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I have a '29 Packard standard 8. I removed the generator & while doing so the bronze flange pulled back a little bit. it did not come out. when I push it back in it will not seat flush. seems like the sprocket is not sitting in the timing chain correctly. I hope I don't have to pull the front off. help. thank you

Oops - bad. By allowing the bronze sleeve to slide rearward you probably dropped the gear and timing chain. I suggest that's what happened and if so you'll have to remove the vibration damper & front cover to put it back together. Can't say I ever heard of anyone recovering from this mistake without removing the cover but you might insert a small mirror and light (or camera scope if you have one) to confirm the gear and chain has dropped.

hello; the sprocket is still in the chain & the bronze flange goes into the sprocket but it will not seat flush in the crank case housing. nothing dropped down out of the chain.

G'day retiredtrucker,
to PackardInfo, but sorry to hear of your misfortune.

However I invite you to include your '29 Standard Eight in the Packard Owner's Registry.

Hi 29:

Okay so the flange goes into the sprocket but doesn't seat flush on the crankcase by - say - 1/8 - 1/16 inch?

Inside the timing cover is a spring loaded button that prevents axial gear wobble.

So it should just push back in with the generator.

As long as you are sure the gear is in place you should be okay. The correct wrench to use is a little six inch job so if you feel resistance you won't break anything.

If the gear falls into the timing cover it can be put back into place with the oil pan removed and a helper. I've never had to do that, but if the motor is so sludged up that the flange won't separate the pan should be cleaned anyway.

the flange sits cockeyed in the housing by about a good half inch when you try to push it into the housing. I did not know there is a spring in front of the sprocket. with your info I'll bet that spring is out or sideways or something which means I will have to pull the timing cover???