Timing Chain Tensioners: A comparison

[xvivalve]

First, the Rolon brand supplied under the Triumph part number:



Note the pin hole for oil supply

Secondly a Jaguar OE part I have sourced:



A much larger hole in the side of the casting for oil supply, and also through the rubber pad for chain lubrication


The Jag part is more expensive, of the order of low twenties through my supplier compared to the Rolon brand which is about a tenner less, but I'll not be using Rolon ever again.

Strangely, unless I'm not recalling the assembly correctly, the shaped spacer which sits between the main casting and block covers up the hole in both instances...?

[trackerjack]

Hi Alun,
Liking what I see and take your point on the ridiculously small feed hole which would take vital seconds to energise the hydraulic function on start up.
The plate you mention on a Rolon one that I have here has a large hole in it so as to match up easily.

I also have a Nissan one that has a large hole and is a closer fit in the holder than the floppy Indian made Rolon ones. The pad on the Nissan one looks much better quality.

Its the same old story I think, supplier wants max profit and buys cheapest available and when it fails will say it was incorrctly fitted and of course the famous "my goodness thats the first one we have had fail"

[xvivalve]

Oh, silly me, turn the spacer over and the central hole fits!

I thought for a moment I had a LHD spacer!!

[Mad Mart]

I see neither of these has the locating lug as per the original type.

[tony g]

Alun, which Jag is that from?

Tony

[Toledo Man]

This is a classic example of where we should pay that bit extra for a decent quality part. A small price to pay for total peace of mind.

[SprintMWU773V]

Are there plans to procure a batch of these/bring them into club stock?

[xvivalve]

Yes Mark, I'm hopefully negotiating a discount for bulk purchase now that I've been able to compare and if consensus agrees?

It fits various Jags Tony, but most Jag specialist suppliers will only offer you the Rolon version. The ones that offer the OE part charge anything up to fifty quid for it!!

Is a locating lug critical when there are two bolts?

[tony g]

I may have a contact that could help with pricing if I have the OE part number (group buy maybe?)

Tony

[SprintMWU773V]

You'd think with two bolts it'd be fine.

[Jon Tilson]

The OE one has that locating boss with a hole for oil flow....goes in matching hole in block and cant leak sideways.

Its not there on the Jag one as we can see, but its surely just a matter of inserting a drilled dowel of the right size.

I'll order that Jag bit when its sourced.....we should all use it henceforward as a matter of course,

Jonners

[SprintMWU773V]

Might be worth looking at producing a run of these little add-ons then to supply with the item? I doubt anyone would be willing to make one offs whereas someone might be willing to do a small run.

Equally I'm guessing you could use an original type body and just use the new slipper pad? Just thinking slightly ahead as I do have an original body. I also have a Renold NOS one but the talk of this locating piece will make me go and find it as it was advertised as a Jaguar one so I can compare with my original one.

Either way I'd still be interested to purchase one purely for stock.

[xvivalve]

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...

[Mad Mart]

I have a couple of OE bodies with the dowel/lug Alun.

[sprint95m]

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.