BDE cam gears - caution

Where did the metal come from or do you not know at this stage ?

 

The only reason for any VTC not returning to zero is a mechanical bind within. With the stronger spring that I install, it has even more pressure to return the VTC to the static zero position than the stock one did.

I can't claim to be a tuner with knowledge of how the cam timing affects AFR or how to diagnose it. But I would guess you could test by activating the VTC via a ConZult or something similar to see if doing so causes a change in what you are observing.

If you are experiencing noise with JWT 500 cams, I ask that you first verify it is true VTC noise by activating the VTC at idle - if the noise remains, it is not the VTC... if the noise vanishes, the VTC is the culprit. I have had roughly five people with JWT500 cams tell me that they have experienced noise, but few are willing to verify it and even fewer are willing to send their sprockets back for me to inspect. I have inspected several sets for anything out of the ordinary, and I cannot see a reason for the noise. I have offered to test installing a restrictor in the center VTC bolt but no one seems to be willing to give this a shot; Glenn is currently working on this approach with his own engine.

Please email me and we can discuss this further: brett@bde-performance.com

 

I will close this thread now.

I will take PMs from Mungyz and BDE themselves if the thread needs to be temporarily reopened.

 

Thread opened for 24 hours on request for posting by LitlElvis.

Please all else refrain from posting

 

As final recap to this, a set of my rebuilt VTC gears were installed onto an engine and one was found to not be returning to the static zero advance position. With my approval, the offending gear was disassembled by mungyz and nothing obvious was noted. Both gears were then returned to me for inspection and when I disassembled the intact gear metal debris was found in its residual oil.

Several weeks later, the oil filter from the car was removed, cut apart and inspected to reveal similar debris as was noted in the gear (see picture below). I've circled two particles that are similar in color to what I found, but there is also a good amount of silver particles in the pleats.

In my opinion, this foreign debris is the most likely culprit that caused the one VTC gear to bind and not return to its zero advance position and is an example of a symptom not being the cause. If your engine is in good condition, there is absolutely no reason to use caution when installing my VTC rebuilds.

Glenn (mungyz) has started a new thread which explains his other oil system findings after examining the filter. Here's a link to it: http://www.aus300zx.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316988

To wrap this up, two fresh gears are enroute to Glenn as I type this, to be installed back on the car when its oil system issues are sorted out.

 

Yes as Brett says, there was metal found in the filter, we figured out the likely cause and established why it hadn't been discovered until Brett found it in the one gear.

I have to reiterate some of my posts above might seem a little negative towards the BDE gears - it was due to frustration with the actual car not so much the gears.
I apologise to Brett for any bad feeling over this.

As Brett has said and as I posted in the original post make sure your engine is in good health, might be an idea to open up the filter and have a look - even if you think your motor is happy.

We will advise when the gears have been fitted back to this engine & will post results, I fully expect them to operate correctly now & may even test them on another engine PRIOR to them going in the car of doom.

 

Thank you to both of you