camshaft actuator

[magicmarker]

I pulled the head so had to take out the front actuator. Manual says to push the pin in but mine doesn't move in or out. Do I have to remove all these when I set the cover back. How do I align them? I have the plastic pins but can't find how to use them.

[Smac770]

I assume you mean the exhaust camshaft adjuster actuators (8 of them along the left side of the head cover)?
Plastic pins, you mean the T40196 drifts? https://audi.snapon.com/SpecialTools...temId=17860123
Do you have the engine mechanical repair manual from erwin.audiusa.com for the B8.5 A4 2.0T? It shows how to use the T40196. Depending on if it's disassembly or reassembly, where to put the drifts and how many turns of the engine to do. I posted this recently; was it not to one of your threads?

[magicmarker]

Yes, 8 actuators and yes to the drifts. I have the manual. Trying to find things in 8000 pages is sometimes challenging. I didn't see any posts from you. This is my first post on this subject.

[Smac770]

Not sure which manual you have. The engine mechanical repair manual from erwin, at least the July 2012 edition I have, is a 294 page PDF.
In repair group 15 (cylinder head, valvetrain), section 5.12 has the instructions for camshaft removal/installation.
On page 151 is the illustration for disassembly, where a drift is installed in the rearward opening for each cylinder (so holes 2, 4, 6, 8 as you count from the engine front to rear) and the crankshaft then rotated 2 times.
On page 162 is the illustration for assembly, where a drift is installed in the forward opening for cylinder 1 and 3 and the rearward opening for cylinder 2 and 4 (so holes 1, 4, 5, 8) and the crankshaft then rotated 4 times.

[magicmarker]

I have 04/2017 and I don't see any of that. Here's what mine says:

Installing
Installation is carried out in reverse order; note the following:
• Check O-rings for damage.
• Pin of actuator for camshaft adjustment must be brought into installation position.
– Press down pin of actuator for camshaft adjustment -arrow- by hand.
• Pin of actuator must not be in extended position.
– Install engine cover panel ⇒ page 10 .

[Smac770]

Curious. Maybe Theiceman or one of the others who've actually done the rebuild will chime in.

[magicmarker]

I'm hoping someone will respond to this question: new head and about to reinstall camshafts. How do i set the locations for the exhaust cams and the actuators? The only thing my manual shows is using spacers - not the 4 pin inserts you place in the actuator holes. Is this critical or will the actuators and sliding cams sell adjust once I start it?

[JUNBUG361]

Wish you was closer, would be happy to help

[Smac770]

I think I remember Theiceman saying in his thread when that subject came up (the T40191 tool, and that you'll need "2" since the tool only comes with 3 of the /1 and you need 4, officially) that he did it without them.
When I look at the SSP about the sliding lobes, it talks about a spring ball in the shaft that keeps the lobes from moving too far. I imagine that as long as they were in place and clicked onto one of the two spring balls correctly, you'd be close enough.
And as noted in the thread about the drifts, "the use of tool T40196", you'll be turning the crank four times with the drifts set appropriately to put the lobes where they belong before starting the engine.