Chain Idler Float

[MBradbury]

Hi everyone,

Returned to the garage today for the first time since before Christmas. Temps have been too low in there. Last time in there, I had just completed my engine rebuild to the point prior to setting the cam timing. Today, I intended to finish that task, mount the hydraulic tensioners and assemble the cam rockers. Cam timing took longer than I expected, but eventually managed to get it spot on. I then bled the LHS tensioner and mounted it. It was then I noticed a gap between the tensioner and the chain idler body. I wasn't expecting there to be any gap. My car is an 83 SC, and it had the hydraulic tensioners fitted by the PO within the last 10k miles. I am reusing the tensioner and idler gear. Everything else in that area is new. I was careful to keep all the parts together during disassembly, and I can't find any shim or spacer to make-up the gap. I measured the gap at about 0.09" and I am wondering if this is normal?

According to Wayne's book, my car shouldn't need the spacer, and it looks like I have the later idler gear. That spacer in the book also looks thicker than 0.09"

Image attached to explain what I mean...The gap can be seen between the outer edge of the idler collar and the inner edge of the tensioner body where they share a pivot shaft...



Thanks,
Mark Bradbury

1983 911SC 3.0L (soon to be a 3.2L short stroke)

[ChrisBennet]

I don't think that gap is bad. I know there is a little gap there normally 'cause I use it to pry the tensioner off the shaft. The idler has to be free to move a little so it follows the chain right? Hopefully a pro will jump in here and confirm.
BTW: Don't forget the O-ring on that tensioner.
-Chris

[Wayne 962]

A small gap like that is normal...

-Wayne

[MBradbury]

HI,

Thanks Chris & Wayne. I went ahead and moved on to closing the rest of the engine.

Thanks
Mark