Author Topic: Brass shavings from distributor gear and new billet cam  (Read 8446 times)

Offline FEDNV

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 99
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 7.65 @ 175mph - 1/4
  • Your Engine: 560 BBC
  • Your Track: Sacramento
  • Your Vehicle: 185" FED
Brass shavings from distributor gear and new billet cam
« on: April 06, 2016, 08:19:00 AM »
I installed a new billet cam and had to change the distributor gear to a brass style (this was a used gear I had on another distributor) and took the car out this weekend and it ran absolutely awesome but we found some brass shavings in the top end.  I called the cam company and they said to shim the distributor with gaskets to get the correct engagement and I was using the correct distributor gear (brass).  I was thinking of going to another style gear like the everwear gear from Lunati or a melanized steel gear.  Any thoughts on this?





dreracecar

  • Guest
Re: Brass shavings from distributor gear and new billet cam
« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2016, 08:45:38 AM »
not all bronze gears are the same

Offline digster

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 89
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 8.01 1/4
  • Your Engine: Hilborn Injected 427 SBC (Methanol)
  • Your Track: Top End Raceways, Sabin Mn
  • Your Vehicle: 1970 190 inch FED
Re: Brass shavings from distributor gear and new billet cam
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2016, 10:53:33 AM »
Not to sound  smart-alecky but was dist. seating depth correct?

dreracecar

  • Guest
Re: Brass shavings from distributor gear and new billet cam
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2016, 12:17:41 PM »
Not to sound  smart-alecky but was dist. seating depth correct?

 What is the correct seating depth dimention you speak of????
 There is a ton of wiggle room for depth as long as you dont bottom on the oil pump shaft
 Could be improper cam placement with the gear being not in line with the distrib gear either too far forward/back and the bronze is seeing a side load.

Offline hemidakota

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 210
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 7.69 @ 173.5mph
  • Your Engine: 510 B1MC Wedge
  • Your Track: sacramento raceway
  • Your Vehicle: 02 200" fed
  • General Location: west coast
Re: Brass shavings from distributor gear and new billet cam
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2016, 12:22:36 PM »
Nothing has changed in scotts motor except cam and dist. gear. Never a problem before if that helps at all. I don't think it is a depth problem. Just my thought I would throw that out there. Crappy gear?
If it jams force it, if it breaks it needed replaced anyways

Offline masracingtd1167

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1110
  • bill masiello Shelton Ct.
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 7.40's at 181 on motor 6.94 at 192 nitrous
  • Your Engine: 394 chevy
  • Your Track: Lebanon Valley Dragway
  • Your Vehicle: 2003 Neil and Parks
Re: Brass shavings from distributor gear and new billet cam
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2016, 01:08:37 PM »
Take a look at the cam gear and make sure there are no sharp edges . It looks like something was cutting into the gear also make sure the distributor is not bottoming out on the oil pump shaft . When you run a steel billet cam you have t use a bronze gear .

Offline FEDNV

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 99
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 7.65 @ 175mph - 1/4
  • Your Engine: 560 BBC
  • Your Track: Sacramento
  • Your Vehicle: 185" FED
Re: Brass shavings from distributor gear and new billet cam
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2016, 01:20:30 PM »
I have checked the cam gear even before I installed it and it had no sharp edges either before or after taking it out.  It is the same magneto, we just changed cams and distributor gear.  Could it being a used gear have an alignment issue as it may have been warn by the previous cam?

Offline Roger

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 184
    • View Profile
  • Your Vehicle: 125 inch Altered

Offline AWAG

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 15
    • View Profile
  • Your Track: KRPI
  • Your Vehicle: altered
Re: Brass shavings from distributor gear and new billet cam
« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2016, 10:17:32 PM »
I am far from an expert but it looks to me like all the wear is below center on the distributor gear. Like the distributor is to high. If you only ran one gasket make sure the distributor isn't bottoming out on your oilpump shaft.

Offline BK

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 310
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 8.45 / 5.30
  • Your Track: Empire Dagway
  • Your Vehicle: Late 70's FED
Re: Brass shavings from distributor gear and new billet cam
« Reply #9 on: April 07, 2016, 05:36:39 AM »
I think Spud had a post on hear or his website re; distributor gear wear and which gear to use and not use. If your driving the oil pump with the distributer pressure will have an affect on how the gear wears.

Offline FEDNV

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 99
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 7.65 @ 175mph - 1/4
  • Your Engine: 560 BBC
  • Your Track: Sacramento
  • Your Vehicle: 185" FED
Re: Brass shavings from distributor gear and new billet cam
« Reply #10 on: April 07, 2016, 06:25:44 AM »
Thanks for that link to the crane bulletin and the other comments.  I contacted Clay Smith cams and they told me to use a high silicone gear so I guess I will try a new gear as well as making sure it is seating properly and see if I still have this issue.