Tensioner spacer question?

LeakProof · 12:46 PM

Car 911SC , '79 108k , purchased April '08 Wisconsin Dells now in Palatine, IL. N/W suburb of Chicago. Great car, excellent price . Been working on her since day one. A type of restoring / preventive maintenance effort. Now for my question. Recently updated to Carrera pressure fed chain tensioners with the spacers in October. Car runs fine. While removing chain housing covers to fix warped left cover (oil leak), one of many, I noticed two things. #1, excessive back & forth play in the left spacer 1/8 inch at least. Also, the tensioner shaft is only half on the idler arm. Right side shaft OK. And spacer play measures 023 inch. All ramps also replaced prior, due to pitting. Should I be concerned, do I need a new idler arm, is alignment off? Does anybody have any suggestions? Is this normal for this upgrade? Thanks for any help!

sailchef · sailchef's Garage

Did you replace the spacers with ones provided in kit?

LeakProof · 01-23-2009, 12:37 PM

No, purchased separately. Not as a kit.

burgundyben · 01-23-2009, 01:30 PM

My 78 motor is exactly the same, got the hydraulic tensioners, lots of play in the spacers and the tensioner is not 100% aligned with the idler.

Mine's been running like it.

sailchef · sailchef's Garage

Check to make sure the tensioner body is pushed as far back into the housing as it will go. It might not have been pushed all the way in when you pulled the pin. Next I would check to be sure you have the correct spacers and that they are the same on left & right side.

LeakProof · 01-23-2009, 04:19 PM

Thanks guys. I'm out in the garage working on the car now and will take your advice and double check things either tonight or tomorrow. I had the tensioner and spacer off several times and did compare the two spacers. They look Ok. Also checked placement of tensioner on shaft, its all the way on. If you have any more info please let me know. Will hold off on closing her up atl east until tomorrow. Still contiplating using rtv sealant on the chain housing covers like my mechanic suggested. Talk to you soon. Back to the garage. Thanks.

kodioneill · kodioneill's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeakProof

Thanks guys. I'm out in the garage working on the car now and will take your advice and double check things either tonight or tomorrow. I had the tensioner and spacer off several times and did compare the two spacers. They look Ok. Also checked placement of tensioner on shaft, its all the way on. If you have any more info please let me know. Will hold off on closing her up atl east until tomorrow. Still contiplating using rtv sealant on the chain housing covers like my mechanic suggested. Talk to you soon. Back to the garage. Thanks.

not a good idea to use rtv. some could squeeze out and plug an oil passage. dry gasket is the best.

LeakProof · 01-24-2009, 03:58 PM

I agree, I actually sanded the left chain housing cover (with oil) on my 150 gallon aquarium until it was flat. I never liked the idea of using rtv. Although my mechanic insisted that I use rtv (Wurth) , he even borrowed it to me. Anyhow I figured if the right cover didn't leak and was flat why should the milled left one leak. I guess in a business it makes sense because call backs will cost profits. Also being a plumber/contractor I would suspect the gasket should theoretically work, I hope. I think I will probably tell him I used it anyhow, he was nice enough to borrow it to me. They do work on all my other cars. Now if I could just get my heater going!