play in distributor drive shaft gear/cam gear?

[ericthered]

Hi all,

I just bought an old 1098 engine off a friend to do up and fit in my traveller (old engine well and truly worn out!), I have stripped it and very pleased at what I found, all standard, and no wear on anything! its an excellent engine overall.
I am just going to put new rings (if it needs them, not checked the wear on the rings or piston grooves yet) new shells and gaskets etc.

The engine had no timing chain cover and no gears or chain (dont know why) so I'm going to fit the improved duplex set up, but when I turn the camshaft by hand there seems to be a lot of play between the gear on the distibuter drive shaft and the gear on the camshaft, the cam bearings seem fine and eveything is soo good otherwise it seems odd, do they normally have quite a bit of play on these gears and its just taken up when the distributor is fitted or is there a bush at the bottom that the dist fits into that could be worn? I cant find a pic or referance to any bush in any of my manuals.

Anyone got any advice or help they can give me?

Thanks and regards to all.
Eric.

[bmcecosse]

The 'play' is there because you don't have timing gear fitted! The cam is free to move back and forth..... far better to fit the Mini tensioner style simplex timing chain for a road car. The duplex is strong for operating high lift cams and heavy duty valve springs - but not necessarily quiet. And do consider fitting a new oil pump - or at least strip and inspect the one on the engine.

[ericthered]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, I do intend to fit a new oil pump too, forgot to mention that.

I just took another look at it and I cant see that having the timing gear fitted would make any differance to the play, I might not have described the movement very well. it has movement between the gear on the dist shaft and the gear on the camshaft, I tried holding the camshaft firmly towards the front and pushing it back firmly to the back (as if it were fixed in place) but the paly is still there (it would be about 10 deg on the dist if it were fitted).
Once the timeing gear is fitted and bolted up does it draw the camshaft forward or clamp it back?
Either way the movement would still be there, or is 10 deg play ok on the dist? I would have expected almost none, the dist shaft does not apear to have any sideways movement in the block where it sits, but there is quite a bit of sideways movement at the top where it would slot into the bottom of the dist. the gears look fine with no wear, just polished where they mesh.

Best regards,
Eric.

[bmcecosse]

Timing gear pulls it forward. Well - the play is not important really since the engine always runs same direction so the free play will be constant and won't affect the running once the timing is set.

[ericthered]

Thanks for that!
as I suspected but I needed to hear someone else agree that makes me feel better.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards,
Eric.

[mike.perry]

Check for wear on the drive pins on the end of the distributor shaft. The drive dog assembly is replaceable.

[ericthered]

Thanks for that, I'll check it when I do the engine swap, it a new distributor in my old engine so that should be ok.

Regards,
Eric.