End-float on the oil pump coupling shaft

[Philippe-J.]

May I ask some appreciations about the end-float on the oil pump coupling shaft?
The manual, page B.25, says that "there is appreciable end-float of the short coupling shaft".
How much is "appreciable"?
I am asking because on assembling mine, I found that the oil pump command male square is quite loose in the shaft connexion square.
Is this normal?

[Gfhug]

Philippe, I didn’t measure mine but it seemed ok and acceptable. Are you saying the square drive and driven square have a lot of backlash?
If you don’t get a positive answer on here why not ask Rob Beere who has fitted so many?

Geoff

[Philippe-J.]

Geoff,

not sure I understand "backlash" correctly. If you mean "shocks" or "shaking", I don't know, I haven't run the engine yet. I guess that as soon as the engine is rotating, the oil pump will be in contact with the shaft always in the same rotation sense, so that no shock should be feared.
As far as Rob Beere might answer, I feel a bit reluctant to ask him such questions every day Of course he is very helpful, but he isn't running a consultant business, is he? I wouldn't overdo (is this correct english?) his kindness

Philippe

[Gfhug]

Philippe, backlash is a looseness in the contact between the driving shaft and the driven shaft. A sloppy fit such that if the direction was reversed there would be slack before the drive connected. But as it’s always in the one direction it shouldn’t matter.

A simple email to Rob is his preferred method of asking questions then he can answer at a free moment not when he has his hands dirty working on an engine in answering a phone call.

Do you feel there is enough of contact between the two to give a good drive of the oil pump?

Geoff

[Philippe-J.]

I agree with you Geoff, technically and commercially speaking.
The rotation movement will well be transmitted from the shaft to the oil pump, the contact is loose but strong. Simply, I was a bit surprised as I found all other matings to be quite tight.
As for Rob, I'll do an email to him, just to make sure.

[abowie]

You should be able to slide the coupling up and down on the shafts, but there should be little or no side to side movement.

[Philippe-J.]

I eventually send the question to Rob Beere. He seemed not to have his hands dirty working on an engine at that very moment as he quickly answered the same as Andrew: "The square drive coupling will have a lot of upward & downward movement". As mine exhibits a rotation loosening too, I elected to buy a new one to stay on the safe side.
for your help!