So I'm looking for a timing chain for my K24z3 engine and the online dealers want around $160. So what do I find on ebay? A whole kit of parts for less than that. And so I dive into the rabbit hole.

First and most obvious is the price. The parts are really really cheap compared to hondapartsnow or others.

Look at the pictures. Can you spot differences in your original part and the listing?

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

One of these is $39.99 and the other is $111.82
The chain with all the marked links is made by Daido of Japan. The first one is made by who the hell knows.
DID is Daido's marking. SCH and SV mean this is a hardened and quiet chain. This is what came in the engine from Honda.
Look at the label on the first one. It's not even trying. And the fun part is the bar code.

I took a screenshot of the label and this is what that barcode reads. GENUINEPARTS
The white HONDA text has been removed in ms paint too.




Notice something? HB1B18 If this is the lot number, every seller on ebay got the same lot!



I rate this chain as legit. But then, I would buy it direct at this price.


Something isn't right...

ohhhh...
At least they tried?

Feedback rating. Scammers usually have less than 1000. Legit sellers have many thousands and good feedback.

Look at their other items. Are they selling lots of parts at "normal" prices? Does each label have different lot numbers?

And yes I did buy from two sellers. To be continued...

 

If the price looks too good to be true... it's a fake. Buyer Beware.

 

Another reason to only buy from legit sellers. The small feedback number is obviously a clue.

 

Here we go. The "kit" has part number. Doesn't exist. Also, all of the labels are the same. Only part number has been changed. That bar code just says MADE IN JAPAN. That should match the part number.

Not an identifying marking on the chain. It's just a random chain.

At least there are numbers on this seal.




Used chain guides.


If these were out of the bags, I wouldn't be able to tell the differences.

 

Real parts

A real bar code

Bar code = part number



Nok part number, made in Japan

Not sure if real

 

I'm returning this stuff. My experience so far with the return. First off, the seller is obviously in China. The replies are either very early or very late in the day or middle of the night. First the seller offered a 50% refund, then a 30% refund, and also that the parts are manufactured by a Honda branch in another country. I'm probably talking to different people who's first language isn't English. But so far they've started a return. We'll see from here what happens.