thegoat4
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2007
- Messages
- 613
- Reaction score
- 6
- Points
- 0
- Vehicle Year
- 1998
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Transmission
- Manual
I have a kind of lengthy PM routine. Oil change, grease the ball joints, clean off the engine, vacuum gauge, fuel pressure gauge, oil pressure gauge, clean the pulleys, clean the radiator, clean the ac condenser. Tranny oil check, diff oil check, coolant test, battery electrolyte test, battery load test, tire rotation. Brake check, clutch fluid check, rear brake adjustment. Wash the damn thing. And last, but not least, pull my cam synchro sensor and check that shaft for play. 5mm socket, two little screws.
Last week I found play, so I ordered a new one. It arrived yesterday. Between then and now it began to squeal at startup and had pushed a little bit of oil up to the sensor itself. And it had a little more play in it than last week. I replaced it today and took the old one apart. The shaft itself had a little galling, but not much of the shaft wore away. The bushing was very worn.
The old synchro was a royal pain in the ass to get out. Just kinda wedged itself in place. I did not have the synchronizer tool, so I simply marked everything. Runs fine, but I'll take it in next week to get that rechecked or see if I can locate a tool.
So, if you fret over your cam synchro failing and obliterating your otherwise bulletproof engine, it takes only a couple of minutes to pop off that sensor and wiggle that shaft. If it moves enough you can feel the movement, go ahead and get a new assembly coming.
Last week I found play, so I ordered a new one. It arrived yesterday. Between then and now it began to squeal at startup and had pushed a little bit of oil up to the sensor itself. And it had a little more play in it than last week. I replaced it today and took the old one apart. The shaft itself had a little galling, but not much of the shaft wore away. The bushing was very worn.
The old synchro was a royal pain in the ass to get out. Just kinda wedged itself in place. I did not have the synchronizer tool, so I simply marked everything. Runs fine, but I'll take it in next week to get that rechecked or see if I can locate a tool.
So, if you fret over your cam synchro failing and obliterating your otherwise bulletproof engine, it takes only a couple of minutes to pop off that sensor and wiggle that shaft. If it moves enough you can feel the movement, go ahead and get a new assembly coming.