crank cancer uh oh

[THEBIGSHO]

I have a 93 atx that has 180,000 miles on it. Within the last 1,000 miles I have been hearing a softer tapping/knocking noise coming from the right side of the engine. It is only apparent when reving in the 2,000-3,500 rpm range. I have read on other sites that the probable cause of this could be the cam drive where the camshaft hooks up to the timing sprocket. Apprantly there is a single woodruff key that holds the sprocket onto the shaft? I Was wondering if anyone has had this problem before, or if it sounds like something else is wrong? Do you just need to pull of the valve covers to get to the sprocket? I already pulled the belt to make sure it wasnt any bearings wearing out...

 

[Minnesho]

make sure the damper pully bolt is properly tourqued

 

[Rockledge]

I don't think there is such thing as "cam cancer" which is what you seem to be thinking about. "Crank cancer", on the other hand, is when the woodruff key & slot at the end of the crankshaft get messed up and as a result the crank pully moves on the shaft.

What you seemingly are describing is a camshaft chain tensioner issue. The cam sprockets and chain tensioners are located on the upper part of the engine, driver's side. Sometimes the "pad" on the tensioners gets worn down but more often the tensioner's themselves get sludged up and then don't tension the chain enough, allowing it to slap around. A good cleaning usually fixes that.

A search of the forum should yield some helpful previous threads on the subject.

P.S. Welcome to SHOForum.

 

[Minnesho]

i just realised you were from minneapolis, make a post in the Minnesota SHO Club a little farther down the forum!

 

[THEBIGSHO]

The cam sprockets and chain tensioners are located on the upper part of the engine, driver's side. -- The noise is coming from the passenger side of the engine so i dunno if there is a chain on that side? I took the cover off once before to put new spark plug gaskets in but didnt really pay attention to what else was under there. Well I'm rippin it apart tonight, hopefully ill getrdone..

 

[SuperchargedSHOguy]

probably the timing belt tensioner

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

probably the timing belt tensioner

Let me add boldness to this claim and say that is "is" the timing belt tensioner. take the upper timing belt cover off and look at the belt.

 

[93superSHO]

If you run into troubles let us know. I am just north of the cities as well as Minnesho. I can come an check it out if you need help with anything. I've have tons of spare parts. Keep up posted

 

[THEBIGSHO]

I just pulled the timing cover off and discovered what some of you knew already, that the timing belt was really lose becuase the tensioner wasnt doing its job. I was wondering,, it looks like the tensioner is tightened by a plunger from under the pulley? How do you adjust/tighten this, Or do you need to buy a whole new unit? Also my belt was pretty loose so is it possible that the belt may have slipped a cog or two? I have been having lousy gas mialage and the engine is lagging..

 

[Off Road SHO]

It's a pneumatic tensioner with a couple of springs inside that can't be adjusted. Just bite the bullet and get a new one from a dealer or maybe someone here has one to sell. F-22RaptoSHO knoweth of what he talks abouteth.

Tom