Cam timing with tensioners?

[Mr Beau]

Wayne's book suggests clamps or solid tensioners when setting cam timing. What about installing the 930 'spring/hydraulic' ones? It seems the book assumes you're going to run the Carrera hydraulic ones.

[Eagledriver]

You can’t use tensioners that move. You will be moving the sprockets to adjust the timing. Every time you loosen the bolt or nut holding the sprocket, the tensioner will pop out and make it difficult to put the sprocket back into position.

[Mr Beau]

The tensioners are sitting on my bench and they stop at full stroke. Why wouldn't they maintain tension like clamps that most people use? Cam sprocket isn't being removed from the camshaft.

[stownsen914]

Because there is varying tension in the chain as the camshaft opens the valves through the cycle, you want to remove the slack mechanically to be sure no variation while setting cam timing.

[Flat6pac]

Regardless, the chains will never be so tight that your settings will ever do anymore than pass through your tight setting as the heat changing length of the chain.
Then after you set the timing and need to change tensioner to the hydraulics there is always the chance of the cam jumping with no tensioner in place at that moment.
A novice can be really Challenged at this point.
Bruce

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by Mr Beau

The tensioners are sitting on my bench and they stop at full stroke. Why wouldn't they maintain tension like clamps that most people use? Cam sprocket isn't being removed from the camshaft.

Matt,

Your chain tensioners are spring loaded and will be compressed during the process. Try to use them for your cam timing and you will find yourself what these people are trying to convey into your head. The measurement data would change from one measurement to the next. That is the reason they have the solid or mechanical chain tensioners for cam timing to avoid this problem (erratic data).

The hydraulic/spring tensioners will NOT have the same effect as a solid tensioner because of its rigid set-up. Examples of mechanical chain tensioners (below):



Tony

[Eagledriver]

Originally Posted by Mr Beau

The tensioners are sitting on my bench and they stop at full stroke. Why wouldn't they maintain tension like clamps that most people use? Cam sprocket isn't being removed from the camshaft.

You won’t be able to install the sprocket while the tensioner is at full stroke. I think the best way for you to understand will be to try it.

After that just use a C-clamp on the idler sprocket arms.

-Andy