Hitchcocks Forum

Morning all

I am getting close to finishing my 500 AVL engine rebuild and have come on a problem ( I think) best to check it before closing up the covers and ignoring it! on the timing side my crankshaft pinion is sitting about 2mm further out than the cam wheels, this may be normal but I am not sure. I lost the woodruff key and bought another and can't help but think the new one is slightly too big and stopping the pinion locating fully 'home', have tapped it in as much as I dare! My question is and if anyone has a 500 AVL timing cover off should all three wheeles/pinions be sitting fully level with each other, or does the crank pinon actually sit a bit out? My concern is if the pinion is sitting out it is pushing the oil pump drive gear out so may damage the worm drive. I have had the cover on and it tightens up fine and the engine turns over easily, so no catching or rubbing I can detect. TIA

Sorry for the late reply.

I have a more or less complete bottom end from a classic or "iron barrel" Bullet as our American friends would call it one the workbench, so I had a look to compare, as the two models are similar enough at this point.

The end of the timing pinion seems to be sitting in very much the same position laterally, with the bevelled/chamfered edge of the pinion teeth proud, but the rest of the teeth lining up with the teeth an the exhaust cam pinion much as yours does.

You can always trim the pinion key a bit if it really needs it.

A.

I recently had the timing cover off my iron barrel Bullet Electra. The timing side looked like the photo below, if it’s any help:

Many thanks Guys very helpful, established mine is fine it was the chamfer sticking out a bit but no different to what you showed me or described in that the teeth are fully engaged. Just wanted to check before priming the big end with oil and closing the cover, getting close to finishing and fist start attempt!