Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) cam gear removal and install, who has done it in the truck?

[MPascino]

Just a bit of info... . Purchased the truck a couple months back for a good price. Had an oil leak, didn't know too much about the KDP at the time. Now that I have cleaned up the engine bay, it's become obvious the oil leak is worse than I had thought. I have not had the opportunity to tear into anything in depth on the truck yet since I won't have a place to work on it until the end of the year. Long story short, i'm starting to fear the KDP has claimed another one and cracked the gear housing. My question is who here has removed and installed their cam shaft gear in the truck without removing the cam? Does anyone known how the "cummins" endorsed installer works? One would think that the time saved by not having to tear down the AC system, intercooler, and radiator would warrant a little more investigation. Preheating the gear to 350 degrees should allow the gear to slide on pretty easily. Does anyone know what temp preheat is recommended when installing the gear on an aftermarket cam? Thanks in advance. Oo.

Mike

 

[BPonci]

Your best off to pull the cam for the housing swap. I wouldn't advise on pulling the gear on the engine due to the gear must fully seat on the flange face of the cam. If you do pull the gear you must heat gear in oven to 325 degrees for 20min. Use luberplate 105 on cam and make sure you do seat the gear properly. Good luck!

 

[WDaniels]

Mpascino,

I've done both. Bponsi is right, do not pull the gear off of the cam. You can do it but isn't recommended. I did and played heck to get the cam out without dinging the bearings. Besides, you cannot get the cam gear back on yourself. I tried a dozen times and finally had to take it in to get pressed on. Heated up the gear and dry ice on the cam, would only go on about a third of the way and you cannot hit the gear because the cam will move backwards and hit the plug at the other end of the cam and make it leak or knock it out. So the moral of the story, remove the cam first then do what you want to it. I've not seen the installer and my friend at the dodge dealer hasn't either and he is the diesel mechanic.

WD