What is your opinion on the plastic oil pump gears?

[f110tech]

I just bought a 2015 RTL with 45,000mi on it. It looks and runs like new, but when I was digging around with the search feature here, and on a few other sites, people talked about some failures due to the plastic oil pump gears.

Previously, people have had them fail at around 35k or less.

Should I crack open the cover and replace them as preventive maintenance at this point? How many miles does everyone have on theirs?

 

[Gwolf]

Plastic gears ........... or nylon gears?

 

[f110tech]

I assumed they were plastic. You know what they say about assumptions. I'm speaking of the OEM gears.

 

[BajaRon]

We've only seen failure due to improper service installs (usually water pump related). Not to say that they don't fail naturally. Just not sure how concerned we should be about it?!

 

[JayBros]

I have 87.5K+ on mine with no problems whatsoever with anything related to the engine and only one warranty repair item, parking brake motor replaced under factory warranty. My B.E.S.T. extended warranty expired unused.

 

[f110tech]

Well that makes me a little more comfortable. Thank you both for your replies

 

[Bfromla]

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?137203-Where-is-Oil-pressure-sensor-please

 

[BajaRon]

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?137203-Where-is-Oil-pressure-sensor-please

Both of the issues referenced in this link were 998 V-Twins. Not sure this relates meaningfully to the 1330 motors.

 

[Lew L]

.

When I replaced the water pump in my 2014 RTS, I discovered the plastic gear. I didn't like that, but it hasn't caused many problems on the tens of thousands out there. I'm not concerned about it. On mine the thermostat failed, breaking into 2 pieces. The thermostat and water pump are one unit.

Lew L

 

[AndysF3S]

I haven't owned my Spyder long enough to have any history on the nylon gears but I do know that they were used by GM in some of the car engines (cam shaft sprocket - metal hub with a nylon running surface) to provide for a quieter running timing chain. Yes they did wear but I didn't experience any failures with the teeth chipping or breaking off even with 5500-6000 RPM in a drag race.

 

[Bfromla]

Both of the issues referenced in this link were 998 V-Twins. Not sure this relates meaningfully to the 1330 motors.

Agree but still plastic, not beyond reasonable would continue to use on new engines

 

[PMK]

Could purchase a brand new gear. Model it in a CAD program, then 3D print them in steel.

Simply an idea.

 

[Cobranut]

I haven't owned my Spyder long enough to have any history on the nylon gears but I do know that they were used by GM in some of the car engines (cam shaft sprocket - metal hub with a nylon running surface) to provide for a quieter running timing chain. Yes they did wear but I didn't experience any failures with the teeth chipping or breaking off even with 5500-6000 RPM in a drag race.

Ford used those too.
An old girlfriend had a 351w that had a failed timing set. The nylon teeth were cracking and flaking away, leaving a very loose timing chain.
She also had a collapsed lifter due to infrequent oil changes.
I replaced the timing set and lifters, and that thing must have picked up 50hp. :yes:roflmao

 

[pauly1]

Plastic gears ........... or nylon gears?

For the record, nylon is a type of plastic.

 

[pegasus1300]

I think if it were a problem we would have heard a lot more about it by this time. The 1330 engine has been around now for 10 years and the 998 for both Aprillia and Early Can Ams much longer and there is no real alarm being sent up about oil pump failure for either motor.

 

[Gwolf]

For the record, nylon is a type of plastic.

While nylon is technically a plastic, it is not what is usually thought of as plastic. Nylon is very durable, wear resistant, and unaffected by most lubricants. It is typically used in many devices and machines as a lighter weight and easier to produce substitute for metal parts. People usually think of plastic as pop bottles or other small, breakable items.

You are correct, nylon is a plastic, made with fossil fuel products, but it is a very high end plastic. I would not put it in the same class as most plastic items. It has been used for years to make gears for fishing reels, and other small durable parts that take a lot of wear and stress. It is unaffected by exposure to salt water or other corrosive elements that cause problems if the parts are made of typical metals.

 

[Cobranut]

Could purchase a brand new gear. Model it in a CAD program, then 3D print them in steel.

Simply an idea.

That might work, but the factory engineers chose nylon for a reason.
Likely, it's to reduce inertia and harmonic vibrations.
I don't think I'd be second-guessing them on a critical engine component without proper testing.

 

[BajaRon]

That might work, but the factory engineers chose nylon for a reason.
Likely, it's to reduce inertia and harmonic vibrations.
I don't think I'd be second-guessing them on a critical engine component without proper testing.

You're right. Engineers chose the material for a reason. Working against relatively low resistance, running in oil, quieter, potentially less wear, (you're not going to get the typical metal on metal results), and less expensive than a steel gear. They work very well, it's a good material for this application, and there is a very low failure rate.

Sometimes, plastic (of the correct compounds) is a good choice.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

Look man, ROTAX makes Airplane engines. I trust the ACE 1330. Nylon gear and all.

 

[BajaRon]

Look man, ROTAX makes Airplane engines. I trust the ACE 1330. Nylon gear and all.

Not sure they could get away with a nylon gear in a aircraft motor. A bit more riding on components in that application. Rare oil pump failure is probably not so acceptable in a plane.

It would be interesting to know, though, what they do use in those engines.