Oil pump idler gear bushing problems

50MercMetalHead

50MercMetalHead

Member
I’m rebuilding the 8CM out of my 50 merc. I got a new bushing for the idler gear that links the oil pump to the cam, ordered it from Red’s, pressed it in to my existing gear, and it’s too small for the shaft it’s supposed to go on. Inside of the bushing measures .020” smaller than the shaft.

Is there a taper to this bushing that I overlooked and pressed backwards? That’s the only thing I can think of unless the bushing is just wrong? Several sites that list the bushing or the gear say they are for 32-53, but I’ve seen others listed only for 32-48? Is it different for 49-53? There’s nothing wrong with my gear so I didn’t want to replace it, but now I’m considering just buying a new one with a bushing already in it. Would like to maybe get this figured out before I do that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
A tapered bushing would be a very rare application, not on your ford! Its another example of todays parts that dont fit. Take it to a machine shop and have them ream it to size. should be cheap and quick.
 
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I had the same issue on one that I recently rebuilt. I had to put the gear in my lathe and increase the ID just a bit. Not a big deal, just a pain to have to do it. It is the nature of many of the parts I receive today - seems I am always firing up my mill or lathe to make things correctly fit.
 
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