I checked my replacement gear and yeah you're right, it's not symmetrical. It's ticker on one side (like a built-in washer).

Hi saintnz.
Sorry, been a bit busy.

"So it should be fine and not the problem?" I don't understand.

This thread has been made confusing.

From reading your posts #11 and #12 it seems you inherited the bike with a 1VJ pump with a 3AJ gear.To repair the tightening up problem, you fitted another "early" pump and got the same symptoms. That makes sense.

But you describe the 3AJ gear "the flat side facing in. No, the 3AJ is not flat, it is the more deeply dished gear, (cause the bigger pump sticks out further.)

Correction, wrong, sorry, the 3AJ gear is 'flatter', less dished. Should be fitted with 3AJ facing away from engine/pump, will work intermittently if fitted incorrectly as i did. Take care before believing all i write.

Post #15 worries me: both gears are dished. Maybe you have not seen the earlier gear without any part number on it.

Last words:
1 Avoid earliest pump, 5Y1 on the back
2 2KF will survive with a GOOD 1VJ pump.
3 1VJ pump MUST have un-marked gear, dish side facing AWAY from the engine.
4 1st prize is a 3AJ pump with 3AJ gear, 3AJ facing away from the engine.

And don't forget the magnets, you can slip a 5mm flat one in under the oil strainer with just the clutch cover off.

Be well,
p

Thank you for your help.