SHREADED camshaft syncronizer (pics inside!!)

[bassist21685]

so i have a 94' 3.0 ranger, about six months ago i posted here about no spark because i thought my hall sensor went out. when i pulled the distributor six months ago, my camshaft syncronizer gear was stripped. i replaced the whole unit.

it drove fine up until last week when the engine turned off...it was two in the morning and i was returning home from work. the engine cut out when i was shifting from 3rd to 4th at around 4k rpms, i tried to turn the key while rolling and poping the clutch to turn over, but nothing. while i was waiting for the tow truck to arrive i pulled a plug and stuck a screw driver in it, and set it near the body and tried to turn it over to see if it would arc to the body, and thusly show if i have spark. there was no spark.

i pulled the distributor and the camshaft syncronizer is torn to pieces.

what would cause this to happen again!? the camshaft gear that this rests on is fine, with no departmental wear on it.

 

[Big Jim M]

The worn/broken gears look like they were wiping as they should. Could the oil pump be causing this problem?
I do NOT see how the cam gear could still be good after wearing out two dist gears. But if dollars or time is short I'd put another dist in there and see how long it lasts.
My guess, from the looks of that gear, is there is a LOT of pressure on those gears. Have you stuck a long screwdriver in there and tried to twist the oil pump?
Big JIm

 

[cush]

where did you get this one? ford? i got a duracrap one and im pretty sure its giving me problems. i second checking the oil pump though but that might also be something you might talk to ford about and see what your ford dealer says. there's a guy on here selling a ford one for $75. i was maybe gonna swoop it up but i dont get paid until later this week so if you want too swoop on it then go for it.

 

[bassist21685]

well the distributor was motorcraft so genuine ford product.... i peeked inside the hole (hahaha, sorry had to) and the cam gear was fine, it felt even, unchipped and solid.

i went to stick a screw driver in the hole to try to turn the oil pump by hand and it seems like by the looks of the distributor shaft(female hex end) i should be sticking a torque wrench with a long ass extension... im just afraid; cauz if the piece pops off in that hole.. i figure im tearing down the engine to fetch it.


i tested the hall sensor in the distributor, its still good, so all i need is a new camshaft syncro. i bumped out the lock pin in the syncro, but that thing is on shaft tight!

any ideas how to pull off the syncro gear?

 

[shane96ranger]

This same thing will happen on a 5.0 HO Mustang if you put a cast iron gear in with the steel camshaft. I think it's a matter of the gear not being made out of the correct metal.

Also, you should be able to rent an oil pump priming tool at Autozone.

 

[Big Jim M]

I have used quite a few brass dist gears. When modifying a YJ engine to use a Chevy dist those are all the gears that were available.. I do NOT know of one failing. So I'm doubting the gear failure being from lesser iron.. I'd sure be checking the oil pump.
Big JIm

 

[masterbrenden]

play in the cam... bad cam bearings. thats were i would look... it could be moving a little bit... but that little bit is all it takes

 

[Rearanger]

when i pulled the distributor six months ago, my camshaft syncronizer gear was stripped. i replaced the whole unit.
i pulled the distributor and the camshaft syncronizer is torn to pieces.
what would cause this to happen again!? the camshaft gear that this rests on is fine, with no departmental wear on it.

As Big Jim says, maybe oil pump resistance. What grade oil are you using and how cold does it get where you live?

 

[holyford86]

I have seen wear like this in 3, 3 liter motors 2 of them were 95+ engines that just have a cam position sensor there, both of those motors were destroyed by loss of oil pressure because the engine will still run when that gear gets destroyed.

 

[bassist21685]

I have seen wear like this in 3, 3 liter motors 2 of them were 95+ engines that just have a cam position sensor there, both of those motors were destroyed by loss of oil pressure because the engine will still run when that gear gets destroyed.

well luckily, the engine shut off immediately, when the distributor goes out... no gear=no spark

As Big Jim says, maybe oil pump resistance. What grade oil are you using and how cold does it get where you live?

hahaha, i live in ventura, southern california... cold here is 60 ferinheight..jk
but iv been using 5w30.

play in the cam... bad cam bearings. thats were i would look... it could be moving a little bit... but that little bit is all it takes

thats where im starting to suspect. going to check there next....if thats the problem... im going to have to tear into the engine, and i may as well just pick a new engine up being that i have 142k miles

 

[bassist21685]

so in conclusion..

i pulled on the syncro gear from the distributor shaft. and the pin hole looked liked it was machined wrong, the hole was ovaled on both sides, leading me to believe that the remanufactured distributor was the culprit. i checked the camshaft gear, and it was in good conditions... so i got another motorcraft distributor and the engine runs great! lets see how long this one lasts....

 

[cush]

so in conclusion..

i pulled on the syncro gear from the distributor shaft. and the pin hole looked liked it was machined wrong, the hole was ovaled on both sides, leading me to believe that the remanufactured distributor was the culprit. i checked the camshaft gear, and it was in good conditions... so i got another motorcraft distributor and the engine runs great! lets see how long this one lasts....

thanks for the conclusion! im gonna replace mine, soonish.

 

[westtntrucker]

Just a note to those replacing the syncro, the one in my wifes Taurus started the belt chirp and I researched it on a Taurus forum. Everyone there said to stay away from the Dorman unit and get a cardone a1 piece. According to the posters, the Dorman is a cheap Chinese piece.
I went to my local auto zone and all they carried was the dreaded Dorman unit. Went over to napa and the had the cardone unit available. I purchased it ad have not had a problem so far after 8k.
Again, just a note.
http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/82-...1-alert-dorman-cam-synchronizer-assembly.html

 

[EMB1230]

I've had good luck with Napa as well, but for this they say don't even use that one. Go for the Genuine Ford Motorcraft part. Very pricey, but they WILL last.