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1. OK the engine is at the machine shop and it looks like a tooth is broken right at TDC on the camshaft gear. Anyone running a snagle tooth camshaft gear or do I need to get this replaced?
Hard to say. A gear tooth chipped at the corner would make me wonder how it happened, but would not make me condemn the gear. A completely broken off tooth would require replacement. Can you post a picture or otherwise characterize the damage to the tooth?
2. All the bearings seem to be good w/ the exception of the balance shaft and does anyone have a source for these bearings. Jamie (the machine shop guy) said that he had seen John Deere engines where the balance shaft was removed all together and the engines ran fine. Of course timing would be a bitch and I would need something to run the water pump and alternator so this doesn't look like a solution unless someone has gone this rout and knows of solutions for these issues.
Eliminating the balance shaft is not a reasonable option on the V4 because it runs the accessories. I suppose it could be done if you had a really good reason. Expensive modifications would then be required.
There are some balance-shaft engines (think Chrysler) where the balance shaft can be dispensed with, with minimal consequences, because it has no purpose but to reduce vibration. On engines like the V4 where the balance shaft serves multiple purposes, the other uses of the balance shaft must still be served and major changes will be required.
If the damage to your gear is minor, carry on. If it is significant, get a new gear, preferably as part of a full set of new gears.
posted by 198.69.25...
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