Hi,

I have an 1984 4cyl Iron duke, and my timing gears went out on them. I've checked the links found here and found many great threads to replacing timing gears. I have managed to remove the old fiber gear and started to install my new fiber gear, unfortunatly my cam shaft is now slightly moving (about 1/16 inch). Any idea's would be helpful. I am now thinking about lowering my cradle and removing the gear along with the cam shaft and having it pressed on, then reinstalling it with the gear already on. Has anybody done this before? Does this work? Need help oin this one.

Also there is a timing mark on the gears, but the crank shaft gear turns twice as fast as the cam gear. Therefore there is a correct position to the gears, and not just simply lining up the marks. Is there a specific procedure on where the gears and timing marks should be?


Thanks

I had to replace the timing gears on my old Duke several years ago. The method I used was to remove the two rear cradle bolts (as well as detaching the dogbone and anything else necessary) and hinging the cradle / engine / tranny assembly down enough to get the camshaft out. I had the cam gear pressed off, and new one pressed on, at a local machine shop.

The cam and crank gears both have notches that orient the gear correctly on the shaft.

This little photo will help you in lining up the gears.



BTW, welcome to the forum.

[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 08-24-2010).]

quote Originally posted by Bertf: Hi, I have an 1984 4cyl Iron duke, and my timing gears went out on them. I've checked the links found here and found many great threads to replacing timing gears. I have managed to remove the old fiber gear and started to install my new fiber gear, unfortunatly my cam shaft is now slightly moving (about 1/16 inch). Any idea's would be helpful. I am now thinking about lowering my cradle and removing the gear along with the cam shaft and having it pressed on, then reinstalling it with the gear already on. Has anybody done this before? Does this work? Need help oin this one. Also there is a timing mark on the gears, but the crank shaft gear turns twice as fast as the cam gear. Therefore there is a correct position to the gears, and not just simply lining up the marks. Is there a specific procedure on where the gears and timing marks should be? Thanks

I had the same issue two years ago. see my post here, it describes how I changed the gear on the cam. https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...100421-2-095918.html Look down a few posts and I describe what I did. You have to use a 3/8-16 tap and thread the camshaft so you can drive the cam gear onto the cam.
Not sure what you mean about the cam moving, there will be some play in it so that doesn't sound like it's a problem. As for the timing marks, the cam gear is twice the size of the crank gear so for every revolution of the cam gear the crank gear makes two turns. Just line up the marks and you will be fine.

[This message has been edited by TONY_C (edited 08-24-2010).]

Welcome to the forum.

Go to theogres cave, link is at the top of the page. He has the dinifitive instructions including pictures on how to remove and install your timing gear. The thread included the installation techniques of your new gear also, pictures, tools, tips and suggestions. If you haven't already read it then take a break and review it, all your questions are answered in the thread.

Welcome to the madness.

Thanks guys,

What i am saying about the timing gear marks, is you can install both gears, and the (crank shaft) gear can be half way off. it actually does 2 turns for every one turn of the (cam shaft) fiber gear. So the gear can be on a compression stroke or intake stroke or exhaust stroke. Where should my crank,cam,and distributor be in order to get the proper timing?

quote Originally posted by Bertf: Thanks guys, What i am saying about the timing gear marks, is you can install both gears, and the (crank shaft) gear can be half way off. it actually does 2 turns for every one turn of the (cam shaft) fiber gear. So the gear can be on a compression stroke or intake stroke or exhaust stroke. Where should my crank,cam,and distributor be in order to get the proper timing?

You are making it way more complicated that it is. Put the crank gear in position with the mark facing straight up towards the camshaft and install the cam gear so the two marks line up. That's it. You're done. If you didn't touch the distributor there is nothing to worry about, the pistons are timed to the valves correctly when the marks line up. If you moved the distributor, you will have to reset the ignition timing. You are confusing ignition timing with mechanical timing.

[This message has been edited by TONY_C (edited 08-24-2010).]

not sure if this will help, but check out my article at www.michiganfieroclub.com look under tech articles

Yup i guess i am confusing ignition timing with mechanical timing, thanks on that part.

Is there any concerns when i remove the distributor, in order to remove the cam shaft along with the gear?

quote Originally posted by Bertf: Yup i guess i am confusing ignition timing with mechanical timing, thanks on that part. Is there any concerns when i remove the distributor, in order to remove the cam shaft along with the gear?

If you already have the gear removed you do not have to take out the camshaft to put the new gear on it. You can just thread the hole in the cam and use a bolt and washer to press it on. If you wish to remove the cam, just remove the Distributor, you are going to have to redo the ignition timing when you re-install the cam anyway.

Thanks so much guys, i will try to complete the fiber gear install by threading the cam and bolt and washer to press it on.

I'll let you know how it goes.

BTW thanks for the welcome to PFF and to the madness.

Is the engine out or lowered? BTW, don't tap on the cam, otherwise, you could push out the cam cover on the backside and cause an oil leak. This happened when I replaced my gear. I had a very minor leak after wards and I tried to not tap on the cam.... tricky!

Okay Jaskispyder, Are you saying tapping on the cam can push a cam cover on the back end of the cam? Because this was my first concern. I can take hold of the partly inserted fiber gear and it moves in and out about 1/16 of inch. Let me see if i can explain this properly.

1) old gear off
2) taping on the fiber gear to push it onto the cam
3) went most of the way (about 85%) onto the cam shaft
4) when i hold the partly inserted fiber gear i can pull on it and the cam shaft moves along with the partly inserted gear. (about 1/16 inch) in and out.

thats why i wanted to remove with the cam and gear as an assembly. To get it properly pressed on.

can the cam cover on the back end been seen and inspected?

I'm curious how this turned out.
I have over 200k on my duke and don't know if the timing gears were ever replaced or not. I will eventually have to do this. When the gear failed...what happened?

quote Originally posted by 2.5: I'm curious how this turned out. I have over 200k on my duke and don't know if the timing gears were ever replaced or not. I will eventually have to do this. When the gear failed...what happened?

Nothing happens besides the engine shutting off. My gear let go during a downshift at about 4000 rpms and no damage occurred. No valve to piston interference on a Duke. The engine will die and then when you try to start it it will crank faster because the valves aren't turning and there will be no compression building in some cylinders. Have a friend crank the engine with the oil fill cap off, you will see that the rockers aren't moving.

See my cave.....
Cam gear in 4 cyl engine section.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

Yup, Ed at the Fiero Factory said the cam cover can be dislodged so it leaks. To see it, you need to remove the tranny and flywheel. Ed said they used to drop the pan and use a pry bar to hold the cam and tap on the new gear. The tool I own allows you hold the cam while using the cam to push the gear on. I had to help it on by tapping it. I think this may have dislodged the cam cover as I had a very minor oil leak coming from the tranny area afterwards. Very minor, by annoying. I should have been more careful and heated the gear even more before installing.

quote Originally posted by Bertf: Okay Jaskispyder, Are you saying tapping on the cam can push a cam cover on the back end of the cam? Because this was my first concern. I can take hold of the partly inserted fiber gear and it moves in and out about 1/16 of inch. Let me see if i can explain this properly. 1) old gear off 2) taping on the fiber gear to push it onto the cam 3) went most of the way (about 85%) onto the cam shaft 4) when i hold the partly inserted fiber gear i can pull on it and the cam shaft moves along with the partly inserted gear. (about 1/16 inch) in and out. thats why i wanted to remove with the cam and gear as an assembly. To get it properly pressed on. can the cam cover on the back end been seen and inspected?