Amazon: Clatter clatter.....pfffft ?

[toad_overload]

On my drive to work yesterday the engine became very loud. It was as a loud hammering noise but engine wasn't shaking was very loud at idle but disappeared when I got back on the road.

Did a bit of youtubing and searching on here and seems timing gear related. Mine is a B20 with fibre timing gear.

Thought it might get me home but on start up it clattered really loud then pfffft and the starter was just spinning.

If confirmed as timing gear (need to get it recovered first) is there a good equivalent timing gear set? Is the steel set significantly louder?

Final question any recommendations for mechanic in Bristol who is familiar with the B20?

Thanks

[arcturus]

Steel is quite a bit louder. I think that you can get alu' which are quieter.

[Derek UK]

You may have found the 2 YouTube videos of the timing gear failure on my Estate. I drove 100+ miles from the southern BKV like it and down to the local garage for the job to be done. They had no problems but I did have the tool to refit the big gear on loan. I stayed with a fibre gear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXxSRQ0johk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGykPiE43Ik

[Ron Kwas]

to;

Sometimes, after they start making the noises associated with fibre TGear separation, they stay together long enough to make it home, or a significant distance...sometimes one is not that lucky...

I generally stay with steel/fibre, and that's what I recommend, but have a steel/steel TGearset in a B20+, and can't say it is noticeably louder at all, so I would say that they can be, and maybe some have found them to be louder, but it is a function of the gearset and clearances in a particular engine... See also: https://www.sw-em.com/Timing%20Gear%20Notes.htm

Good Hunting!

[toad_overload]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've called brookhouse and a new fibre gear set is on its way.

Derek I think it may have been your video I saw. Noise was identical to my experience yesterday.

[tdz840]

Rock auto do Ali/steel gear sets (Cloyes) cheaper than both the fire and steel and don’t have the noise issues associated with the steel ones.
About ten years ago there was a batch of mismachined ones but these are now out of the system.
The only issue with the Ali ones is the crank gear doesn’t have the removal threads but the gears are easily removed with careful use of a fox wedge(s)
I have fitted two sets to two different engines including a B20
Russ

[swedishandgerman]

Is just outside Tiverton too far away for you? I have the best Volvo man!

[Tail]

There is a youtube video on Amazon cars and Rob says that unless its a competition spec car then the fibre gear is plenty good enough.

[toad_overload]

I'm going to do it myself, need to replace the front panel anyway so will have good access.