Re: The economics of valve gear

Baker Gear works best on limited cutoff engines where you don't run them with the reverse hooked real high. It was found if you ran Baker too high is has some odd valve events because the gear never completely centers itself. Also when it gets worn, if you run it too close to center, it can actually snap itself into reverse. Baker's advantage is the motion at the ends of the valve travel is quick which has the effect of snapping the valve open and closed. So, super power, limited cutoff, long travel valves loved Baker gear.

I've been told one of the best gears was Southern. It offered the advantages of variable lead, ease of maintenance, and unlike Walschert gear the link and block don't constantly move, so wear of those items in minimized. One big issue with Walschert is the link and block are constantly moving against each other, and you need some pretty specialized machine tools to cut the radiuses of the parts.