I think what is needed is for one or more of the experienced mechanics to chime in and report what they have found with the small % of failed carrera tensioners , and whether they were original or OEM replacements. Otherwise this all gets very anecdotal - like the Bosch coil issue. We want evidence based studies!

Having upgraded my tensioners I thought I was good for "life". Maybe not...

I (of course) agree that comments from the guru's would be appreciated. I am still curious what the differences are, as the aftermarket design seems a bit flimsy. Maybe mine was just a 1 in a million fluke, I really don't know. Mostly just curious if the real carrera tensioners have the same design.

OK, a bump to request pictures of the authentic carrera tensioners as installed at the factory, for comparison to the aftermarket units. I'd like to verify if there really is a difference...

Thanks!

I also had a tensioner come apart like this right out of the kit - it was sourced from SFF. I too, had to just "eat it" and get a replacement.

I am not a Guru, I did not sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I have experienced the cheap part that is being passed off as OEM, I believe it is the only aftermarket part available, so it is not exclusively a Pelican Parts issue. That is why I recommend finding the original factory installed parts, or an original factory replacement. I am not sure when, but I would bet quality control took a nap and this parts manufacturing process has been outsourced to China.

Below is a post from an old classified, its hard to tell from a picture but I believe these are factory installed parts, the nipple is a solid assembly and seated well into the metal it may even be screwed in, not "caged" with weak legs. Also the outer finish is finer (less course) on the factory pieces. Again, I am not sure so I have asked Ed to post a picture of his nipples in this thread:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/668891-carrera-chain-tensioners-fs.html#post6684387

In my book Jim Sims is a certified Guru.

Thanks for the pictures and the pic request. It is a bit difficult to tell if the spring retainers are any different in the factory versions.

I don't think that the design of the pressure release assembly is any different on "real" Porsche tensioners than it is on the aftermarket ones which apparently can fail way prematurely.

The failure I had was due to my stupidly prying to get an uncompressed tensioner installed. I dislodged the cap. I stuck it back in. This worked for quite a period of time (years), but eventually it blew out. In a race motor with a 930 oil pump at a track. Not really the tensioner's fault, so to speak.

I certainly have not seen a tensioner where the part doing this job screws in.

Here's a photo of the nipple from mine still in the car, never been out.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1334348183.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1334348425.jpg

Sorry, just had a Beavis and Butt-head moment :D

At least that wasn't the title of the thread...

Walt,

I agree, I am going off of memory and the visual comparison at the time, I do remember that for sure the factory installed nipple was a sturdier part.

Shane

I have had a similar problem.

I bought an upgrade kit from Ed and installed it in my 83 coupe following the directions, no problems what so ever.

I bought a kit from parts Heaven and took a couple of years to get it installed in my 81 Targa this winter. I found that a couple of parts were missing/wrong. I got the parts problem taken care of. I followed the same installation procedure. The car runs okay at idle and bucks and snorts when driving. I double checked the timing etc. Now the car is a Motorsports North west for a redo :-(
Red and Bill will sort it out and I am wishing I had them install the kit in the first place. Why? The targa has AC and the Coupe doesn't. I lot of extra work, Enough said.

Good luck getting it all right.
Carl

Anyone have an opinion on these (collars) vs pressure fed? I opened up my motor many years ago to put a pressure fed kit on and found that I had collars. Decided to sell the kit and button it back up as is.

http://members.rennlist.com/jpinkert...Tensioner1.jpg

Reviving old thread here...

Ok, what is the 'wood mod' that gtihop mentioned? Anyone know??

Also, can anyone describe a timing chain rattle, in particular, 2.7 with pressure fed tensioners. I'm hearing a 'warm up' noise (that seems to remain, although much quieter when fully warm) at around 2600 - 3200. Kind of an Ru Ru Ru Ru Ru sound

I'll take a steth to the covers this weekend and intend on pulling the covers off and checking everything for good measure at oil change next weekend.

Here is a very good thread that shows the Jerry Woods modification.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/199819-shops-dont-recommend-carrera-tensioner-update-3.html

Mine is quiet when cold, but increases the sound when warm. RPMs are usually idle to 3,000 RPM where sound is loudest. At 3,000 RPM the sound just disappears. I can't tell for sure this sound is from my timing chain, but that's what I think. It sounds like a really worn bearing rattle.

Thanks Walter. I'll be digging into the housings next weekend to check things out. After reading this thread I'm actually thinking of trying to find a set of the old tensioners and housing covers that I have and just rebuild those, perhaps trying to engineer something of a 'woods mod' for those too.

I would go mechanical, but I still put about 12k on the car every year.

the problem with warranty periods is a lot of us get parts, sit on shelf until ready for them during major rebuild, only to find it is broken or quickly fail when installed. in particular in the case of used parts. got bit by that in the past.

Couldn't you just put safety collars on the carrera tensioners? Those are cheap and easy.

Wonderful thread. Learning so much about these cars! Thanks to all that added information here.

DJ

Usually when tensioners are getting weak you will hear the chain rattle at startup. I had a Carrera tensioner fail and it only made noise at around 2500 -3000 rpm. It sounded like a bad bearing in the alternator.

Using a stethescope to pinpoint the noise is a good idea. If you remove the chain covers put a screw driver on the tensioner's plunger. It should be firm. Other wise it must be replaced. Carrera tensioners can not be rebuilt.

There is a way to put a limiter inside the tensioner to keep it from collapsing, AKA Jerry Woods mod. The collars cannot be used on the Carrera tensioners.

It was my experience that when my tensioner collapsed there was not enough slack in the chain to cause a catastrophic failure. There wasn't enough room to add the Jerry Woods mod at any rate with my new chains.