Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 22:57:34 +0100 From: Greg Farris <farrisnospam.org> Subject: Re: Lifetime of Saab
In article <ejqnt0$btv$1nospam4.zwoll1.ov.home.nl>, nonospamo says... > > > > Another weak point of this engine was the balance shaft drive gear. > >Only if the bearings are worn, the gear might loose its teeth... so, as long as >you replace the bearings in time, there's no problem with the gear. > I disagree. They used a fibre gear for noise limitation, but this came with a significant MTBF limitation as well. If "lose its teeth" means to you the same thing as "completely disintegrates every 60K/Mi" then we're talking the same language. The Ford design was just "OK" - remove the oil pan to remove the front cover to replace the gear. This, coupled with the SAAB design - disassemble the entire car, to remove the engine and transmission to remove the oil pan to remove the front cover to replace the gear,and we're well into the sub-optimal. GF