Camshaft nut removal

bobbycoke

bobbycoke

Senior Member
Just opened up Miss Elizabeth and yup the timing gear lost some teeth to the tooth fairy....now I know why she would not start..... any secret on how to remove the cam nut that holds the timing gear on! Bought a new gear and a new nut [with a regular nut] but did not get the timing gear nut tool.Looks like someone had taken the old one off with a chain saw and put it back on with a sledge hammer. One side of the "NUT" is sort of stright but beaten and shallow in places, the other side is grooked like it was filed or chopped off am having trouble getting a grip on it at all!!!! Any help would be appricated as I will order a camshaft nut wrench but I don't think it will grab on any of this mess but will wait before I try to cut it off. Any Ideas?
 
they are an odd looking nut, flat on 2 sides...get a brass drift and ball pein hammer... right hand threads, so go the opposite way a tap at a time.... advertise for an original brass nut that is better than the one you have,... they can be found at swap meets also... make sure you get the new gear in the correct place. dot to dot...good luck.....
 
If the nut is that screwed up then driving it off like John said may be the only way to go.. Many times that nut is removed/installed with a chisel and hammer.. Why did the teeth disappear ?? The crank gear may need replacing and thats a real job.. When you install the new cam gear, stuffing a rag between the two gears will hold them enough to tighten the nut and not damage the new gears..
 
Use a aluminum or bronze timing gear. If your crank gear is rough they might be noisey but they will last a lot longer than fiber.
 
I agree with Glenn. Use the metal gears and that should be good for life. Most of the engines that I have went into showed evidence that the cam gear nut had been removed and installed with a chisel and hammer. I wouldn't hesitate to use a chisel and hammer to remove the old cam gear nut. The cam gear nut wrenches that are offered never worked good for me. I only use the new regular nut style cam nut, it is easy to install and torque and should be easy to remove.
 
john,pat, glenn, and purdy thanks a bunch! Did not know it was a right hand thread, [would have found out the hard way, the rag trick is a great idea ,I was wondering how to hold it. The hammer and chisel method seems to be what was done in the past now I have the confidence to get it done. Feeling much relieved tonight the fordbarners come through again!!!!!! Thanks bobbycoke
 
bobbycoke said:
john,pat, glenn, and purdy thanks a bunch! Did not know it was a right hand thread, [would have found out the hard way, the rag trick is a great idea ,I was wondering how to hold it. The hammer and chisel method seems to be what was done in the past now I have the confidence to get it done. Feeling much relieved tonight the fordbarners come through again!!!!!! Thanks bobbycoke
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YES, the right hand thread is the common thread, so you remove it just like any ordinary nut, by unscrewing it counter clockwise. I'd stuff a rag in the pan opening to stop any more teeth from falling into the pan while you use a chisel and hammer to remove the damaged nut. I always stuff a rag in the gear teeth to install the new nut and I tighten it with a breaker bar, NOT an impact that can rattle off new gear teeth.
 
I use this;

T6251.jpg
 
I made my own tool because I didn't care for the tool I saw for sale. Had I seen the quality looking tool Mike just pictured, that's what I would have bought.
 
I made my own too, back in the 60's when I don't think any commercial tool was available? The nut must be very tight. I've seen them loosen on race engines. Brass nut? I've done a lot of cams but have never ween a brass nut. I had a Canadian cam sent to me once, it had an odd shaped, spoked in appearance, fiber gear and a tempered flat washer under the nut. I don't know if this was original or not???
 
If you call a Mr. Dan McEachern, 920 Pearl St., Alameda, CA, (512) 532-8226, prior to removing your timing gear, you will not be disappointed.

If you call him after you installed a new one, you may wish you had called him first.

Seeking the best professonal advice & having to do somethng once is gratifying.

As an experienced custom manufacturer of "quiet" metal timing gears, he can tell you a different proven method for removing & installing timing gears, verification of required standard size or oversized timing gears & just about "everything" you need to know about Model A timing gears.

For several years, many gentlemen like Mr. Jim Brierly, Mr. George Miller, etc. swear by his "quiet" timing gears & his professional knowledge gained from experience.
 
I had to do a roadside gear replacement once in the distant past. I was able to remove the nut and replace it with the Ford adjustable wrench. Adjust the wrench to the nut and then turn it so the tips of the wrench point towards the engine. Put a bar thru the opening created and use the bar as a lever to turn the nut. Since then that's been my standard removal tool. I use the rag in the gear to prevent turning.
 
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