What kind of damage can a loose (not broken) timing chain can cause?

[H.G.P.]

I bought new chains, so my old chains I guess I just throw away, but just curious what damage a loose chain can cause, and the symptoms of a loose chain while driving.

Thanks

[911mot]

A loose timing chain could jump a tooth on the camshaft sprocket , and that could cause enough damage to require open wallet surgery.
Symptoms of a loose timing chain will be a rattle at about 1500 rpm.
The usual cause of a loose chain is the tensioner failing.

[Porshaah]

Another way to tell if a timing chain is warn is by putting a wrench on the crank and turning it slowly while viewing the distributor rotor. Reverse the direction and note how many degrees the crank moves until the roto begins to move. I'm not sure of the tolerance but more than a few degrees can't be good.

Bill
90C2

[Eagledriver]

Bill,

This test will tell you nothing about the chains. The distributor is driven by a gear on the crankshaft. The test you describe will only tell you the condition of the gears on the crankshaft and at the bottom of the distributor.

-Andy

[Porshaah]

Andy

You're correct, then I was thinking after I posted above that even if the distributor was driven as I was thinking (i.e. I really wasn't thinking) and there was slack in the chains it would be taken up by the chain tensioners. Disregard my earlier post it is totally incorrect.

Sorry for the confusion
Bill
90C2

[djmcmath]

Quick search for "chain tensioner catastrophic failure" led me to
this thread, which really answers your question nicely.

Cheers,

Dan

[3.2 CAB]

Don't turn your engine backward!!!!!!