Friction Gera Spring & HLA's

**rotaryboy** · 5-18-04, 9:33

Hello All,

Can someone out there explain what the Friction Gear Spring & HLA's do?

Are they costly to replace. I'm not sure if maybe one or both need doing. I did have an 'idler' replaced by Mazda, is this the same thing?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Rotary Boy

**G-Force** · 5-18-04, 9:45

I thought you were selling your MX6 rotaryboy ?

Anyway HLA's are hydrolic lash adjusters - sit near the top of the engine and if not well maintained ( eg frequesnt oil changes ) can clog up. Usually a good engine flush will free them up though.

Not sure about the friction gear spring - However im guessing both are costly on the fitting aspect if not the part.

G

**rotaryboy** · 5-18-04, 10:23

Well yes I have. But the chap who bought it was a car nut and a real nice bloke.
He's got to renew the rocker cover gaskets and I mentioned to him at the time that he might as well do the HLA's &/or Friction Gear Spring. I thought one or both might need replacing as it'd had been a bit clattery. I remembered (when I got my arse kicked for criticising the 6) that these two came up in a thread as a common issue.

When you say a flush, you mean an oil change or is this something more drastic.

I'm not 6 less, the Mrs has one (which she has managed to prang) infact I cruising around in it at the weekend. So, unfortunately for MX6.com I will be a frequent visitor

.

RB

**Willr** · 5-18-04, 10:27

RB,

A flush being Winns engine flush or similar. A product used to clean the crap out of engines at oil change time... Follow the destructions on the bottle!

W

**rotaryboy** · 5-18-04, 11:08

Willr,

I thought it might be something like that, but thought it best to be show ingnorance, just in case!

Any ideas on this friction gear spring? if the HLA's are shot is it big bucks?

RB

Chastiser · 5-18-04, 11:54

hi rotary,

there have been several threads on the friction gear spring, try search. by all accounts the bits cost pence, but the labour costs a fortune due to the location. as far as i know, the spring is there to make the engine quieter and has no impact on the running of the car. lots leave them as they are, and wait till sommat else needs doing in the area.

Mike

**Einstein** · 5-18-04, 12:25

I'll tell ya RB..

The friction gear is actually just a large spring washer, and goes on the end of the camshaft... it's job is to take the play out of the end float, and keep the two gears meshed tightly.. when it wears, the gears have a little play, and become very slightly rattley, but only on tickover.. as the revs climb, the noise goes.. very hard to hear, as it's only a slight rattle. This is of no detriment to the engine whatsoever, but it is there just to make the engine very quiet.

The friction gear spring itself is only about £15, but the labour involved is long.. also, while the timing belt is off, it is a good time to replace this as well...depending on mileage, the water pump is also usually replaced at this time.... just to be sure.

The HLA's (hydraulic lash adjusters) are basically hydraulic tappets by any other name.. lack of oil changes, and they go noisy.. as said, an engine flush and oil change using a good synthetic oil and a genuine Mazda filter will sort them out..
If they don't go quiet within 10 - 20 mins.. they will need replacing.. and they are not cheap, maybe £20+ each.

Hope this helps.

John

**rotaryboy** · 5-18-04, 12:45

Thank guys. I shall pass on this info to the new owner.

I do have another thread to write. So I'll see you on that one too no doubt.Thanks you all very much :flipa: (Well I've over done the compliments already, so this balances it out!)

Cheers,
Rotary Boy