rebuild late chain wheel idler arms?
 

Are there bushings available to rebuild the late style chain wheel idler arms? I'm putting in the Carrera tensioners and have found several used idlers available for the upgrade. Always looking to save a few bucks! Thanks for the input. JK

I just went through this. Why risk your engine with an inferior idler arm? Obviously you could bore them out and instal a metric (16mm ID?) bushing but:

a) you will have trouble aligning the bore with the sprocket bore

b) you should probably also sleeve the spacer and add rigidity

c) the new ones aren't that expensive

PBH-- points well taken. Thanks, JK

a) you will have trouble aligning the bore with the sprocket bore

Please explain. A replacement bushing is round; so is the idler arm bushing bore. Not sure what alignment you refer to.

b) you should probably also sleeve the spacer and add rigidity

The late idler arms don't use a spacer.

Sherwood

This is something that you would need to do at a machine shop. The two holes would need to be indexed to each other. I'm sure it can be done, and I doubt it would hurt. Just use the proper tools to do it...

-Wayne

I think I am confused by the terminology. I assumed by 'late' he meant older style, since they have no bushing. If he means the newer style then they are already bushed and you only need to press the bushing out and press the new one in. No problem. To bush the older style (with spacer) you need to align the pivot shaft perfectly with the idler sprocket shaft, not easy.