Grey Wolf

While checking the tension on the timing belt I noticed a crack in the cam gear.
Conventional wisdom says not to drive the car until the repair is made.
What do you think?
Car is an 84S auto and located in Pittsburgh. I was planning on going to SITM next weekend but maybe not.

TIA........

Giovanni

We think you are a very smart person to not to drive till its fixed, hhehe. Although your engine is a non-interference engine I am sure there will be some serious external damage if the cam gear lets go.

aggravation

These gears have a finish on them, kind of a thick coating of some kind and that may be just the finish that is cracked as in it could flake away and reveal the metal surface below is not cracked...but even if I'm right I don't know if that means you could trust it.

blown 87

Yea, like breaking the end off of a cam.

9x8

Now this is a crack :

Mrmerlin

I would think that with a cracked gear there must be something else in the valve train thats causing excessive vibration

jleidel

Warped cam tower? Belt rollers out of whack [I can attest to this one]?

SharkSkin

You COULD have that fixed in time for SITM -- I'd say order all of the parts you might need, do the work, then return whatever you don't need. Most vendors are OK with this(ask first anyway). It's only a few hour's work on an early car, assuming the 928 gods smile on your water pump bolts and none snap.

oz928s4

Looking at the rear of the tooth it is missing a piece..possible it has picked up and tagged something in its travels...definetely looks likeits all over for that one.

Mike Frye

Isn't that the timing notch?

I agree that you shouldn't drive it. You got lucky by noticing it before it let you know in another way, I wouldn't tempt fate.

Grey Wolf

Hi Mike, yes that is the timing notch which is why I noticed it.
And Dave A, parts are coming in on tuesday, which is the last day I can work on it due to other commitments. Having only assisted on a T/B W/P job before I will not press the issue and try to make SITM and possibly screw myself even more.
Thanks all for the comments

GregBBRD

Indeed, that belt doesn't look very good, from the pictures. There is quite a bit of "checking" and rubber buildup. I'd think you are doing the correct thing, by not pressing the issue.