surfdog4

I've changed all my front seals now except the oil pump...when i went to remove the gear, i can only get it to wiggle a bit (so i know it's not seized on the shaft) It moves back and forth about 2-3mm but no further. I got a two-arm puller on it, but with just the threaded bolt to push against i couldn't get it to move. (it's soaked in PB Blaster)

Any idea what could be holding it on? Having never done this before i'm reluctant to brute force it until i know there is no other way. Sage advice? this is an '81 US model

Thanks!

hacker-pschorr

Gear puller from Harbor Freight. Easier while the pump is still on the car.

surfdog4

i have the harbor frieght pullers, but i couldn't get any of the 3-arm ones on there..guess you have to remove the alternator/PS pump bracket? I was hoping there was an easier way

hacker-pschorr

What year?

On my 81 I had to remove the PS bracket (forgot about that until just now). IIRC I also had to remove the oil fill tube. If the pan is full, have something ready to catch the overflow.

surfdog4

This is an '81 also. Yes i learned about the oil tube..OK well i guess I'll just have to go back and take that PS bracket off..the gear almost feels like it's hanging on the woodruff key..a metal-to-metal "clunk" when i get it to move forward a bit

Mrmerlin

for the oil pump there are 5 seals to replace, the front radial seal, the large O ring for the pump to block seal, and the 3 O rings on the bolts that hold the pump to the block, if the oil is full then the oil tube will spew when you remove the bolts securing it to the pan. removal of the pump bracket and alternator is usually required for full access

Hilton

When I was doing my TBWP I got stuck on the oil pump gear too - mine was very worn (original aluminum one) so I had to replace it.

On mine, it was the woodruff key that was holding it. I couldn't' move the key with a screwdriver - I ended up using a punch to push the end of the woodruff key into place so it was horizontal, and the gear came off pretty easily by hand.

Landseer

I built a little puller. Flat stock with hole in middle for the shaft/ retained by nut, threaded holes on ends for bolts that pushed against block.

Mrmerlin

if you have the aluminum gear and are replacing it with the steel version make sure to remove the 1mm spacer washer that sits behind the aluminum gear.
Also the bevel on the ring gear goes towards the oil pump, the dots must both be on the same side, use STP to reassemble the pump this will help it to suck the oil out of the pan

Landseer

If you don't remove spacer?.......

surfdog4

This sounds like my problem..the gear is not stuck on the shaft because i can move it a little by hand, but it seems to be getting stuck on the woodruff key..which is a bit confusing since i thought the key should run all the way to the back of the gear. This gear appears to be steel, must have been replaced at some point

Mrmerlin

The WSM says to remove the spacer if you replace the aluminum gear with a steel version.
You might trey gently tapping on the snout of the gear as you pull it off it sounds like the woodruf keyway might have gotten flared

surfdog4

Got it! for future reference, the woodruff key on the oil pump shaft is half-moon shaped, and i think it got turned up slightly..i took a small flat blade screwdriver and tapped it between the gear and the key to push it down a bit. Still needed my little two-armed puller, and the darn thing fought every millimeter.

Thanks everyone for their advice!