Intake timing gear clacking like crazy

fillupd · Post by **fillupd** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 8:57 pm

I have a 1978 Spider 124 and have a loud clacking noise from the front of the engine. I found it was the intake timing gear that is loose. I am able to grab it and move it/jiggle it back and forth. The bolts not loose as I found out when I cranked on it and spun the gear on the belt. I have looked and seen replacement gears. I think mine has some kind of insert in it? Do I just purchase a new gear and belt or do I need to replace them both so they are the same? I did get the gears back in line so it runs but of coarse I need to get it fixed before I drive it much, if at all.
Thanks for any opinions or suggestions with this kind of thing.

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 12:06 am

there are differences in the years. width and whether they have a fence on the front or back. the diameter and the cog spacing is the same on all.

BEEK · Post by **BEEK** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 12:15 am

you have one of the composite gears where there is a steel sleeve in a composite gear, throw it as far as you can into the trash. buy a solid metal gear, your problems will be fixed

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 12:56 am

yep, get rid of the plastic gear before it causes valve to piston interference

djape1977 · Post by **djape1977** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 2:48 am

BEEK wrote: throw it as far as you can into the trash.

exactly!

years ago i had a same problem on my fiat 132 and it drove me crazy for a while untill i located the source. timing gear was the last thing on my check list

fillupd · Post by **fillupd** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 10:11 am

OK, Thanks for the replies. Parts are on the way to replace both of them. I seen the parts available for original replacements so I'm thankful for the posts here so I didn't end up with the same type of gears I was replacing.

I installed an aluminum radiator I purchased from allisonautomotive last year so at least that part of getting that out of the way will be easy. I think that radiator upgrade is probably the best upgrade I ever completed. Its nice to know you can sit and idle in a traffic jam at 100 degrees for as long as you have to and stay cool, (the engine anyway).

I think I remember reading an old post that the bolt on the crank is left handed thread and if it is a nut, it is right handed, correct?

djape1977 · Post by **djape1977** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 2:34 pm

Intake timing gear clacking like crazy

Intake timing gear clacking like crazy

Re: Intake timing gear clacking like crazy

Re: Intake timing gear clacking like crazy

Re: Intake timing gear clacking like crazy

Re: Intake timing gear clacking like crazy

Re: Intake timing gear clacking like crazy

Re: Intake timing gear clacking like crazy