REM polishing?

[Moms68]

Anyone have any experience with REM polishing of a hydraulic flat tappet cam and lifters prior to engine start up?

 

[j-c-c-62]

I have no experience with REM on camshafts, but it would seem to me it could be very problematic, in that the break in/burnishing phase is bypassed and if something is not 100% perfect, lobe wipeout is not delayed. Now if you wanted to ask about cyro, DLC, etc those methods make a lot of sense here in many ways.
What is your expected gain with REM in this application?

 

[Moms68]

I have no experience with REM on camshafts, but it would seem to me it could be very problematic, in that the break in/burnishing phase is bypassed and if something is not 100% perfect, lobe wipeout is not delayed. Now if you wanted to ask about cyro, DLC, etc those methods make a lot of sense here in many ways.
What is your expected gain with REM in this application?

According to the shop that does it (New England Gear), and someone locally who has used their services, the REM polishing process actually replicates the break in by making the mating surfaces extremely smooth. Mostly used for race car applications where break in time is not always in the cards.

I would still follow the break in rules for flat hydraulic cams and lifters, but hopefully this process will eliminate wiping out lifters.

 

[j-c-c-62]

That is the expected pitch, but I fail to see how anything can mechanically mate better than one lifter on one cam lobe, broken in properly, I can see REM on a gear set-up, where many combinations of teeth match up on a single revolution, but here it is one and one, and not being perfect since there is effectively no break in, gives me great concern.
So, the main upside is race cars need less time for cam break-in? A roller makes this whole conversation vanish.
Let us know.

 

[Moms68]

I appreciate your input, and frankly that is why I posted the original question.

 

[Runner 68]

Take the money and spend it on a proper dyno break-in.

 

[RemCharger]

It's a decent question. It begs the next question.. does a somewhat rough finish on the end of the lifter promote spinning in the initial mating process, or break- in if you will

 

[Geoff 2]

Crower sold FT lifters for Chev & Ford that had a mirror finish on the mating surface.

 

[j-c-c-62]

It's a decent question. It begs the next question.. does a somewhat rough finish on the end of the lifter promote spinning in the initial mating process, or break- in if you will

The question could also be if the cam had a non-smooth sacrificial surface layer to help promote break-in lifter rotation.