replace chain tensioner

[beany]

I need to replace the chain tensioners on my 80 sc. I have read all the articles and currently have the 911 on jack stands in the garage. the covers are off and I am ready to remove tensioners. The articles refer to keeping the chains under tension so that the cam timing does not change. How do I go about doing that???
Thanks for the help.

[Bob Kontak]

From Pelican's Tech info center article on upgrading tensioners.

Once you have access to the rear of the engine, remove the left and right chain housing covers. If your chain ramps are looking worn, now is a good time to replace them. Make sure that the chain is kept tight around the cam either by wedging some wood in-between the chain and the case, or by tying the chain together near the outboard chain ramps. If you have a good pair of vise-grips, then they make excellent clamps as well. The goal is to assure that the cam doesn’t move and that the chain doesn’t skip on the cam gears.

Zip ties through the links maybe inboard of the cam sprocket?

There does not appear to be a special tool.

[Uncle Enzo]

Like So?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Uncle Enzo

Like So?

How sweet it is. +1.

[john walker's workshop]

i've never had to do that just to replace the tensioners. if you set the engine at #1 TDC, the tensioners can be removed and the cams will stay in place IF you don't try to turn the engine over or pull on the chains.

[eastbay]

Here is how I fixed the timing position when I replaced the tensioners in the car, same size nut and bolt both sides, ~2" length IIRC

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

There does not appear to be a special tool.

Actually, they've had a tool for this, for 30 years or more. Here's one source:

http://www.toolss.com/wbstore/main.asp?action=SUB&CAT=PORSCHE TOOLS&SUB=PORSCHE CAM TOOLS&bl=7

JR

[haasad]

Originally Posted by eastbay

Here is how I fixed the timing position when I replaced the tensioners in the car, same size nut and bolt both sides, ~2" length IIRC

How neat is that...excellent.

[Jack Stands]

There are folks that think that a lot of the actual tensioner failures back in the day were actually the idler arm binding up on the post. When Porsches switched to hydraulic tensioners, they increased the bearing surface on the idler arm as well.

Converting to the later style idler arms (or having Supertec modify yours to a larger bearing surface) may be a good idea. Also, the stop collars on the original style tensioners are cheap insurance as well!

[Flat6pac]

Spray the cam gears and chain in the area with carb cleaner
Put 2 marks on each gear and chain with fingernail polish
Now, if you were to jump time you have chain and gear locators so you can get back to where you started.
Bruce