Assessing wear on engine parts

[PatGalvin]

Hello All

How do you assess wear on timing gears (crank and cam gears)?

Also, how do you assess wear on oil pump. I see oil pump kits are available for about $25. And new oil pumps cost more than $100. Anyone have any thoughts on how to decide whether to repair or replace?

Pat

 

[TR3driver]

For the timing gears, just replace them as a set with the chain. If the chain is worn enough to replace, so are the gears. But if the chain is OK, so are the gears.

Here are measurements for the oil pump. There have been lots of stories of sub-standard (or downright defective) aftermarket pumps; so if I were going to buy one, I would go to some place like BFE or The Engine Room to be sure of getting a good one. I'm not saying that other vendors are deliberately selling inferior parts, just that they don't have the resources to 100% check incoming parts.

 

[TR3driver]

Oh, one other thing to watch out for: if someone has previously serviced the pump as suggested in the manual, by lapping down the housing to compensate for wear, your new rotors may be too tall. So be sure to check the end clearance for too small as well as too large.

I've forgotten who it was offhand, but someone made a mess of their motor by assuming that the new rotors would fit properly.

 

[MDCanaday]

If the engine was NOT shelled out and full of swarf, likely the oil pump is fine with the end plate wear taken off.If the end plate wear is not easily removed in 10 minutes with some emery paper and oil,then look the vanes over carefully for groves if you can feel them,and see them its shot.But most are like new in only one beer.
MD(mad dog)

 

[PatGalvin]

Thanks Randall and MD

I'm headed out to pick up another gallon of kerosene so I can continue with the parts cleaning party in my garage today. I'll check it over and see how she looks.

Pat