Timing Chain Tensioners: A comparison

[oldred]

Just my ramblings.. and observations as...
1) I cannot remember the route of the lubrication system from memory
2) I don't have the item in front of me

But...yes the Jag tensioner has a larger oil feed to the slipper pad but assuming that the bore remains the same then would that not mean that the oil flow would corrospondingly increase onto the timing chain? and if so would this not affect the flow/pressure to other parts of the engine? Less flow if all my asumptions are correct? And if the flow is going up to the head after this point then could we be sacrificing oil flow to the all important valve gear?

I'm guessing here, I need to look at a head gasket and see where the head feed is...

Phil.

[Jod Clark]

you can't usually argue against Nissan quality...

Some of their owners could have a different opinion having had to pay to get it sorted.....
isn't it the Almera that goes so far off the timing that it can't be started because the timing chain has stretched too
much for the tensioner to cope?
I presume the chain being very long causes this problem.....?
Ian.

Chain stretch and subsequent non-start is a very well documented problem on that family of Nissan engines, more often than not occurring on less well-serviced examples - routine oil changes are life-or-death on any DOHC chain driven engine, see Vauxhall Corsa / Tigra II / Agila etc for another good example of this.

Personally, I blame certain segments of the motoring press for pushing manufacturers towards chain-driven camshafts in a quest for perceived reliability and durability and reduced servicing costs. Give me a belt anytime, they are designed to be changed as a service item, chains are not and the Nissan one in particular is a right PITA to do.

[trackerjack]

I could speak to a local engineer about machining the dowels...anyone have an OE pattern?

Thanks for the offer Tony, but I'm already speaking direct with the manufacturer.

Jon, what does your Nissan one look like? Something that is mass produced may be available cheaper and unfortunately you can't usually argue against Nissan quality...

Funny that Triumph thought it fine to hold the cam sprocket on with 2 poxy screws and the tensioner had to be dowelled, I would not be concerned about sideways leak or movement as thats what the bolts do.

I have just modified the Nissan one today as it does not have the small chain lube hole but it does now.

Of course we could fabricate a hybrid using the Nissan as its so good.

I will picture it but not today or tomorrow as its my 63rd tomorrow and Rebecca has secured a drive up the Festival Of Speed hillclimb in an Ariel Atom at 2 tomorrow afternoon with her driving and me as passenger
She will also drive a new Porsche up the hill on Sun ..............wahoo.

[xvivalve]

Surely, the fact that Nissan chains stretch is a testament to the continuing operation of the tensioner?

[Jon Tilson]

How is progress on sourcing these?
We have a need from another thread...sounds like a duff ratchet to me.

Jonners

[tony g]

I will need a decent one very soon so if someone could point me in the direction of the Nissan unit I can modify it to fit myself. Trackerjack if youre reading ive PM 'd you re engine mounts.

Cheers

Tony

[shaunroche]

I will need a decent one very soon so if someone could point me in the direction of the Nissan unit I can modify it to fit myself. Trackerjack if youre reading ive PM 'd you re engine mounts.

Cheers

Tony

Hi Tony....this is the tensioner Trackerjack has fitted to the engine he is building for me.....you will have to enlarge the oil hole though.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 51&alt=web

Jon is on holiday for a week at the moment and don't think he's got email access......?

Hope this helps!

S.

[tony g]

Shaun, thats wicked mate thank you As it was in my watch list anyway I was going to gamble on it but now youve confirmed it Im happier with that

Cheers

Tony

[xvivalve]

I hope to have more than the one 'Reynolds' I currently have by mid week...

[SprintMWU773V]

Good news. Any thoughts on that dowel bit?

[xvivalve]

Finally I have some more tensioners; one more for me and two spare, but one has already been requested from USA so I've given them first refusal on that one. So I have one up for grabs, not as cheap as I'd hoped as they sprung VAT on me. PM me if interested...

[trackerjack]

Just been doing the "puzzle engine" I am rebuilding a professional built engine that failed for several reasons but no breakages.

The Rolon tensioners that fail sometimes are curious from the point of view that I have had several to look at now and the fault seems to me to be caused by some backplates having a very small oil hole in them which would in turn make the unit dry on start up and slow to react.
I have removed a working Rolon and it has a good sized iol hole and is in fine condition.
To work properly the hydraulic tensioner needs a good source of oil and a small pad outlet to oil the chain.
I would suggest that after a few thousand miles the timing cover be removed and the tensioner reset.
I did this on my Stag and though I hillclimbed and sprinted it I never had a problem.

[Jon Tilson]

Success on the RBRR car is a good omen for Alun's Jag tensioners...

Jonners

[PaulB]

Could someone 'in the know' please spill the beans on which Jaguar or Nissan tensioners are suitable so all of us building engines can benefit?

More information on models and part numbers would be really appreciated.

[PollyB]

So far my rummaging has produced the following.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=14824
an interesting, previous discussion.

plus
http://britishparts.co.uk/products/5140 ... er-EAC3629
and
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TIMING-CHAIN- ... 3a5e72f33b
and
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-MG-MGA ... #vi-ilComp


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