We've used the FP-5R2 cams since changing from the JUN's and have not had this failure. Early information that I received concerning the various cam characteristics showed a more gentle lift and close on the FP cams, which certainly doesn't hurt anything either.

 

even if you were a machine (i.e. ultra fast reaction, beyond human response), if the cam breaks at 8500rpm, nothing you can do will save it... the valves will be bent, and the cam gears will destroy stuff.

of the 4 i've seen broke

1 at 8000+rpm with after market springs and retainers on the track (high 400whp)
1 at redline (7800rpm) with stock springs and retainers (low 500whp)
1 at idle/cruise with aftermarket springs and retainers (high 400whp, but still in breakin on motor, so NO stress at all. happened 1 day after install). no damage to this head according to the shop who installed it and subsequently fixed it
1 at 8400rpm with aftermarket springs and retainers (mid-high 500whp)

it only takes 2 revolutions to cause a bent valve when the cam breaks. at 8000rpm, thats .015 seconds. you couldn't even move your hand off the shifter to the ignition that fast. you'd have a hard time blinking that fast.

 

Then I guess my guy got really lucky. It suffered no damage to the valves but he did say it started making some odd noises and he was already on getting it shut down. I also didnt say it failed at 8500 just that it was revved to 8500. It actually failed at about 3k driving up the street from his house.

 

Just to be clear to everyone that may have missed the posts since I made my initial comments last march, I know they break and have a reasonably good understanding of why. The people that lost the whole motor at the time suffered some very unfortunate luck, however it doesnt seem that every cam failure has to be catastrophic other than some bent valves, a new cam, headgasket, and timing cover. There will definitely be ones that are more than that but there are just as many that are only that.

 

We have seen SEVERE damage including pistons, cams, valves, MIVEC gear, head and bearing.

 

While that might not be a catastrophic failure that doesn't bar the fact that it is .. a failure.

 

Just had a Piper 285 Mivec Cam Fail..

Look Familiar ??

 

Looks like the same casting as the kelfords to me judging by the deeper grooves compared to the fp's pictured previously in this forum. What kind of damage did it do?

 

what' the latest updates are these cams still breaking? My friend purchased a set of gsc s3 and he installed them and now he wants to remove them because I told Him that a while back a few of these cams are breaking , GSC,Cosworth,Kelfords are still having this problem ?

 

That photo was feb of last year. There havent been any batch issue or reported problems since the summer of 09. I wouldnt be worried at all.

aaron

 

thanks god they are not breaking anymore , a few people lost their engines due to this failures.

 

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead. I had this failure. Piper Rally Cam. It's not a new version. But i bought it new from them a few years ago. It failed shortly after, and I just stumbled upon this thread. What did people receive as a warranty/replacement? Anyone have any contact info?

PS: I got this batch in 2008, just to stop the rumors of a current batch being faulty.

 

WoW that suck!

 

what is the batch number anyways? thanks

 

I just broke a Kelford 272 cam that has about 40k miles on it...it was installed on a brand new Buschur 2.3RPM motor build. Not sure yet the full extent of the damages but it is a massive pain in the a$$ and will cost me a lot of downtime and money.