Tensioner upgrade help!

[Kevin G]

In the middle of upgrading my 79sc tensioners to oil pressure fed. During the switch when I removed one of the old tensioners the idler sprocket arm moved. When the idler sprocket arm moved the chain did not appear to move and it did not come off of either of the sprockets. My question is am I going to have to reset the cams or should everthing be ok. Anything else I should be looking out for during the upgrade, I've read the tech article and it has helped alot.

Thanks Kevin

[john walker's workshop]

if the cams or the engine didn't turn, no problem. the idler tensions the loose side of the chain. the other side remains reasonably tight. if the engine is on TDC #1 when the tensioners are removed, the cams will stay there, unless you try to turn them, or do so by mistake. it never hurts to rotate the engine by hand a few times when you're done to be sure there's no valve to piston contact. it's also nice to check the cam timing in the end, if you have the equipment.

[Kevin G]

Thanks for the help. Have one more question, when I submerged the tensioners and primed only one became rock hard. The one that I could still pump was very hard to squeeze, however I still could, does this mean it's a bad tensioner?

Thanks Kevin

[Superman]

That question is a can of worms, I think. I'd guess that Wayne would like folks to quit over-evaluating tensioners prior to installation, and I agree. Yes, there is such a thing as a bad tensioner, but I think that's rare these days. At any rate, I don't think I even bench bled mine. I just put 'em in and they've worked fine ever since.

[Wayne 962]

Agreed, I've had good tensioners act this way. You might want to double-check your timing just to make sure, in reference to the chain...

-Wayne

[s_wilwerding]

Originally posted by Kevin G
Thanks for the help. Have one more question, when I submerged the tensioners and primed only one became rock hard. The one that I could still pump was very hard to squeeze, however I still could, does this mean it's a bad tensioner?

Thanks Kevin

I had this same problem, but for me it was both tensioners. Install them, remove the distributor cap, and turn the engine over a few times. This will will prime the tensioners without the possibilty of starting the car.