tools or pins (if required by model).
- Clean rags, gasket scraper, cleaning solvent.
- Engine assembly lube (heavy).
- Oil drain pan, fresh oil, new oil filter, new gaskets and seals.
- Magnetic trays and marking tape to keep parts organized.

Preparation and safety
- Work on a level surface, use jack stands if removing machine components.
- Disconnect battery and isolate electrical supply.
- Drain oil and coolant for reliable access and to avoid contamination.
- Label and photograph connections, hoses, linkages, and timing marks before removal so you can reassemble correctly.
- Have good lighting and a clean area to lay parts out in order.
- Keep cleanliness — small debris or metal flakes will destroy bearings quickly.

Step‑by‑step overview (typical OHV Toyota 4SDK camshaft job)
Note: this is the procedure in plain terms; verify model specifics and torque/specs in the factory manual.

1) Prep, drains, and access
- Drain engine oil and coolant.
- Remove intake and exhaust piping as needed for access.
- Remove valve cover(s), rockers and pushrods (mark each pushrod/r=bank & cylinder, keep order).
- Remove air cleaner, belts, alternator, and other accessories blocking the timing cover.

2) Remove timing cover and expose gear/chain
- Remove front timing cover (unbolt, peel off gasket).
- Note timing marks on crank and cam gear. Rotate engine by hand (socket on crank) to TDC of cylinder 1 compression stroke; confirm marks align. Photograph/mark.
- Remove timing chain tensioner and guides (if chain), or loosen timing gear retainer.

3) Secure timing and remove cam gear/drive
- You must hold crank and cam in alignment or secure with factory timing pins when removing the gear.
- Remove the cam timing gear/chain from camshaft. If cam drives injection pump, be careful to mark pump timing and remove pump gear only after confirming index marks.

4) Remove rocker shaft and pushrods
- Loosen rocker shaft bolts evenly. Remove rocker assembly; lift out pushrods and label them in order (they can be bent or wear‑marked and should be inspected/replaced if damage).

5) Remove camshaft thrust plate and retaining fasteners
- Remove any thrust plate or retainer that holds the cam endplay.

6) Withdraw the camshaft
- Slide the camshaft rearward and out of the block carefully. Use assembly lube on removal to protect journals? (Be careful — do not gouge bearings on removal.)
- If you remove camshaft bearings, use a proper bearing puller/driver.

7) Inspect components
- Inspect lobes for flat spots, pitting, scoring. Measure lobe lift with mic and compare to spec.
- Inspect journals for scoring and measure journal diameter to detect wear.
- Inspect lifters for collapse, scuffing, or metal flakes. Replace lifters with cam replacement unless you are certain they’re good — mismatched parts cause rapid wear.
- Inspect cam bearings/bore: if scoring or wear replace bearings or machine block as needed.
- Inspect pushrods for straightness; inspect rockers for wear at contact surfaces. Replace head gasket if removed.

8) Replace parts as needed
- Replace camshaft with OEM or properly spec’d unit. Replace bearings, lifters, pushrods, gaskets, seals, timing chain/gear if worn.
- Clean oil passages and the inside of timing cover.

9) Install new camshaft
- Coat cam journals and lobes with heavy engine assembly lube.
- Slide cam in place carefully, ensuring journals seat in bearings. Install and torque the thrust plate to spec; set cam endplay to spec (feel with dial indicator or by hand with a set of feeler gauges against specified limit).
- Install cam gear/chain and align timing marks exactly as factory manual shows. If your engine uses timing gear, index marks must match; if chain, ensure correct tensioner preload and guide condition.

10) Reassemble valve train
- Reinstall pushrods in original positions and rockers. If hydraulic lifters are used, follow the correct pre‑load procedure (often pump oil to lifters or rotate engine with rocker on to set).
- Set valve lash as required (if solid lifters) or follow hydraulic lifter bleed‑down procedure. Incorrect lash will cause noise and possible valve damage.

11) Reinstall covers, seals, accessories
- Fit new timing cover gasket, seals (front and rear cam seals), torque bolts to spec.
- Reinstall valve cover, intake/exhaust, accessories, belts, and any other removed parts.

12) Prime oiling system and initial run
- Prime the oiling system before cranking if possible (crank with starter with fuel disabled or use oil pump priming tool) to ensure oil reaches cam lobes and lifters before metal contact under load.
- Refill oil and coolant.
- Start engine, listen for abnormal noises (knock, clatter). Check for leaks.
- After warmup, recheck valve lash (if adjustable), retorque bolts that require recheck, and inspect oil pressure.

Inspections, measurements and acceptance criteria
- Lobe lift: measure with micrometer; compare to factory spec and to the other lobes. Uneven/low lift = wear.
- Journal diameter and bearing clearance: measure journals and bearing bores with micrometer and plastigauge if necessary.
- Endplay: measure cam endplay vs spec; excessive endplay indicates worn thrust plate or cam/bore wear.
- Lifter condition: hydraulic lifters should collapse/return correctly; solid lifters should be smooth and round.
- Oil pressure: healthy pressure on warm idle indicates oiling is OK.
- No metal swarf: inspect oil pan and magnet for metal particles. Finding metal indicates a worse failure path — inspect bearings and other components.

Common things that go wrong (and how to avoid them)
- Wrong timing reassembly (misaligned marks): leads to poor running, valve/piston contact risk. Always lock timing in TDC and follow marks.
- Reusing worn lifters with a new cam: mismatched surfaces cause rapid cam lobe wear. Replace lifters when replacing cam unless lifters are guaranteed new or inspected carefully.
- Not priming oil: dry running on a new cam wipes lobes quickly. Always prime oil system before first start.
- Improper torque/sequence on thrust plate/head bolts: leads to endplay issues or warpage.
- Not replacing seals/gaskets: leads to oil leaks and contamination.
- Debris contamination: dirt or metal chips left in oil passages will destroy bearings. Keep everything extremely clean.
- Using wrong parts or poor‑quality aftermarket parts: inferior metallurgy on lobes or bearings fails early.
- Incorrect valve adjustment: too tight (valves will be held open, causing loss of compression, overheating, burned valves) or too loose (noise and impact wear).
- Re‑using bent pushrods or worn rockers: causes uneven wear and rapid failure.
- Not inspecting oil pump: low oil pressure may cause cam wear even after replacement.

Troubleshooting symptoms that point to cam problems
- Loud tappet/valve train noise (clatter, ticking) that doesn’t quiet with oil change → worn lobes/lifters.
- Low power and compression and oil metal flakes in oil → lobe/journal wear.
- Excessive valve overlap or misfires after cam job → timing incorrectly set.
- Oil pressure low and cam/lifter failure → oil pump or passages clogged.
- Blue smoke from exhaust, oil burning and high oil consumption → worn valve stem seals or excessive valve guide wear associated with cam/lifter problems.

Final tips and “best practice” rules
- Always replace lifters when replacing a cam unless you can guarantee they’re new and matched.
- Replace timing components (chain/gears/tensioner) while you’re in there — they’re cheap insurance.
- Use OEM or high‑quality parts and correct oils. Diesel engines are unforgiving with poor lubrication.
- Follow the service manual for torque specs, sequence, and timing marks — do not improvise.
- Keep parts labeled and in order. Mark pushrods and rockers so they return to original locations if they are to be reused — wear patterns match.
- If you see significant bearing or bore damage, don’t attempt a half job. The block may need rebore or professional machining and reassembly by a trained shop.

Wrap up
Replacing the camshaft is a moderately advanced rebuild job but straightforward if you are methodical, clean, and follow the manual. The critical points are correct timing alignment, clean oil passages, priming oil before first run, replacing or inspecting lifters, and checking clearances (cam endplay and valve lash). If you follow this plan and heed the “what can go wrong” warnings, you’ll greatly reduce the risk of repeat failure.

No Yapping — this is the essential, practical guidance. Follow your factory manual for specs and contact a shop if you encounter bearing bores or journal damage that needs machining.
rteeqp73

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