Stripped Distributor Gear
Thread Starter
"Rodstoration &am p;quot; In Progres
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
Stripped Distributor Gear
Our 1980 ran great on a beautiful Dallas day cruise today....until we decided to get aggressive... hit 2nd and at just about the time to hit 3rd...it happened... severe missing and backfireing.
Pulled to the side of 380 and tried to troubleshoot before finally giving in and calling for the tow home.
Long investigative story short...found that my distributor gear was stripped. I had noticed some abnormal wear on the gear when I resealed my manifold but didn't think much of it...now I know better.
Question... is it as simple as replacing the gear, changing the oil and resetting the timing? How do I know I got all the metal out from around the cam gear that drives the distributor gear?
Thanks in advance everyone!
Ed
Pulled to the side of 380 and tried to troubleshoot before finally giving in and calling for the tow home.
Long investigative story short...found that my distributor gear was stripped. I had noticed some abnormal wear on the gear when I resealed my manifold but didn't think much of it...now I know better.
Question... is it as simple as replacing the gear, changing the oil and resetting the timing? How do I know I got all the metal out from around the cam gear that drives the distributor gear?
Thanks in advance everyone!
Ed
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
I'm glad I asked here before I ordered a bronze gear 
How many miles did this one last ?
I'd say you need to change oil and filter, hopefully all the bronze dust got stuck in the filter and didn't damage bearings.... bronze is soft but harder than bearing metal....
good luck
btw, I have a complete spare distributor with stock gear, ready to drop in if you're interessted
How many miles did this one last ?
I'd say you need to change oil and filter, hopefully all the bronze dust got stuck in the filter and didn't damage bearings.... bronze is soft but harder than bearing metal....
good luck
btw, I have a complete spare distributor with stock gear, ready to drop in if you're interessted
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
What is the reason your using a bronze gear? bronze gears are only for some specific camshafts, be sure to check up on what kind your cam requires, to me it looks like you need a standard steel gear.
I wouldnt be to concerned about the lost material from the dist gear, it looks much worse than it is (i have experienced the exact same problem) most of the material is just deformed on the gear and not flooating around as debris, but change the oil and filter and you should be fine, the material lost from the gear is big enough for the filter to catch and it wont dammage the pump.
I wouldnt be to concerned about the lost material from the dist gear, it looks much worse than it is (i have experienced the exact same problem) most of the material is just deformed on the gear and not flooating around as debris, but change the oil and filter and you should be fine, the material lost from the gear is big enough for the filter to catch and it wont dammage the pump.
Last edited by PNK; Apr 1, 2007 at 02:36 PM.
Thread Starter
"Rodstoration &am p;quot; In Progres
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
Thread Starter
"Rodstoration &am p;quot; In Progres
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
I'm glad I asked here before I ordered a bronze gear
How many miles did this one last ?
I'd say you need to change oil and filter, hopefully all the bronze dust got stuck in the filter and didn't damage bearings.... bronze is soft but harder than bearing metal....
good luck
btw, I have a complete spare distributor with stock gear, ready to drop in if you're interessted
How many miles did this one last ?
I'd say you need to change oil and filter, hopefully all the bronze dust got stuck in the filter and didn't damage bearings.... bronze is soft but harder than bearing metal....
good luck
btw, I have a complete spare distributor with stock gear, ready to drop in if you're interessted
Thread Starter
"Rodstoration &am p;quot; In Progres
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
What is the reason your using a bronze gear? bronze gears are only for some specific camshafts, be sure to check up on what kind your cam requires, to me it looks like you need a standard steel gear.
I wouldnt be to concerned about the lost material from the dist gear, it looks much worse than it is (i have experienced the exact same problem) most of the material is just deformed on the gear and not flooating around as debris, but change the oil and filter and you should be fine, the material lost from the gear is big enough for the filter to catch and it wont dammage the pump.
I wouldnt be to concerned about the lost material from the dist gear, it looks much worse than it is (i have experienced the exact same problem) most of the material is just deformed on the gear and not flooating around as debris, but change the oil and filter and you should be fine, the material lost from the gear is big enough for the filter to catch and it wont dammage the pump.
Have one final question...How do I remove the old gear to replace with the new? Tech said it was an alen wrench head screw...but I don't see it. There is what appears to be a spiral pin in the side of the gear that goes all the way threw...no alen screw...
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Thread Starter
"Rodstoration &am p;quot; In Progres
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
Jegs recommended another MSD Bronze gear that states that it is for an XE Roller cam... Have it on the way but remain concerned.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 725
Likes: 1
From: FL.
Ive been concerned...Recently I found this article posted pretty deep in Comps Website.
Comp Says this about their Camshafts......
"Most STREET ROLLER and HYDRAULIC ROLLER camshafts
are made from an austempered material, which is compatible with the
standard gear; however, COMP Cams® composite distributor gear is the
best choice.
Comp Says this about their Camshafts......
"Most STREET ROLLER and HYDRAULIC ROLLER camshafts
are made from an austempered material, which is compatible with the
standard gear; however, COMP Cams® composite distributor gear is the
best choice.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
Thread Starter
"Rodstoration &am p;quot; In Progres
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
To shear the roll pin on the distributor gear should cause you to look for a reason it stripped. I would suggest that you make sure the oil pump is not locked up with debris or you will be doing it all over again. 
Sorry, this is probably not the reason when I looked at your picture. I presumed the gear had slipped on the distributor shaft breaking the roll pin. Not that the gear itself was worn out.
Sorry, this is probably not the reason when I looked at your picture. I presumed the gear had slipped on the distributor shaft breaking the roll pin. Not that the gear itself was worn out.
Last edited by Ironcross; Apr 7, 2007 at 01:09 PM.
