Cam followers - was routine retorque

["Brian Shorey" <bshorey@domain.elided>]

>        Some mechanics form really off the wall opinions about
> certain things.
>  It may have to do with too much exposure to auto exhaust gasses or
> something.  In any case, none of the Alfa manuals suggest draining the
> radiator just to retorque the head one bolt at a time.  And I can see no
> reason to drain the radiator for this operation.
<snip>

Speaking of which...

In a recent discussion with another digester, the topic of reusing cam
followers came up.  He mentioned that he had heard (from a mechanic) that it
was important to keep followers together with the lobe they had been under.

I've never heard this before.  It would seem to me that if a follower is
flat, it shouldn't matter which lobe it sits under, and that if it's worn to
any measurable amount, it should be replaced.

If it were true that followers couldn't move to another lobe, then wouldn't
it stand that if you were replacing a cam shaft then you would *have* to
replace all of the followers (as the ones that were in there had spent time
under the lobe of another camshaft)?

I've replaced cams before and have not changed the followers.

I'm curious as to what the general feeling is of the expert engine builders
on the digest.

bs

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