Spiral cut oil pump drive gear

[montuckymatt]

In the process of assembling my bottom end. I installed the new cams with endplay set at @.007-.010. It spins over with the cam cover installed but there is a ever so slight amount of drag it seems like. I pulled the cam cover and can see the scavenger pump drive gear move up and down slightly as it rotates with the spiral gear. With the cam cover off it still has the slight amount of drag, leading me to suspect the spiral gear or scavenge pump gear.When I tore this motor apart the old spiral gear had a couple of sheared off teeth. I assumed it was from the pieces of wrist pin keeper that went through the bottom end. Maybe not. Is it normal to have a bit slight amount of drag until oil is added to the cam case? Any help appreciated on where to go from here.