Cam Chain Tensioner

[rubydist]

Does anyone know the spec for how much force it should take to depress the cam chain tensioners? Is it one of those "if you can push it by hand it's too weak" kind of deals?

The ones I have on this 3.2 I am rebuilding are fairly easy to press down by hand, and I seem to recall that they were very stiff on other engines I have had apart. Any guidance will be appreciated.

 

[Off Road SHO]

I have a brand new one in the box out in the shop. I'll go push it down on a scale to see what it takes, but I think they are powered mostly by oil pressure, aren't they?

Tom

 

[SHOtimer]

The good ones should move freely. It's the ones that are gummed up that are difficult to move (uninstalled).

When I installed my NOS ones, they took some light pressure, not a lot.

Doug

 

[Off Road SHO]

Like Doug said. It takes 1.2 pounds to get a new one to start compressing; at 2.5 pounds it is halfway compressed. I think that internal spring is only to keep a cavity open so that the oil pressure has some volume to start with. HTH

Tom

 

[jelloslug]

The spring that is in there is mostly there to keep the tensioner from collapsing. Most "bad" tensioners are just gummed up on the inside. There are small passageways in the inside and they can get gummed up over time.