With all this talk of tensioners.....

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tony g
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With all this talk of tensioners.....

#1 Post by tony g »

What do we think about the chains? Rolon (renolds) chains are the core business so I would expect those to be of good quality. Being able to bond rubber to metal is NOT there speciality as we know. So is there a preferred chain make or are they about the same? I remember Alun saying he had a snapped one, what brand was that, and was anything else the cause ie bad tensioner?

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Re: With all this talk of tensioners.....

#2 Post by trackerjack »

Come on Tony, keep up :)

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=29705
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Re: With all this talk of tensioners.....

#3 Post by tony g »

Yes but that thread is all about tensioners! :)
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Mahesh
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Re: With all this talk of tensioners.....

#4 Post by Mahesh »

I'm keeping an eye on both threads,

Want to change chain & tensioner after the cars long hibernation.
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Re: With all this talk of tensioners.....

#5 Post by gmsclassics »

I've had an issue once with a tensioner, but never with a duplex chain. I've got the standard one Rimmers supply on both the mimosa and race cars and not had any issues, even with the abuse the race engine gets. I do replace the chain, guides etc when I do a major rebuild rather than reuse worn parts, but same applies to all wear parts. I don't recall noticing any wear on a duplex chain at any time.

I did once look into a replacement chain locally but it would come with a joining link and was about three times the price so I never purused that option.

About twenty years ago I did work for a local supplier to the agriculture industry who manufactured moulded rubber and bonded rubber products. From time to time they had issues with adhesion. As rubber is essentially a natural and therefore variable substance, bonding always seemed to be more of a black art than a science as many of the variables were simply not know. End of line quality testing was vital. I suspect this accounts for the odd issue with the tensioners we use, not helped of course by most consumers fixation nowadays with paying as little as they can for anything. But like so many on here, I'm rather cautious having been bitten once by a tensioner.

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Re: With all this talk of tensioners.....

#6 Post by Sundowner »

Geoff,
Its more than just the quality of the bonding method that's at question here. Its the (poor) design of that bonding.
Take a look at the Rolon tensioners and you'll notice the pad is bonded only to the top of the plate.
If you look at the Jag or Renold versions you'll notice that that bonding continues down the sides of the plate. (and around the base of the plate in some instances)
Mine failed in approx 500kms and the pad looks like it was just glued to the plate with a bit of super glue.
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Re: With all this talk of tensioners.....

#7 Post by Toledo Man »

Mahesh, your Sprint is still probably on the original chain and tensioner. If it ain't broke...
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Re: With all this talk of tensioners.....

#8 Post by Mahesh »

My engine has only done around 8k to 9k miles since it was changed, (Goldseal) but has been sitting around
for over twenty years.

May not change, but I will keep a spare set and check, just in case.
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Re: With all this talk of tensioners.....

#9 Post by Jon Tilson »

An OE - and gold seal will mean OE spec - chain and tensioner is good for 80k miles...

Oil and filter change only...:-)


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Re: With all this talk of tensioners.....

#10 Post by Mahesh »

Thanks Jonners,

Sounds good to me,
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Re: With all this talk of tensioners.....

#11 Post by GrahamFountain »

Is there any place to fit one of these "ring tensioners" now available?
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