Thanatos

Hey guys,

I'm currently putting a new head on my EA and i've run into a bit of a problem.

Basically, the timing chain seems too loose... (See attached pics).


We are sure the timing tensioner is working, so this isn't the problem.


One theory we have, is that due to the increased compression (head has been decked 40 thou, and using AU head gasket), is that the tensioner can no longer take up the slack in the chain. Could this be the case??


Everything was fine with my old head, yet as soon as we put the new one on, the problem started straight away.

If it is just a case of the tensioner not being able to make up the slack, then we were thinking we could just pack it out a bit with some spacers. Can anyone see a reason why this wouldn't work?


Cheers,
Dave

Attached Images

	P1030001a.jpg (66.6 KB, 133 views)
	P1030002a.jpg (51.0 KB, 120 views)

__________________

useless

did you loosen the tensioner?Or did you pull the plug out?

Thanatos

We loosened the tensioner...


Everything was done as we normally do it (we have done a few headgasket changes now! ) But we've never had this problem before...



Cheers,
Dave

__________________

useless

I reckon its your tensioner man....I dont think its fully extended..

Walkinshaw

decking + au gasket = 60thou, the tensioner can take this up easly.

__________________
Ive been described as a vault of usless random knowledge.

Ill take it as a complement i think.............

TIKFD6

Yep i agree with Walkie, i took around 25 thou off the head and am running the AU gasket, and my chain has heaps left in it.

John_xr6

the tensioner may be seized, pull it out and have a look at it. also its possible your chain has stretched or you chain guides are stuffed.

__________________
1994 COBALT BLUE ED FAIRMONT GHIA
Next Mod - T5 Manual Conversion
Pics Here

AUII_Forte

Doesn't the tensioner work off oil pressure, maybe it'll tighten when you start it? Although, I wouldn't be game to start it with the chain that loose either!! 60 thou is only 1.5mm, as others have said the tensioner should take that up easily!

__________________

Thanatos

Thanks for the replies guys.

My theories have actually changed now...

I'm thinking the chain may have skipped a tooth on the crank gear.

Does this make sense to anyone else??

I'm 99% sure it isn't tensioner, as it is actually the other side that is slack (i.e. the non-tensioner side). The side that the tensioner is on is actually nicely tensioned.


Cheers,
Dave

__________________

Rmyers

i was working with thanatos on his car today. The tensioner is in perfect nick, and is putting plenty of tension on the chain, the problem is that when you turn the engine over, the chain become slack on the opposite side. ???

We were thinking that maybe the chain had skipped a tooth on the bottom cog while we put the new head on? Is this possible?? I wouldn't have thought so, but it seems to be the only logical explanation we can come up with, as their seems to be "too much chain" on the right hand side as shown in the pics, while there is plenty of tension on the opposite side. Were ruling out a stretched chain as it is fairly new and it was fine up until we put the new head on...

__________________