The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Knocking Engine - Cam Shaft gear?

OK - This is a continuation of the "Knocking Engine" thread. I had an engine knock that refused to be isolated / identified. I checked all the suggested "remedies" to find the problem. No Help. Tear down revealed that the timing gear(fiber)in my 216 ci engine was missing 5 teeth! It was oil saturated which leads me to believe an aluminum cam shaft gear is superior to fiber? Just checking before the engine is assembled with all the "good" parts
on hand. Thanks, BW

The alloy gear was a heavy truck standard part , it has potential to be a little noiser than the fibre , if matched with a worn crank gear , but you are not likely to loose a tooth off it .

Thanks for your follow up. This is a really interesting result. When I had my new fiber gear pressed on, my machinist had to press it on until the clearance was correct. Pressing it on until it stops results in no clearance.

When I lost out on a fiber gear in a 235 years ago, it just died instantly. I am amazed that yours kept running.

Please replace both gears! There are kits out there. Isky ustta sell them
Dusty is right they make more noise but their worth puttin up with

You ARE very lucky the thing ran and didn't mess up everything else

Both gears are going to be replaced! I can't figure how the engine did not "lock up" with so many teeth missing on the cam gear. Trying to isolate the "knock" by pulling plug wires did not
work. Compression checks were OK for a 53 year old engine. Connecting rod bearings were within
tolerances. This is a new one for me and several "old time mechanics" that I know. We all ruled out timing gear problems because the darn thing would start and run with the VERY noticible knock. I guess there were enough "nubs" left on the cam gear to allow the crank to turn it? Go figure. Bob W.

And make sure the pieces of fiber gear aren't lodged in the oil pickup.