Originally Posted by
theengel
Every tech has his ways. Some techs will only use OEM. Some find the path of least resistance. Some look for the cheapest, while some look for value. Some listen to the customer. Some ignore the customer. Some are just lazy tweakers, and are really between jobs.
For the most part (except for the tweakers), one way isn't necessarily BETTER than another way. After a few years of experience, you find what works for you. If you find a way that works better, then you modify.
The black plastic gears on these wear out. You can do a quick replacement where it really only takes about 10 minutes to replace that gear, and the machine will work fine. If the white gear behind it is worn, then the noise doesn't go away, and you have a 45 minute job instead of a ten minute job (or, an hour and a half if it's your first time). If you use the metal gear instead of the black plastic, then the next part to wear will definitely be the white gear. You'll never get away with doing a 10 minute replacement, because the metal gear will never wear.
In my opinion, if you have a part like that, one that wears predictably, strengthening it often means wearing (or breaking) another part. So I, personally, stick with the OEM. But someone else might see it another way. It's not a matter of who is wrong or right, but rather it's what works best for that technician.
Also--you're putting too much thought into this. Both methods work. It's probably six for one, half a dozen for the other.
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