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Re: Small block timing chain tensioner- safe to use or not?
[Re: 5spdcuda]
#1195419
03/13/12 12:11 AM
03/13/12 12:11 AM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,415
Toronto
mshred
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Quote:
This is clearly one of those "builders choice" items. I've built them both ways and can't really tell any difference in how they ran. Two things worth considering. One: these tensioners were intended to be used with stock type link chains which have a much smoother back than the double rollers typically used in performance builds. 2nd. If you do decide to use one it may not be a bad idea to drill the 4th. bolt hole in the tensioner [ use a standard cam retainer for a template ] and use a bolt with an 1/8 in. hole drilled through the center in the lower left [ looking at it from the front ] bolt hole. This bolt goes through the front of the block and sits in a pocket in the cam valley that collects oil. This would allow oil to drip directly onto the chain and possibly improve wear.
that is some really good advice 
If I go the tensioner route I'll be sure to do this...thanks!
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Re: Small block timing chain tensioner- safe to use or not?
[Re: KOS]
#1195420
03/13/12 12:11 AM
03/13/12 12:11 AM
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Toronto
mshred
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Quote:
Ryan put one in my build and it broke after 1season.the band(tensioner)broke in two hardly any wear on the nylon i noticed it when i did an oil change a piece of it came out with the oil.when i fixed it i didnt put one back in 
that definitely doesn't sound too good
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Re: Small block timing chain tensioner- safe to use or not?
[Re: 471Magnum]
#1195421
03/13/12 12:12 AM
03/13/12 12:12 AM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,415
Toronto
mshred
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Quote:
Here's the wear on mine after a couple thousand miles...
For all the guys who have experience with these tensioners, does this wear look normal??
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Re: Small block timing chain tensioner- safe to use or not?
[Re: AndyF]
#1195424
03/13/12 12:08 PM
03/13/12 12:08 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Toronto
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Quote:
We decided not to use one in the 427 SB that was built for Tim's Valiant. The last tensioner got chewed up in just a few laps at the track so we ditched it.
so Andy, what is pictured then should not be happening?
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Re: Small block timing chain tensioner- safe to use or not?
[Re: TrWaters]
#1195426
03/13/12 12:39 PM
03/13/12 12:39 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,415
Toronto
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Quote:
Do you suppose that these are getting chewed up because they were orginally designed for a linkbelt chain? 
Funny you say this because on summit racing the description for the cloyes tensioner says "for use with silent type chains only"....not too sure what that means, but maybe it is referring to that?
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Re: Small block timing chain tensioner- safe to use or not?
[Re: TrWaters]
#1195427
03/13/12 12:43 PM
03/13/12 12:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,049
Oregon
AndyF
I Win
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Posts: 31,049
Oregon
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Quote:
Do you suppose that these are getting chewed up because they were orginally designed for a linkbelt chain?
Yes, that is my guess. The tensioners seem to last just fine when mated up to a timing chain with a smooth backside. But ours got chewed up quickly with a double roller type of chain.
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Re: Small block timing chain tensioner- safe to use or not?
[Re: AndyF]
#1195428
03/13/12 03:29 PM
03/13/12 03:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,719
Space Station #5
471Magnum
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I'd like to see if anyone has seen any wear beyond what Andy and I have posted pics showing.
Like I stated previously, I'm pretty sure the wear stops once the rollers start spreading the load on the pad.
-Jim
I can fix it... my old man is a television repairman.
He's got the ultimate set of tools... I can fix it.
Currently Mopar-less
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Re: Small block timing chain tensioner- safe to use or not?
[Re: dogdays]
#1195430
03/13/12 07:09 PM
03/13/12 07:09 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
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Quote:
The abovementioned Mercedes timing chain is double roller and there were grooves that didn't look as ragged as the pictures. After around 90K miles everything was quite smooth and it sure looked like the wear had stopped or slowed way down. As I had already bought the new banana rail I installed it, but wouldn't have had to. There was still quite a thickness of plastic under the grooves.
One other thing, wear probably slows down when the chain has worn in a little and there isn't quite so much pressure on the tensioner. But I'm sure the "silent chain" would wear a lot less on the plastic.
R.
The silent chain has alot more surface area that
rides on the plastic so its much slower on wear...
even in the early days on it... the double roller
slows right up on wear as soon as the rollers start
to ride on the plastic(more surface area)
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Re: Small block timing chain tensioner- safe to use or not?
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1195431
03/13/12 07:52 PM
03/13/12 07:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,876
Weddington, N.C.
Streetwize
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Weddington, N.C.
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Small blocks don't seem to get a lot of oil up front so wear/stretch is more heat/fatigue related and of course valvetrain spring tension factors in. I don't run tensioners on them but I am real particular on the chain's I do run on Smallblocks because the slack will vary between sets. I remember some well-respected Old timers used to centerline them +2-3 just to "get 'em right' at high RPMs; like they were 'factoring in' the stretch Retarding them.  I also knew guys that would swear by the old link chains but with steel gears claiming the 'silent chains' had less friction 
Last edited by Streetwize; 03/13/12 07:58 PM.
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Re: Small block timing chain tensioner- safe to use or not?
[Re: Crizila]
#1195435
03/15/12 07:32 AM
03/15/12 07:32 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,640
in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,640
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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The LA engine was fine without a tensioner for over 30 years. MaMopar added it as a bandaid on the odd fire roller motor 3.9 for a noise and now it's supposed to be a performance piece? Not hardly. As others pointed out it was designed to be used with a silent link chain anyway and not a roller. It's unnecassary in my opinion.
"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"
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Mine looked like the pic above after about 100+ runs ( double roller chain ). Once the grooves are cut in and the rollers start to ride on the plastic the wear stops. I will be pulling my NA motor down in a few months and I will decide after looking at the tensioner (with close to 200 runs on it ) if I will be putting one on my next motor.
