Joe,

Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do -- my comments were not directed at you.

Quite a few times I've seen people say that the way to take a timing gear off is to tap the cam into the block (being careful not to pop out the plug at the rear, of course). I suggest this is a really bad idea. Use a puller if you possibly can.

I've also seen people say that you can recycle a worn retaining plate by flipping it front to back. This is absolutely incorrect -- both sides are thrust bearing surfaces, and the plate must be .003" thinner than the spacer ring on the nose of the cam.

I once gave up on a motor that was making a banging sound under the timing gear cover. The fiber gear was indeed separating from its hub, and I replaced it. The banging sound continued, and I only got as far as finding bits of brass in the pan before opting to swap engines and not deal with the repair.

Later I realized that all that was needed was a new retaining plate as well as the new gear. I think when the gears start to fail, they cause the cam to eat into the plate. That was the source of the brass and the banging. It never occured to me to pull it off for a look at the back side.

Now we have your gear chipping teeth, and another guy getting a new whirring noise after a gear replacement...