Now what the hell have i done?

Phoenix

Coming from my other topic, i've made a new one to make it a bit clearer. Long story short, chain lost on head job so trying to chain back up.

Total nightmare getting everything stripped but all seemed fine when done, cams lined up as did the bottom sprocket in the engine. I had a massive concern about the amount of slack at the bottom of the chain however. Top was real tight but bottom was real loose. I put the crank pulley on and gave it a bit of a turn and it made everything lovely and tight so thought it was all good.

Drop the engine, put everything back togheter, 4 hours later put the crank pulley back on, turn it and it jumps about 10 teeth then jams. :evil:

I had an issue with the tensioner when i was putting it all in, as i put the tensioner into the head as i put the head back on. (Haynes says use pressure from the chain to make it pop out. I managed a screwdriver on it and it popped out). I couldnt remove it from the head as the bolt is too big and is seized anyway.

Anyway, just as a test i forced the tensioner guide over with my hand, even fully pushed over it wasn't removing that much slack compared to the tensioner being fully out. How much 'out' should the tensioner be? to me it looks about 1/2 an inch out of its 'housing'.

The majority of the slack was on the inlet side of the bottom sprocket but turning the crank pulley made it all nice and tight. But when it goes all back together its jumping teeth and i dont know why 🙁

Going to have to strip the whole bloody car again. A total day wasted 🙁

cavaddict

I couldnt remove it from the head as the bolt is too big and is seized anyway.

Just to clarify....have you changed the tensioner? Is this a new chain kit?

jwalker

You definitely want to be changing the tensioner, my old one was stuck solid too but nothing a 32mm socket on the end of a breaker bar wouldn't shift!

Phoenix

cavaddict said:

I couldnt remove it from the head as the bolt is too big and is seized anyway.

Just to clarify....have you changed the tensioner? Is this a new chain kit?

Its a new style kit but not a new kit. Its the old tensioner and chain. The tensioner in fairness to it, doesnt seem seized, the piston is moving freely (but is it movjng against the guide enough, i dont know). Although even with me doing the job of the tensioner with my hand (pushing the guide and making the chain less slack) the chain was stil far far too slack at the bottom of the engine 🙁

The rusty seized bit i refer to is the massive bit that sticks out of the head, probably 32mm like the above post said.

Phoenix

Just an update, i've pulled it all to pieces again and it had slipped by about 10 teeth.

How much slack (if any) is there meant to be? There was a tiny bit at the bottom which i thought would be ok (and i mean tiny) but obviously not. Also, how far should the tensioner be coming out? This is currently it at its max exposure - (the guide rail and chain are out of the way for the purpose of photo)

Edit: UPDATE! :wave: :wave: 😃 😃

After knocking the tensioner with a screwdriver and pushing it in and out several times, it popped out another inch! I reckon this might fix it! 😃