Timing gear Racket!!

Del in NE Ohio

Senior Member
JUst installed rebuilt engine in my "A" Fired her up and was met with knocking noise in front of engine. I removed the timing pin, inserted it applying pressure and was able to stop the noise. Loose timing gear I thought. Removed timing cover and found the timing gear tighter than any human could tighten! Maybe spring/plunger is weak!! After church, I am going to come home swap-out spring and plunger from another timing cover just for grins. What else could be the problem?? Could it be that an oversize timing gear was needed? The gear in the engine appears to be new and the engine was built by a reputable engine man here in Ohio several years ago.

Thanks!! Happy BIrthday America!
 
JUst installed rebuilt engine in my "A" Fired her up and was met with knocking noise in front of engine. I removed the timing pin, inserted it applying pressure and was able to stop the noise. Loose timing gear I thought. Removed timing cover and found the timing gear tighter than any human could tighten! Maybe spring/plunger is weak!! After church, I am going to come home swap-out spring and plunger from another timing cover just for grins. What else could be the problem?? Could it be that an oversize timing gear was needed? The gear in the engine appears to be new and the engine was built by a reputable engine man here in Ohio several years ago.

Thanks!! Happy BIrthday America!


I had one like that once and found the gasket on the bottom of the rebuilt oil pump was gone. This let the gears drag on the cover and caused the cam to try to climb the drive gear. This made a loud knock at the timing gear. We found the problem by removing the small side timing cover and watching the cam gear as the engine ran. You could see the cam move forward and back. I diagnosed the problem and added the gasket to the cover and no more noise. Just one of many experiences, yours may be different.
 
Should also mention that the timing gear noise was pretty constant when I first started the engine and began to diagnose the problem. Having now removed and replaced the timing cover ( to check timing gear nut) the noise is more intermittent and the engine stubles a bit when the noise occurs. Only occurs at low speed idle.
 
The gasket I replaced (or placed) was in the very bottom of the oil pump. You can remove the side timing cover and run the car for a good time to watch the gear and see if it is moving forwards and backwards. If it is it will be noticable. The one I had needed to be run for about 15 minutes before it would knock but when it did we took the cover off and restarted it and the cam would move visably. Try it before any repairs so you can be sure it is the cam moving.
 
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