Compressing Carrera Chain Tensioners

[Number1_dog]

While I am dealing with my on again, off again engine that sometimes will not rotate on the engine stand, I decided to take the cams out which was my original task to have them reground to a 964 profile.

The Bentleys Manuel says to get a large wrench, I have a large Chanel Lock just like the picture, and when I squeeze them shut with all of my might, I can't compress the tensioner's piston. Am I a spaz or what am I doing wrong? There are pictures of my tensioners on my previous question, can't rotate the engine on the engine stand. I believe that the piston is poking out a lot, do I need to replace the chain, has it stretched?

thanks all.

[OldTee]

Use a vice and put the pin in place.

[Number1_dog]

It is still on the engine. The manual says to compress it and put the pin in before you remove it from the engine. Can I remove it without compressing it? The cam sprocket is still attached. Should I remove that then remove the tensioner then compress it in a vise for when I put everything back together?

[dtw]

Remove the 13mm nut and washer retaining the tensioner. After that, you can generally just reach in and pull the tensioner out.

When you need to depress the tensioner, you can do it in a vise. S L O W L Y turn the vice until the piston bottoms out. Be prepared to catch the oil that is going to dribble out of the tensioner when you depress the piston. If you don't have the original pins, a large paperclip can be pressed into service.

Make sure to install the retaining nut on the tensioner before you pull the pin, lest you pull the entire tensioner back out instead.