I wonder if someone has some reliably data and jurisprudence concerning broken cam shaft on sailboat diesel engine. I have never seen a cam shaft to snap under normal load. The cam shaft on my 1GM Yanmar broke in two pieces. Being a drop forged casting it requires a fantastic impact to break in two. Unless it is from an original hair line crack at fabrication that was not detected at the time
I once had an engine which snapped two camshafts... The cam ran in three bearings, which where part of the cylinder head. The engine had overheated, and blown a head gasket, the cylinder head was re machined to correct any warping.... Unfortunately this left the camshaft bearings slightly out of alignment, which imposed a rotating load on the shaft. The camshafts fitted to the head lasted about 100 hours before they suffered a fatigue failure.
Check your bearing alignment ??
Thanks for your information. The figure of about hundred hours appears to fit the situation.
Unless you have proof that rules out other possiblities such as a preexisting embeded falw/crack you don't have much of a chance. Also, you may have to prove negligence on the engine rebuilder. Not likely..
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