Tensioner idler gap

RockhillMTR · 04-11-2024, 10:42 AM

Am I missing a spacer on the idler shaft here or what? There’s about a 3mm gap once the tensioner is put on, allowing the idler arm to move back and forth on the shaft. I’m assuming there needs to be a slight amount of wiggle room here presumably to allow the idler to self-center with the chain…..but 3mm seems excessive.
These are stock idlers and 901 style tensioners. Screwdriver is pointing to the gap in the photo.

Henry Schmidt · Henry Schmidt's Garage

There should be a small gap between the tensioner and the idler arm.
That said, you should update the the wider arms. In 1983 Porsche made wider arms to stabilize load across the bushing to prevent galling. The factory arms are available from our host. Supertec also makes a conversion arm.
You next issue will be the tensioner. When you install the wide idler arm you must install the corresponding tensioner.

Rebuilt factory arms

Supertec upgrade

RockhillMTR · 04-12-2024, 07:32 AM

Thanks Henry, yes after I posted the question I did some better searching and found others had the same question and its normal. I appreciate the advice on the wider idler arms, this motor is a bit of a budget build stop-gap to give me time to build the one I really want, in which I definitely plan to use the wider arms and 930 tensioners.

stcan · 06-26-2024, 08:57 AM

Henry, is your idler arm better than the wider OEM arm? If one have the wider OEM is it worth the upgrade to yours?

Henry Schmidt · Henry Schmidt's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by stcan

Henry, is your idler arm better than the wider OEM arm? If one have the wider OEM is it worth the upgrade to yours?

No, use what you have. If the bushings on yours are showing excessive wear, we have a DP4 bushing replacement on an exchange basis ready to ship.
Ours may offer a modicum of additional support but not enough to notice/measure.
We didn't make ours because they were a better design. We made them because for a short time the OE Porsche ones were unavailable and we needed to keep building motors.
We continued the process because we found it to be cost effective.

stcan · 06-26-2024, 09:15 AM

thanks for the info Henry.