Oil pump drive gear binding 2.0L

[BammBamm]

The oil pump drive gear is binding against the aux pulley gears. I can see the drive gear moving up and down. How is it held in place? How do I remove to replace it? My manual doesn’t describe it.

[Nut124]

Why do you think it is binding? What is the problem?

The pump shaft has a spline and the gear drops into the spline. It is held down by the pump drive cap. W/O the cap in place, it is normal for the pump gear to lift a bit on the spline if turning the aux shaft the wrong way.

If you remove the gear with the engine in the car, be very careful; it can drop to the pan thru an opening in the block casting. Don't ask me how I know, but thank God for strong magnets.

When installing the gear, use a magnet or a guide rod to lower the gear into the spline to avoid losing it, unless on the stand.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I can see the drive gear moving up and down. How is it held in place?

The drive gear is held in place by one of two things: 1) A block mounted distributor (1968-1971 spiders with the 1438 engine), or 2) a "blanking plug" inserted into the opening, if your distributor is mounted instead on the exhaust cam housing (late 1971 and later as I recall).

The above is for the earlier models, so your '82 could be a different setup. My bad.

-Bryan

[Daddio]

I noticed a similar problem assembling a 2L recently; I adjusted the position of the oil pump (it has a little play around the bolts) to allow the gear to turn as freely as possible.