At my wit's end. I need insight (and a miracle) lol

[Mshawnbauer]

I have an 83 944. I'm doing some preventative and mandatory engine work during Iowa's cold season. Head gasket blew - replaced that and got a re-man'd head from (only944.com) doing that, the timing belts, water pump and I can't get my oil pump drive gear off.. We've soaked it for a week plus in Kroil with a hose and clamp, we've modified vice grips, we've tried heat, we can grip it and shake the ever lovin shizza out of it but it doesn't turn or move. Only movement We're getting is the end play in the crankshaft. We've been at it for 2+ weeks and it's not friggin budging! What's our next move? What have you all done? Is my best option to remove the whole motor? I've read about removing the oil pump, but I'm just at a loss for direction here. ANY ideas? what'd you do that worked in my situation?

[Lowencash]

From a post on Rennlist (2001) comes this suggestion:

I dug out the black O-ring from the bevel on the gear, hoping to get better penetration with the PB Blaster, then the drive gear practically slipped off with the O-ring!!

[Darwin]

I have an 83 944. I'm doing some preventative and mandatory engine work during Iowa's cold season. Head gasket blew - replaced that and got a re-man'd head from (only944.com) doing that, the timing belts, water pump and I can't get my oil pump drive gear off.. We've soaked it for a week plus in Kroil with a hose and clamp, we've modified vice grips, we've tried heat, we can grip it and shake the ever lovin shizza out of it but it doesn't turn or move. Only movement We're getting is the end play in the crankshaft. We've been at it for 2+ weeks and it's not friggin budging! What's our next move? What have you all done? Is my best option to remove the whole motor? I've read about removing the oil pump, but I'm just at a loss for direction here. ANY ideas? what'd you do that worked in my situation?

Can you remove the pump with the drive gear in place? I'm not sure you can. Were you able to slide it off a little bit before it froze in place? You may be able to unbolt the oil pump and use it to help pull it off carefully, but that might carry a small amount of risk for scratching the sealing surface. Was the snout dirty at all? Maybe debris is causing the issue?

[michaelmount123]

Were you able to get this drive collar off? Are you still struggling with it?

[Mshawnbauer]

We took a little break. It’s cold here in Iowa and it’s in its own shop out of the way of daily routines and such. I’m undecided what to do. It just looks partially worn, nothing major. I almost feel like we should just skip it and move on. What do you guys think? Pull the motor and go that route, or just put the new seal on and finish up the timing belts and water pump?

[danmartinic]

I don't follow; you want to pull the motor to get that gear off?

Take a pic.. something ain't right as that should come out engine-in

[Dave W.]

Are you still having trouble removing the oil pump drive gear? Have you tried removing the O-ring?

From a post on Rennlist (2001) comes this suggestion:

I dug out the black O-ring from the bevel on the gear, hoping to get better penetration with the PB Blaster, then the drive gear practically slipped off with the O-ring!!

[Mshawnbauer]

I don't follow; you want to pull the motor to get that gear off?

Take a pic.. something ain't right as that should come out engine-in

It should and it has for MOST people. There are a select few, myself included, that it's friggin stuck. like REALLY stuck.... We grinded down a set of vice grips to get a good bite on it and it still wont budge. It will turn the small amount of play that it has, but will not come out. Its literally put our project at a standstill... The only other option we can think of is to - pull the motor to get even a better bite on it OR just put on the new seal, forget replacing the actual gear and more on.. Im just nervous about running into more "stuck" things and creating more issues by pulling the motor..

[Mshawnbauer]

Are you still having trouble removing the oil pump drive gear? Have you tried removing the O-ring?

From a post on Rennlist (2001) comes this suggestion:

I dug out the black O-ring from the bevel on the gear, hoping to get better penetration with the PB Blaster, then the drive gear practically slipped off with the O-ring!!

We've done that. Let it soak in penetrating oil, grabbed it with a customer made set of vice grips and shook it like a polaroid picture, we've heated it, melted wax, EVERYTHING! Its just STUCK!

[zooklm1]

I am assuming you are talking about get the toothed sleeve off? Have you gotten it off? When you tried vice grips, did you score/gouge the sleeve? If so, I would suggest really clamping down with the vise grips and using a gear puller with the claw end hooked on the vise grips. Remove the radiator to have more clearance. I had to do something similar with the rotor sleeve that goes into the camshaft collar. Except I was able to use a slide hammer puller with vise grips on the sleeve. Once off, I saw that there was a ring of rust between the sleeve and collar that formed a ridge that prevented it from easily sliding off.