Timing Chain

Scody21 said

Most newer designed engines that use a timing chain also have a tensioner designed in to keep tension on the chain. Even motors from the 60’s like the Jag 4.2 straight 6 had a tensioner from the factory. My Kawi ZX6-R that revs to 17,000 has a timing chain tensioner from the factory…. It’s used for a reason… so to each their own..

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here's the key: those engines were designed with the tensioner incorporated into them. the components are specifically built and spec'd out to work together.

the part that gets glossed over in the whole argle-bargle of tensioners is that people were installing them with chains that were not compatible-- ie too wide, wrong link spec, not finish machined; and the chains would absolutely destroy them in short order. OR they were installing them as a bandaid fix for cheap *** chains, clapped out stretched units, or incorrectly.

there's nothing inherently wrong with a chain tensioner that is engineered and designed within the architecture of a motor, it's when they're used as a secondary thought to correct a problem that could be corrected by using better parts from the get go. also, tensioners are wear items, a lot of people seem to forget that and act all surprised when they need to be replaced.