dist bronze gear wear

[LAGNAF]

I realize from what I've read on bronze gears, that they are designed to wear. but my gears only last about 2500 miles..
Is that OK??
Last year on Drag Week, I had to readjust my timing at every track. The timing would be retarded by 2-4*.

This is my 3rd gear.. I checked to make sure it wasn't bottoming out on the cam.

Also its a MSD dist. and MSD gear. On a comp. cam.

[CDMBill]

What kind of cam core? I was always uncomfortable with bronze gears and the designed in wear on street driven cars. All that stuff goes somewhere, hopefully the filter but where else...?

I had good luck with the Crane steel gear on steel roller cam cores back when I ran a dfistributor. Some folks report good use on the Comp ploy gears but I have no direct experience. The other issues is the oil pump, standrad or high volume or high pressure? All effect distributor gear life.

[whichdoctor]

Get a composite gear.

[slimbo5]

I ate up a gear during drag week during 2010. I had a cast gear pressed onto my billet can core. It was supposed to be compatible with the standard msd Dist gear. Comp warrantied the cam. And I went to a melonized Dist gear. Have zero wear after almost 2000 miles.

[MR P-BODY]

If you have HIGH oil pressure it will wear out faster... I have been
running the bronze gears in my SB Mopar and get better than 3500
miles with some wear... it might go 5000 but that might be it... also
big spring pressure will snap it back and forth causing wear

[LAGNAF]

What kind of cam core? I was always uncomfortable with bronze gears and the designed in wear on street driven cars. All that stuff goes somewhere, hopefully the filter but where else...?

I had good luck with the Crane steel gear on steel roller cam cores back when I ran a dfistributor. Some folks report good use on the Comp ploy gears but I have no direct experience. The other issues is the oil pump, standrad or high volume or high pressure? All effect distributor gear life.

its a steel, not cast cam.

[LAGNAF]

Get a composite gear.

I'd thought of a composite gear, but hadn't heard of anyone directly that had used one..

just makes me nervous using a "plastic" gear to run my oil pump and push my valves open..

[lun40119]

8500 miles on my brass gear on the unilite. It still looks brand new but it is a better gear though from CV Products. I just installed an MSD distributor in the car with a different shaft size. Tom(engine builder) is sending a better gear......he says the MSD gears are crap.

High OP will trash the gear every time. I have 45lbs at 8500rpm.

[moparman63]

my first bronze went about 4500 miles,and it looked pretty rough.this one has about 3500 on it.this one is wearing much better,but is one of my "must check" items before dw.i may look at a composite gear myself.

[lun40119]

Careful with the plastic stuff.......I brought a cold motor to the dyno a couple years back and sheared all the teeth off it. I won't run one.

[MR P-BODY]

my first bronze went about 4500 miles,and it looked pretty rough.this one has about 3500 on it.this one is wearing much better,but is one of my "must check" items before dw.i may look at a composite gear myself.

I've learned to cheat them for some added miles... for us Mopar
guys we have the intermediate shaft with the gear on it... if its worn
to the point you are thinking of changing it... put a few of the thin washers
(like the torrington bearing washers) under the gear to lift it up to get it
to wear at a different point... dont get carried away and lift it so much that
it pulls out of the oil pump

[LAGNAF]

8500 miles on my brass gear on the unilite. It still looks brand new but it is a better gear though from CV Products. I just installed an MSD distributor in the car with a different shaft size. Tom(engine builder) is sending a better gear......he says the MSD gears are crap.

High OP will trash the gear every time. I have 45lbs at 8500rpm.

I looked at CV Products online. Looks like they sell MSD gears.. Where/what gears are you talking about??

[JeffMcKC]

I use the plastic, but always let my oil warm a bit before getting after the throttle because of high pressure. I also leave the bottom o-ring off the dist and or drill a small hole thru the oil channel ( real small) to spray on the gear

[lun40119]

To be real honest........I have never really asked questions about the gear. Tom put it on there, and it worked. Let me do a little research......

[lun40119]

I am pretty sure this is the gear that is used......

http://www.straubtechnologies.com/ampco-45-bronze-distributor-gears/