25hp 1625 Rayco Super Jr burned through a camshaft in 5 hours!

[dontbthatguy]

Background is I am new to the stump grinder game. I bought a 1625 off a guy that brought it in for service last month. The dealer put a new camshaft in it because it was running rough (I have the paperwork to prove it). It only has 180 hours on it. Today I went out to a job. Ground one stump fine, then when I fired it up for the second, it was running rough. The second it touched a stump it bogged right down and took long to idle back up. I knew something was wrong so I took it back to the dealer.

When I was there we took off the valve cover (he though a valve might be sticking.) They were okay. There was some fine metal shavings in the oil (which was fresh when I checked it in the am.) He said it looks like it was the camshaft again. I asked what would cause a camshaft to wear out in just 5 hours and 4 stumps. He thinks it could just be a ####ty camshaft they put in, or it isn't getting oil for some reason.

Any one ever have this problem? I googled it and nothing came up.

Thanks!
-Anthony

 

[ozzy42]

Sound like improper installation and/or breakin .
I know new automotive cams require at least 10 minutes of running between 1000-2000rpm.
Not sure about small engines.I don't know how they are oiled.

 

[CalTreeEquip]

You may have a blocked oil port to the cam. I don't know about your engine but in some small engine the ports are so small the they can clog if the oil doesn't get changed and they are run hot. This will eat cams.

 

[olyman]

annnnddddd. there USED to be,,in oil, a lubricant, that keep the cams in good shape. don't remember the name of it,,but gary goo on here,,rebuilt the engine for his truck,,and it ate the cam, and ruined the engine. you can buy this additive, over the counter. thinking something like zddc?? and you DEFINITELY need this in a new engine break in,for the cam. and I would think it would be no different for a small engine..