Cam Gear

[mattdavis11]

Well I have what looks to be a potentially similar disaster on my hands. First off, the cam bolt for the rotor broke, and as a result the key wallered out the groove on the end of the cam where the key rests. The key is obviously toast, as well as the cam gear, and driver for the rotor. Something was leaving stripes on the outer side of the cam gear though. When I say stripes, I mean from the center of the cam gear, as seen from the front, outward to the teeth, it looked like spokes, metallic spokes. Centripetal force. Me thinks that the replacement cam housing has the exact same problem with the bolt, and is headed south. The only difference, two spokes are present on the replacement but the broken one has enough spokes to hold a wheel sturdy. What says the brain trust?

I think I'm going to replace that 10mmx65 bolt anyway. Anyone seen similar markings on the cam gear? It isn't factory, it's not painted, but it might be because the cam shaft seal is leaking.

[Slam]

I learned that every time the cam gear is off that cheesehead bolt has to be replaced. Perhaps the radial stripes are metal flakes from the rotor machining itself to death in the cap? And mixing with oil leaking from the cam seal?