Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 19:18:34 +0100 From: Martin Hilvers <NOSPAMgvelemanopsamr.NL.net> Subject: Re: 72 Sonnet part NEEDED
GPFREAK wrote: > > I am helping a friend look for a rare part for a 1972 Sonnet 1.7 Liter V4. > We are searching for the nylon gear on the end of the counter balance shaft. > The gear is missing some teeth,... This is what usually happens after 100.000 km but it does not have to be a major problem. You can contact Ford or better Ford Industrial as the V4 was used in the USA (in stationary engines) too. The steel replacement will cost you US$ 50-80 You could also contact your local SAAB dealer, they should have a set of all 3 gears for about US$ 175. However, the main reason for failure of the gear is worn balanceshaft bearings! You can check this by moving the balanceshaft pulley up+down if there is noticable movement the (2) bearings are shot. Then there will also be little pieces of bearing metal on the bottom of the oil pan. These bearings can only be replaced by taking the engine out as the balanceshaft can only be removed through the back of the block, towards the flywheel. There is an excellent newsgroup (newsletter) for Vintage SAABs (92, 93, 95 96, 97, 90, 99) on http://www.nospam/ You can subscribe to a newsletter there, put up classifieds and read about how to solve your balanceshaft problem in detail. -- MH ('78 95 '79 96)