And then, I realized what I had asked....

[joe bleaux]

The other day, I asked for some help with my '98 6.5td
since the cam gear and i/p gear did not mesh 100%.

Stupidly, I said that I can guess so, no guesses please.

Hah. That is about all any of us CAN DO - GUESS.

What I really meant to say is that I wanted a sure-fire answer if this was normal and not whether it MAY BE okay to run like that.

Any, uh, "guesses" what the problem may be?

Thanks.

Joe

[More Power]

Can the camshaft be moved forward/aft by an amount equal to the gear mismatch?

Aside from a gear mismatch, the lifters will also be similarly displaced, which means the roller lifters won't be seeing the full width of the cam lobes. Likewise for the oil pump drive gear.

I vaguely remember a report of a 6.5 cam running too far to the rear because of some sort of problem, but I don't remember what the cause was.

Jim

[DmaxMaverick]

With discussion forum diagnosis, about all you're gonna get is guesses. Some educated, some not. There are some canned answers for some issues, but we can't see what you see. Pictures help, but aren't conclusive. Limiting your options to "no guesses" pretty much guarantees no help. Especially with the 'head scratcher' you are asking about. I don't have anything to contribute to your dilemma that hasn't already been said. The pump gear won't install backward. The pilot pin and bolt holes won't line up. So that leaves you with a defective gear, or something else that's amiss. I've never seen the issue. I agree with other advice you've already received, don't run the engine until the gears match.

[joe bleaux]

Didn't I just allude to that, DMax?

Nevertheless, guesses, as I said, are all that we can do without being next to the vehicle.

Now, as an aside and for entertainment purposes only, I have found the oh-so- simple-problem. Before I reveal it, does anyone care to guess?

Given some facts and information, I do like to take a turn at legerdemain or prestidigitation. It seems like it aids learning while providing respite from mundane minutia.

Joe

With discussion forum diagnosis, about all you're gonna get is guesses. Some educated, some not. There are some canned answers for some issues, but we can't see what you see. Pictures help, but aren't conclusive. Limiting your options to "no guesses" pretty much guarantees no help. Especially with the 'head scratcher' you are asking about. I don't have anything to contribute to your dilemma that hasn't already been said. The pump gear won't install backward. The pilot pin and bolt holes won't line up. So that leaves you with a defective gear, or something else that's amiss. I've never seen the issue. I agree with other advice you've already received, don't run the engine until the gears match.

[Bnave95]

I have found the oh-so- simple-problem.

And?

[arveetek]

Was the rear camshaft soft plug left out and/or not set in far enough?

I ran into a problem once of installing the plug too far deep and this pushed the camshaft forward just a bit farther than needed, and then when I installed the front retaining plate, it squeezed the camshaft a bit and made it hard to turn. I had to reset the rear plug.

Casey

[joe bleaux]

Turn on 'groan mode'. I groaned when I realized the problem. It was that the i/p was not yet bolted to the engine front cover!

Thanks everyone for suggestions.


Joe

Was the rear camshaft soft plug left out and/or not set in far enough?

I ran into a problem once of installing the plug too far deep and this pushed the camshaft forward just a bit farther than needed, and then when I installed the front retaining plate, it squeezed the camshaft a bit and made it hard to turn. I had to reset the rear plug.

Casey