VAS: Start Using Threadlocker (Cam Sprockets)

[blurple124]

Hi crew,

I thought I'd share my recent experience (and tremendous luck) with all of you as a heads up and hopefully as some constructive feedback to the vendors out there.

I recently purchased a set of b-e-a-utiful aluminum camshaft sprockets anodized in blue from Vick Auto Sports (I had no choice, you know!).


The install went smoothly and I was running the engine with the car parked for quite a while (if I had not been trying to verify a cooling system fix, I would have been driving the car at the time and would be on the hunt for a new engine, I presume).


Eventually, however, the screws fastening the aluminum ring to the sprockets (I'll call it the belt retainer) began backing themselves out. Before I realized what was happening, the rear-facing screws of the intake sprocket began to catch on the head, turning the intake camshaft into a lathe - I suddenly saw chunks of aluminum flying off of my engine! I killed the engine as fast as I could and as it spun down, a screw caught hard on the head and I listened to the wonderful sound of a timing belt jump 10 teeth.

By some miracle, I did not damage the engine permanently. After thanking an Italian deity for this gift, I carefully removed each of the culprit screws and applied Loctite Blue (medium strength) before re-installing them. I probably would have used Red (maximum strength) if I'd had it on hand, but Blue will be more than ample.



So the point here is: If you have already purchased cam sprockets with screws in them, be sure that thread locker has been applied to them so that they will not back out during operation.

If you are a vendor selling these sprockets I strongly suggest adding Loctite to your assembly process. A $40 bottle would last a great long while on parts like this and is cheap insurance against customer horror stories. Not everyone will be as lucky as I was to get out largely unscathed!


All the best to you! Wrench On!

[So Cal Mark]

those sprockets should have had the guard machined into the gear rather than screwed on as an afterthought.

[Kevin1]

Are the flanges even necessary? The stock cam pulleys my '80 don't have any flanges, while the '72 1608 cam wheels do.
Are they only needed for certain years?

[divace73]

also as a side note, what torque did you tighten the main bolt to? One of the manuals has the wrong info (I think it is the haynes)

I'd be a bit pissed if that happened to me.

yes the later cars came without a guard, however I do think they are wider??

What is the big box in the engine bay?

[131]

What is the big box in the engine bay?

Bettery cover.

[divace73]

What is the big box in the engine bay?

Bettery cover.

LOL, kind of obvious now, mine is in the back that is why I didn't even think of that??/

[707kevin]

My intake gear from Vics did the same thing. I lost a few screws and they shipped me out a few extras right away, and also mentioned that an instruction card should have been included. Very professional and apologetic, made it right.

It seems like a great product for a very reasonable price. I'll be buying the matching exhaust gear on my next VAS order.
Is it the guard/guide even needed?

[TimpanogosSlim]

They shouldn't even have to apply thread locker to the screws, as manufacturers the world around routinely source screws that have been pre-treated with a thread locking compound.

[bradartigue]

Are the flanges even necessary? The stock cam pulleys my '80 don't have any flanges, while the '72 1608 cam wheels do.
Are they only needed for certain years?

Not really. They appear late in production, I guess as the belt got longer it wandered more, but the guards don't really keep it in line.

Sounds like a defective part to me; if they know the issue exists why do they ship a card with it? Fix the thing before you ship it.

[azruss]

those sprockets should have had the guard machined into the gear rather than screwed on as an afterthought.

Machining these as a one piece is for more expensive.

[Ramzi]

The late cars did use flange-less cam pulleys. But they also had flanges on the aux and crank gear to keep the belt from wandering. But since there are so many versions of these DOHC motors, it only makes sense to have flanges on the cam pulleys because that way all models are covered. Mark Allison is able to have the flanges machined onto his pulley and is still able to offer them at a reasonable price.

[blurple124]

What is the big box in the engine bay?

Bettery cover.

LOL, kind of obvious now, mine is in the back that is why I didn't even think of that??/

Funny thing is, that isn't a battery box at all....mine is also in the trunk!

That is a box I had made for my custom wire-harness. It contains all of the relays and the fuse-block which distribute power to the rest of the vehicle.




But that's a separate topic...
http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic ... 2&start=90

[bradartigue]

those sprockets should have had the guard machined into the gear rather than screwed on as an afterthought.

Machining these as a one piece is for more expensive.

Garbage parts (like this) should make you nervous. I think FIAT owner's tolerance for sh*t parts has always been too high. You'd think selling a part that may self-destruct and destroy someone's engine would cost VAS a lot more in damages than doing it correctly in the first place!

I wouldn't recommend people put in Loctite, I'd recommend they avoid this thing altogether.

[blurple124]

Well to VAS' credit, they did contact me separately to handle this. Evidently the threadlocker is left out intentionally in case customers wish to install the sprockets without the guard ring.

The difference here was that mine did not have the sticker applied which warns about this difference and advises to apply Loctite.

[bradartigue]

Well to VAS' credit, they did contact me separately to handle this. Evidently the threadlocker is left out intentionally in case customers wish to install the sprockets without the guard ring.

The difference here was that mine did not have the sticker applied which warns about this difference and advises to apply Loctite.

They need to think...something they don't seem to do if you read recent posts. Don't assemble it at all if the assembly itself creates a hazard. Why would you assemble something without a necessary part (Loctite or the sticker?). Still reeks of sloppy quality. Avoid.