m30b35 oil pan wtf moment

[Lurker27]

My engine was already set to TDC with the timing chain installed....Everything turns over just fine. When I connect the oil pump, something seems to be binding - but the rotor spins just fine by hand - so my chain must be binding? The sprocket does look like it is, perhaps, slightly off kilter - Is there a seal or something I'm missing that would set everything right? RealOEM isn't much help...It seems to me that it has to be the chain or rotor binding - maybe the sideways force pulls the rotor into sealing and I can't turn it dry?

[yert315]

you'll have to turn the crank to turn it dry, as the chain is driven off the same sprocket set

[Lurker27]

Sorry - To clarify, everythign is connected and I am turning the crank - it's makign the entire assembly (cam, crank, oil pump) difficult to impossible to turn...I'm going to see if oil in the pickup will help.

[Jean]

So it was turning OK before you installed the pump, and once you installed the pump it became difficult to rotate?

[Lurker27]

Exactly correct. So it MUST be the chain or pump rotor binding, I'd think.

[Lurker27]

Nevermind - I'm a bigger screwup than you could possibly imagine (crank sprocket issue)