Miata Mailing List: October 1997, Message #73
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From: 	Gus Harris <gharris@uwf.edu>

Subject: crankshaft/timing belt woes

Date: 	Wed, 1 Oct 1997 09:56:31 +0000



First, thanks to everyone who has replied to my post about the problems I'm

having with my 90 timing belt change--and resulting crankshaft problems.  I

went down to the shop after work yesterday and they already had the gear

off.  The nose of the crankshaft looks fine to me.  No apparent wear,

key/groove isn't worn, light surface rust on the nose...but really no more

than I've seen on other cranks before.  Inside the gear I saw some rings of

rust but the entire surface inside was not covered.  And again it looks to

be surface rust.  However, what floored me was the fact that they had

chiseled on the gear, apparently trying to split it or something to get it

off.  That must not have worked so they then pried on it and used a puller

to get it off.  In their prying they broke "chunks" out around the lip of

the oil pump where the seal goes.  And!!!! I couldn't believe they went

ahead and put a new seal in there anyway.  Well...I told the service manager

that wasn't going to fly.  I'm waiting this morning to get an estimate on

replacing the oil pump as well.  I'm really pissed off cause I don't think

they had to do that chiseling on the gear or prying to get the gear off!

Some patience and possibly alittle heat and more penetrant and I think it

would have let go.  I just can't believe that mechanic stood there saying

how the new seal wasn't going to leak and how the damage done to the area

where the seal goes was "no big deal"......!!!!!!! 



So, here's what I'm looking at:  The mechanic claims he had no choice but to

pry and chisel on the gear to get it off cause of rust that was on there

from the loose bolt.  Therefore, they are refusing to cover any of the cost

of the damage they did to the oil pump seal area....and keep trying to

convince me that it won't be a problem anyway.  Then, I've got to wonder

just how much damage might have been done to the crank bearings, rear seal,

etc. from their aggressive work on getting the timing belt gear off.



Thanks to Lance Schall and others that replied to my first post.  Lance said

that the water pump "weeps" and that's probably where the rust came from.

That makes since to me.  I really don't think the bolt being loose

contributed to any rust.  Therefore, I think the mechanic here is just

trying to cover his "a**" for getting to aggressive in getting the gear off.

I can raise hell with them and probably get out of the oil pump charge.  But

if I do that, then I've got this mechanic who is pissed....who still has to

put it all back together!  I'm thinking it through before I make a decision

on how to handle the situation.  Like I said, the worst thing to me is the

fact that they chiseled, probably with an air chisel, down on that gear

while it was on the crankshaft!  Although the nose, etc. looks OK...what

about the rest of the stuff around the crank!!???  Oh well....I guess I'm

just going to hope for the best with that.  Don't know yet if I'm going to

cause trouble for them over the damage to the oil pump.  It might ultimately

be to my disadvantage....



BTW, when I looked at the bolt...which was not terribly rusty...I told them

I wanted it replaced with a new one--WHICH of course they don't have in

stock.  And, then the mechanic tried to convince me to reuse the old

one...."Oh it's fine, I'll just be sure and use some locktite on

it"....Well, I said "NO WAY."  Locktite yes....old bolt NO!  Again, I just

can't believe they would suggest reusing the old one.  Anyone know the part

no. for the 90 bolt?  I want to make damn sure they get the right

one....since the service manager commented "can't we get one from a machine

shop?"  DUH!!!  And the circus continues.



Thanks again to all who have replied.



Gus

90 MBlue....who WILL do ALL MY WORK FROM NOW ON!