a cam can be stored either way. i agree with banker if a cam in an engine has pressure applied constantly and never bends then there wont be a problem with it being stored horizontally.now if you are using it for batting practice or as a hammer then yea its going to bend or break lol.

 

That test works on just about everything.

 

The idea of crankshafts "warping" come from the idea that you put weight on the throws/counter-weights unevenly and it stresses it. This topic is up to debate.

One of the properties of steel and iron parts is that they do not creep/cold flow. If they did, bolts and rivets would eventually loosen; steel bridges would get sway-backed over time; measuring instruments would self-destruct just from laying around; engine blocks would warp from years of being suspended between the front and the trans tailshaft; cars would end up on the bump stops even if not driven; cams and lifters in unused engines would develop flat spots, etc, etc.

Further, if the metal "crept", even the stress resulting from storing a crank vertically on the flange, or hanging it from a rack would cause it to distort, just differently than laying it down.

Then, what about putting the crank in a box and shipping it? Unless UPS messes up (drops something heavy on it), that doesn't bend it.

I personally store cranks laying down and know many engine builder who do so as well since it prevents them getting knocked over and damaged. A crank falling over can do quite a bit of damage (and injury).


Camshafts will ALWAYS rest on the bearing journals (unless you specifically tried to rest it on something uneven....there is no preventing stupidity/human error). As such they will see even load across the entire core and just sit.

Just oil (or wipe with grease) all the surfaces to keep them from rusting, stick it in the box to keep it clean, and place it on a high shelf out of harms way. Mine go under the bed or under a dresser.

 

Engines have these things called cam bearings, so its still supported in the centers. Never-the-less, like I said, it probably isn't anything to worry about.

 

wow. just wow.

 

and the cam bearing lobes are gonna be what its sitting on if you store it horizontally......

 

If this is all we have to argue about, its gonna be a LONG winter!!!

 

I've heard that if you store them vertically, all the good stuff leaks out.

 

now there's a theory I can get behind!!!!!

 

Similar. I heard though, that they lose their performance when stored vertically. That may be considered the "good stuff" I suppose.