Oil Pump Spindle wear

[David64MGB]

How much wear is acceptable on the oil pump spindle? The involute splines on mine are worn by about .010" to .020" as visible at the crests. Wear varies from tooth to tooth.

Should I replace it? I haven't looked at the mating gear on the camshaft yet. The distributor drive spindle shows much less wear, but it may be newer.

I have attached a picture. Am I just being paranoid?

Thanks,

 

[jlaird]

Well paranoid is a bit strong. Stick it back in and wait for an engine rebuild many many thousands of miles away.

 

[David64MGB]

Thanks,
I've never torn an engine apart before. Just looking for context.

 

[jlaird]

Well if you are rebuilding, replace it but it is not critical in any case. Cheep as well.

 

[DrEntropy]

The contact pattern looks fine, the gear seems quite worn tho IMO. No score marks in the critical area of the shaft in the bushing, I'd say replace it!

EDIT: And if the cam gear shows the same wear you may do well to replace it as well. That .020" wear is DOUBLED at the mating surfaces IYSWIM.

 

[David64MGB]

I have about 15 to 20 degrees (kids protractor) of backlash on the distributor spindle which has similar to less wear.

 

[DrEntropy]

Are you measuring from the cam lobe spindle in the dizzy or have you removed cam/plate/weights etc. to measure at the shaft? Reason I ask is: you may be measuring the mechanical advance, IYSWIM. Just trying to clarify the method you're using.

 

[kennypinkerton]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif you can't just turn the rotor from stop to stop, and 15-20 degrees would be saying missing teeth in a gear IMHO.

 

[DrEntropy]

Or a REALLY worn gear. It ~would~ account for the mechanical advance tho. I hope that's what we're looking at.

 

[David64MGB]

I wasn't being very sophistocated. I took the distributor cap off and turned the rotor hard one way and then measured the angle to measure it hard the other way. Looking inside the block the actual distributor spindle is rotating less than 5 degrees. A lot of the slop is actually in the keyway right at the engine wall where the distibutor shaft interfaces with the pinion.

 

[DrEntropy]

Good to go.