1G Oil Pump Sprocket Not Turning Freely

[Artofschiffy]

This is the first time I have worked on an engine and I need some advice on whether or not something is wrong with my oil pump. In all the videos I have watched on the oil pump sprocket, it seems to turn relatively freely and land on a certain destination depending on if it's in time or not. My oil pump sprocket can be turned by hand, although it doesn't fall into place anywhere. It just stops moving as soon as I stop turning it. Almost feels like it is rubbing against something. The PO did a balance shaft eliminator kit but shouldn't the oil pump sprocket still move freely even without the balance shaft? I have seen some threads about this but I couldn't find a definite answer as to why this is happening. Please let me know if you have experience with this problem!

 

[Tyeler18]

Has this engine been driven on yet? I'd be pulling the front case and ensuring they didn't install the stubby oil pump shaft without the oil port. If it hasn't been driven on, it's quite possible they packed it with grease which can cause resistance depending on which grease they used. Regardless you should pull the front case and inspect, it should turn relatively freely. No use risking an engine over it

 

[Justin Lauscher]

It should move freely, with a balance shaft there's weight to pull it down so it will move when you let go but without one it will immediately stop, but it should still spin freely

 

[Artofschiffy]

Has this engine been driven on yet? I'd be pulling the front case and ensuring they didn't install the stubby oil pump shaft without the oil port. If it hasn't been driven on, it's quite possible they packed it with grease which can cause resistance depending on which grease they used. Regardless you should pull the front case and inspect, it should turn relatively freely. No use risking an engine over it

The engine has been driven. Probably for a while since they deleted the balance shaft. I've probably put 30 miles on it since I've gotten it but the head gasket popped so I have the head and timing belt off. It turns by easily hand but does not turn or move otherwise.

It should move freely, with a balance shaft there's weight to pull it down so it will move when you let go but without one it will immediately stop, but it should still spin freely

I mean it does spin if I move it by hand but has some resistance, is this how it should be with the balance shaft removed? The balance shaft was eliminated and it does immediately stop immediately after manually turning like you stated

 

[pauleyman]

If the seals are new it will not fall and since you said the shafts are deleted then for sure it wouldn't fall as there is no weight. There shouldn't be any large resistance. Like easily turn with fingers but with a new seal you cannot spin it by hand and expect it to keep going. It will stop.

 

[Artofschiffy]

If the seals are new it will not fall and since you said the shafts are deleted then for sure it wouldn't fall as there is no weight. There shouldn't be any large resistance. Like easily turn with fingers but with a new seal you cannot spin it by hand and expect it to keep going. It will stop.

I just noticed some grinding metal on metal noise when I turn the sprocket by hand. Do you have any idea what that might be?

 

[pauleyman]

Shaft eating the case? Take it apart and investigate. No way for us to know. Any guesses still require disassembly.

 

[Artofschiffy]

I am reviving my old thread to post what the problem was. Hopefully a wiseman will edit this to resolved since I was unable to. The root cause of this problem has been discussed on many threads but I hope this will help some other poor fellow with the problems I endured.

My oil pump sprocket was not turning freely and was grinding against the front case due to the use of a balance shaft stub with no oil groove commonly found on ebay. The front case was scored beyond repair. This would've definitely caused engine failure had I ran with this setup.

The motor was rebuilt with probably less than 3,000 miles before tear down and this is the wear. Turns out the PO or machinist used this crappy bse stub AND installed cast OE NA 9:1 pistons in my car's original 6 bolt turbo block ...

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BUYER BEWARE: https://www.ebay.com/itm/BALANCE-SH...ash=item239bd4acc6:g:WQcAAMXQgJRQ~37z&vxp=mtr

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