Carrera Tensioner Upgrade Kit

Did anyone ever find out the skinny on the Tensioner Kits of late being recalled??? I bought mine about 5 months ago. Shortly after, they were on b/o and nowhere to be found. (embargoed perhaps??) Rumors were flying about a problem with the kits. Now I hear that the kits are still on b/o, but a new and improved kit will soon hit the streets. My question is, Do we who just installed a kit have a potential time bomb ticking under the chain covers? And if so will Porsche stand behind the kits?

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Robert Stoll
83 SC
83 944

Robert,
To the best of my knowledge, the kit I bought and installed recently was the same as Porsche has been selling for several years.
Have not heard of any "time bombs" a-ticking, only quiet whirring from contented cam chains.



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Doug
'81 SC Coupe
Canada West Region PCA

Robert,

As far as I know there has been no recall, they are the same tensioners they have been making for years now. The talk has been about the back order of one (left or right) side of the kits. Porsche is saying 6-12 months before they are available again in the US. Pelican lists them as No Longer Available. When I found mine (after 2 weeks of calling around) I was told I found the last kit in the Porsche North America warehouse.
I have seen some for sale from private partys on Rennlist.

Hope this helps.
Nick.

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Nick Shumaker
1982 911SC Coupe

The tensener problem is real. On the opposite side of the plunger that supports the chain wheel is another plunger that is held in by what looks like a cotter pin. It has been said to me by a distr. that some of these plungers have come out allowing the tens. to collapse. I will use new original tens. and chain locks until I know for sure. I was also told that if I was putting pressure feed tens. in a semi or full race engine I was nuts. Just passing this along.

Thanks Keith, that is basically what I have heard too. I talked with Charley at Vertex about 3 months ago. He didn't know anything about a recall, but did not deny the rumor. I thought seriously about going back with the original tensioners and locks, but thought for another 100 bucks would really be safe. Oh well maybe rebuild my old tensioners and put em back in. That 350 chevy conversion is looking better and better.

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Robert Stoll
83 SC
83 944

Fear and loathing in tensioner land.
There sure are a lot of oil-fed tensioners out there. Which, if any, are bad?
I dislike rumors. I'm going to e-mail Bruce Anderson and ask for his (qualified) input.




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Doug
'81 SC Coupe
Canada West Region PCA

Thanks Doug, good idea!

There was also a problem with the oil supply lines fracturing due to vibration. Updated supports were supplied with newer kits.

True, Bill....my kit had those.


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Doug
'81 SC Coupe
Canada West Region PCA

I have the updated oil lines on mine, but I think they were talking about the tensioner itself having a problem too.

Ok, here's the deal as I know it. There was a potential defect that was discovered in the chain tensioners related to the design of them (possibly showing up after 15 years or so in server). I cannot confirm/deny the cotter pin comment above, but it sounds plausible.

I have been recommending that people hold off on doing the conversion until after the new kits are here. There hasn't been widespread stories of bad chain tensioners failing, but there must be something wrong with them if Porsche is redesigning them.

Note, that the chain tensioner problem is not a back order, but a redesign of the current part. This is what I have been told by people at Porsche. I wouldn't worry too much about old style Carrera chain tensioners failing - they are still probably much more reliable than the older style spring-loaded ones.

Pelican had the option of purchasing a whole bunch of these before they disappeared, but we opted out, because we didn't want to sell any parts that were potentially defective or bad. Plus, I didn't want to get stuck with a whole bunch of older-style chain tensioner kits.

So the bottom line is if you're planning to do the upgrade (and you should), then wait for the new ones to come out. If you have already done it recently (as I did with my 911SC engine rebuild documented in my upcoming book), I wouldn't worry about it. I know that I'm not going to...

-Wayne

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Watch for my upcoming book, "101 Projects for your Porsche 911" coming out this summer!

This afternoon I e-mailed Bruce Anderson about the tensioner question.
As usual, he replied succinctly and promptly:

Hi Doug,

I have not heard this chain tensioner rumor.

Bruce Anderson

So, now we have the comments of two acknowledged experts (Bruce and Wayne).
There certainly seems to be some substance to the story as told by Wayne. And Mr. Anderson does see a lot of Porsche motors.
Mmmm....I think I'll just drive the car, be happy, and wait for the alternator to fail



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Doug
'81 SC Coupe
Canada West Region PCA

the problem my shop had repetedly, was that the units would not pump up. very annoying on a 930. so we use a pump oil can with a hose connected to a banjo, bolted to tensioner, and pump it full to make sure piston gets solid, not squishy, before we use em. no problems since.

The pressure fed tensioners appear to have been incredibly reliable, since we know of few failure stories. Some, sure, but very few.

The pressure fed tensioner itself is a pretty simple design. I put them on my car about a year ago (Pelican kit), and this included the oil line supports. Pretty cool, I thought.

Anyway, I hear them growl quietly each morning upon startup (trained ear) and the go quiet as mouses the moment oil pressure reaches them. They seem happy. I'm happy. When I need something to worry about I just read the newspaper. Don't waste your emotions on timing chain tensioners.

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'83 SC