[Vwdiesel] crazy cam gear removal

Fri Sep 10 14:50:22 EDT 2004

i like to have a little preload on the gear. i DON'T
use the puller by itself to pull the gear. i use a
hammer and lightly tap, like you suggest. but i don't
usually turn the camshaft very much, as the timing
belt is off.

actually to tell the truth i usually am lazy and use a
couple pry bars with medium pressure on the back of
the gear and tap the gear a bit. but i really hesitate
to recommend that cause i just picture someone getting
the wrong idea in their head and taking a HUGE bar and
just reefing on the thing - breaking the gear and
punching a hole in the aluminium head all at the same
time!

yes, you have to be careful when using a puller, but
when using a quality one carefully they can do almost
as good a job as a press, and are much easier to carry
around and put in an engine bay! :)

did i make myself any clearer? (i seem to have real
difficulties doing that over the computer sometimes.
sorry for any confusion!)

erik
--- "William A. Thompson" <twogreek at hotmail.com>
wrote:

> To reinforce what was already said in this thread
> and suggest
> a different approach.
> I never have had to use a puller on that gear. Did
> you start
> out by trying without the puller? A few good
> calibrated raps
> on the gear equally spaced in sequence around the
> gear
> with the bolt turned just a turn or two loose to
> avoid the
> gear from jumping off the cam and onto the floor,
> should work. Always has for me.When tolerances are
> close or a press fit is effectively being used,
> any uneven
> pressure while using a puller would tend to make
> the
> parts "stick" together instead of "sliding"
> against each
> other to slide .... actually pop ... apart. Watch
> out
> that you don't gall by forcing it with uneven
> pressure
> of/from a puller.
> Bill
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Erik Lane" <erikjlane at yahoo.com>
> To: "Bart Wineland" <bwinelan at allegheny.edu>
> Cc: <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 5:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] crazy cam gear removal
> 
> 
> > it sounds like you're doing everything i've ever
> done.
> > if there's another good trick out there that
> someone
> > comes up with i'd love to hear it!!
> >
> > as far as advice - i'd just say keep working on
> it.
> > don't give up - sometimes they'll stick at first
> but
> > then eventually give. but be careful about
> putting too
> > much pressure or stress on that gear! unless you
> don't
> > mind replacing it, which i guess you might end
> up
> > getting stuck with. i'd just keep penetrating
> oil on
> > it and let it sit along with putting pressure on
> it
> > with the puller and tapping it lightly as well
> as the
> > heat. i think all those things are good. just
> > alternate from one to the other (or multiple at
> once -
> > even better) and give it time to sit with the
> oil and
> > puller just sitting on it with pressure. maybe
> it will
> > move a hair? as long as it's not a big hurry
> then you
> > should be able to get it off eventually.
> >
> > oh yeah, make sure that your puller is really
> pulling
> > straight. it can make a big difference, and
> sometimes
> > they really seem to want to pull crooked in
> spite of
> > everything! tho you having drilled it a bit
> should
> > keep at least that part pretty good.
> >
> > good luck!
> > erik
> > --- Bart Wineland <bwinelan at allegheny.edu>
> wrote:
> >
> > > Thanks Sandy. I didn't describe my technique
> very
> > > clearly but I am doing it
> > > just as you suggest. Grabbing through the gear
> holes
> > > with the arms pointing
> > > into the center of the hub. I have rapped the
> head
> > > of the sprocket bolt
> > > harder than I know I should, or want to and I
> did
> > > not want to have to heat
> > > the gear but have done both, still with no
> success.
> > > I center punched and
> > > drilled the center of the gear bolt to keep my
> > > puller stud from wandering
> > > off the bolt head and falling off, so I am
> getting
> > > good pressure now on the
> > > gear and that bugger still won't come off.  I
> tore
> > > my old junk engine apart
> > > a month or so ago just to practice and had no
> > > trouble getting that gear
> > > off? I'll keep trying and thanks for your
> response.
> > >
> > > Bart
> > >
> > > At 06:58 PM 9/10/2004 -0400, you wrote:
> > > >At 05:12 PM 09/09/04 -0400, you wrote:
> > > >
> > > >.  Right now I am beating my head trying to
> get the
> > > > >stupid cam gear off. The bolt came out no
> problem
> > > but the gear will not
> > > > >pop. I know it is a tapered shaft with a
> key and
> > > can't figure why it won't
> > > > >come off.  I have a 2 jaw puller that is
> kind of
> > > flimsy and keeps flying
> > > > >off but it is the only one I have that is
> slim
> > > enough to get behind the
> > > > >gear.
> > > >
> > > >1. It is not keyed. there is a slot, but no
> key, as
> > > it has to be
> > > >"adjustable" to time the cam shaft at belt
> > > replacement.
> > > >
> > > >2. It is unwise to use a puller that grabs
> the rim
> > > of the sprocket, as it is
> > > >cast iron like the pump sprocket, and can
> shatter
> > > if subjected to that kind
> > > >of abuse. Best to get a puller that will grab
> the
> > > insides of the holes next
> > > >to the hub.
> > > >
> > > >With the sprocket bolt in place (to protect
> the
> > > threads) and backed out a
> > > >turn or two, apply pressure with the puller,
> then
> > > tap the center bolt of the
> > > >puller while it is under stress. It should
> pop off.
> > > >
> > > >Sandy
> > >
> > >
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> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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