Abstract: A torque compensated camshaft for operating a valve of each of a plurality of valves of an internal combustion engine, the camshaft having an elongate shaftlike portion and an engine valve operating cam for each of the valves, the valve operating cams being spaced apart from one another along the shaftlike portion. Each of the engine valve operating cams has an outwardly projecting portion, and the outwardly projecting portions are circumferentially offset from one another about the longitudinal central axis of the camshaft. The camshaft also carries a compensating cam surface, either in the form of an outwardly facing surface of a separate compensating cam or an inwardly facing surface of a portion of a drive sprocket which is keyed to the shaftlike portion.