Do Heavy Valve Springs Cause Cam Wear?

[SquidBonez]

I have a Duromax 440cc with a stock cam and 50lb valve springs. A lot of aftermarket cams have hardened lobes, but since this is the original cam I am slightly concerned. Will I be ok? If the cam does wear I have two spare stock cams for big blocks.

 

[Denny]

Having too heavy of a spring can break rocker arms and studs, fatigue pushrods. It can also accelerate cam wear. In car engines for sure. Which means that should hold true for any flat tappet engine.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

In the end, it is more force being transmitted through the valvetrain, so like Denny said, you'll probably see some increased wear. Although keep in mind we're talking about hardened and precision machined engine parts, so they'll still last awhile if you take care of them.

 

[SquidBonez]

Having too heavy of a spring can break rocker arms and studs, fatigue pushrods. It can also accelerate cam wear. In car engines for sure. Which means that should hold true for any flat tappet engine.

Luckily I have aftermarket rockers and chromoly pushrods so I should be in the clear there. The only stock parts left are the lifters and the cam.

In the end, it is more force being transmitted through the valvetrain, so like Denny said, you'll probably see some increased wear. Although keep in mind we're talking about hardened and precision machined engine parts, so they'll still last awhile if you take care of them.

I'm using pretty good quality synthetic oil, so hopefully that keeps excessive wear at bay. At least I have spares as well

 

[FlyFrog]

well, as it wheres small metal shavings are going to be in the oil wearing everything else more than it should

 

[madprofessor]

Since 50# springs will not only prevent any valve float, they'll also force harder valve seating. That's a plus on any engine that you run overly rich, as in with oversized jets for racing. I wouldn't change a thing except the oil, some high quality stuff, at frequent intervals.