| Author | Message | ||
     Valguard |
1998 S1W So popped off the oil pump and snapped some pics. To me, this oil drive gear looks fine. So, I'm not worried about it and will get around to replacing it when I have money to buy the new one and will be doing other work on the bike. BUT, I'm no Gear-oligist. So, does it look good to you people? Who obviously ARE Gear-oligist.  And for fun, here is the other side of the hole. These actually look more worn to me, but seems like nothing out of the ordinary? Thoughts?  Thanks! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Yes, that OP drive gear looks perfect, but did you rotate the engine and check it in more than one place? The teeth tend to wear thin in one area only. You should rotate the engine a few degrees and take another photo, and repeat until you've rotated the engine at least one full turn. If all the teeth look like that, you're fine. The best way I found to rotate the engine is to put the bike in 5th gear and rotate the rear wheel by hand. That way you can rotate it a few degrees at a time. The other photo shows the cam gear; they look fine and I've never heard of a failure with them anyway. | ||
| Reepicheep |
As Hugh said, they wear assymetrically, so you need to look in a few places. That being said, the side you shot looks perfect, so I bet the other side is fine too. But what's the white crusty stuff. | ||
| Hughlysses |
But what's the white crusty stuff. Ewww. Looks like a bird pooped in his cam cover.  | ||
| Valguard |
Rotated it. Couldn't get it into fifth though? Seems like I just got it into 2nd as it only let me go up from natural once. Rotated the rear tire, took another gander, and all looks good.  | ||
| Alfau |
 Not too bad though. Rotate the motor slowly. | ||
| Dannybuell |
when you decide not to cheap out, take the side cover off 1/8 of an inch at a time. make sure not to pull the camshafts out. as you pull the cover off, lever them back in with a flat blade screw driver. repeat as necessary. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Alfau pointed to some wear marks on the teeth, but those don't look significant at this point. With a severe wear pattern, the gears will wear to knife edges and soon break off. I'd say you'd be very safe in accumulating the same number of miles on your bike again and checking the teeth. If you ever need to go into the cam cover for something else, replace the gear with the updated bronze version. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Danny, I actually tried that on my M2. The cover came off fine, but it wouldn't go back on with any level of force I felt safe applying on those cam bearings. I've heard it can be done, but it seems risky and difficult relative to just popping off a rocker box or two. | ||
| Dannybuell |
you may have to wiggle the cams a bit with that screwdriver to align the cases with the cam bushings. | ||
| Valguard |
Dannybuell, I've got two kids, no money, and barely enough time to eat! On the cheap is my only option! Haha I have plans to replace the rocker boxes and I'll do the oil gear at the same time. Hopefully I can get the parts towards the end of winter and do it all in the off season. This winter is hopefully going to be a part collecting season. |
