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Actually, they do work somewhat for the purpose intended. Loose (worn) timing gears can indeed make a(nother) noise. The oil that "spills over the dam" hits the backside of the camshaft gear but it does not create a "cushion of oil" between the crank gear and the cam gear like this Rube' Goldberg device does. The ones you really notice it helping on is aluminum timing gears. Do I have one on my own car? NO, ...but I have seen several of them come through my shop over the years. My gut instinct why they sold so many of these is because a similar device was common place on the Model T, used to carry oil to the front of the engine to supply the front main bearing & rods. Folks back then understood these devices greatly extended the life of a Model T engine, and so having one on a Model A engine must be a good thing too.
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