Installing Mechanical Tensioners -- What's the trick?
 

After fixing a leak where the right side cam tower meets the chain cover on my '69 2.0E engine, and adjusting the cam, I'm trying to put the mechanical chain tensioner back on. The previous owner updated the tensioners to the later model mechanical tensioners (930... casting numbers on the parts), and I'm trying to figure out what the trick is to getting it underneath the roller. I can compress it using the vice on my workbench, but it doesn't stay compressed after opening the vice up. I don't have any pliers which are wide enough to hold it compressed, nor any vice grips that seem to fit the bill. I'm thinking about using a tie-wrap to hold it in the compressed position while it's in the vice, and then slide it off as I put it under the roller. But before I go and reinvent the wheel, I figured that I'd check here. Doing some searches on "Installing mechanical tensioner" or "mechanical tensioner" didn't seem to turn-up anything.

Does anyone know any good tricks for doing this?

tensioners
 

There is a tool for that ... but in a pinch I have used the very large pair of channel lock pliers, a bit tricky getting them from the vise to the chain box but can be done.

Mike Bruns JBRacing.com

I've used a strong cable tie in the past.

I think I made the 'tool' out of some flat stock AL I had laying around... looks like a 'C' that is tall and narrow...

-Michael

For future reference here's what I did. I'm pretty sure that it is what EarlySport did.

1) I took a fairly heavy duty tie-wrap and pinned it between the tensioner shaft and the vice or press.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1234832737.jpg

2) I compressed the tensioner and then wrapped the tie-wrap underneath and cinched it up as tight as I could.

3) I then installed it on the engine.

4) It pushed off the shaft easily without causing any problems for the roller.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1234832822.jpg

I then clipped the tie-wrap and pulled it out.

Viola! :D