[JulianH]

I'm replacing the HG on my wife's 98 Forester, I've got all the cam gear bolts out, but the passenger side intake cam gear won't come off the cam! Has anybody ever had this happen, and if so, is there a known remedy?

Thanks,
Julian

 

[Tau137]

Usual remedies should help - penetrating oil, tapping, careful prying.

If everything else fails - smash it and get a new one (mostly kidding).

 

[JulianH]

Usual remedies should help - penetrating oil, tapping, careful prying.

Penetrating oil! Thank you, it's off now. I feel like a total dumbass, I must have just been burned after working on this all day...

If everything else fails - smash it and get a new one (mostly kidding).

Funny you should mention that... I managed to chip the sprocket in two places, on the outer lip and the inner edge of one of the teeth. Should I replace it now?

Here are some pics of the damage:
home.comcast.net/~jbhale2/Pics/cam%20gear%20chip.jpg
home.comcast.net/~jbhale2/Pics/cam%20gear%20tooth1.jpg
home.comcast.net/~jbhale2/Pics/cam%20gear%20tooth2.jpg

Sorry I can't post them inline, I don't have 15 posts yet.

 

[BAC5.2]

Replace it. Not worth the risk of it chewing up the timing belt.

 

[JulianH]

That's what I figured, thanks.