Reply To: Help this newbie get his grandfather’s Neptune running

[JOSEPH BRINCAT]

Elliot, that gear does not look too bad to me, at least the teeth look serviceable. Assuming that you intend no tran- Atlantic voyage with the motor , I think that you will be OK by just adding a shim thrust washer, just thick enough to bring the gear mesh back to a respectable position. The gear is bronze. What was the bearing material that it road against? I would guess also bronze, not a real good design. Make the thrust washer of steel, preferably hardened steel.
Clean the gear of grease and send us another photo, just to verify

Joe B