Cologne camshaft gear change

[scimjim]

I’ve just fitted a set of alloy gears to a cologne, so thought I’d jot down a few notes. The engine is out of the car, so I can’t give a detailed breakdown but the Essex camshaft gear change thread is a good starter.

Notes

The water pump doesn’t need to be removed, just the 13mm bolts holding the front cover on.

The sump HAS to be fully removed to remove the crank wheel. The 10mm bolts holding the sump on all seem to be accessible but fitting a new gasket (particularly the rear seal) looks like it would be tricky in situ?

I’ve never needed a puller on the Essex but the crank wheel on the Cologne was absolutely solid!

The kit didn’t come with any gaskets.

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[ard126k]

Thanks Jim
The original looks like a steel/nylon one, am I right?
And - are the Cologne ones as fragile as the Essex, I don't remember so much being written about them over the years?
Alex.

[gtcse8]

They are Not Nylon, its type of resin, similar to Tufnel.
And YES Alex, they do go pop just like the older Essex wheels.

I have done at least Three Cologne rebuilds in the last 10 years for other owners.

[ard126k]

Oh dear more work!
Does a failed gear do the same catastrophic damage as on the Essex?

[scimjim]

Some people claim that the Cologne is not an interference engine. Those that have had to replace valves, disagree.

[gtcse8]

Yes Jim

It depends upon revs when it fails.
Low revs and you get away with it, Motorway speed does tend to just tap the valves against the piston crown.

A compression test before lifting the heads is the best check.

I have had them in for repair and it`s not always obvious if more work is needed until the new wheel is fitted, so I now strip out the front covers and fit the New wheel, then do a compression test on the starter motor.

[scimjim]

Low revs and you “might” get away with it - I’ve heard of bent valves at tickover cold.

[gtcse8]

I`ve done Two that were recovered from the motorway, both needed valves.
And one from Tesco`s that just failed to restart after the owner returned from shopping, that one was ok after wheel replacement.
It`s obviously down to where the camshaft stops and how far open the valves are.

I did have an Essex fail on me on starting up, no revs at all, I replaced the wheel and did a comp test to find a cylinder down on compression, thinking it had bent a valve I lifted the head only to find a burnt out valve.
The car had been running ok up until then with no issues.
AND the owner said he used a petrol treatment

[philhoward]

Given there seem to be as many Colognes running around with huge valve clearances (based on the tapping noises) as those with closed up clearances due to seat recession, it must be luck. Add in a bit of cam lobe wear (although not something V6's seem to suffer unlike the CVH), and depends how far the valves can protrude?

[ard126k]

Is there a quick way to see what wheel I've got? Like looking through the fuel pump 'ole on the Essex?

[guybetts]

Is there a quick way to see what wheel I've got? Like looking through the fuel pump 'ole on the Essex?

Unfortunately no. It's behind the timing cover which in turn, houses the water pump. I recently acquired a "spare" block with no sump fitted - and that is probably the only way you can see the timing gears without removing the timing cover. I believe removing the sump in situ also has issues, and when it comes to refitting gaskets with transmission connected. All in, to find out, you need to jump in with both feet

[ard126k]