TR2/3/3A Timing Chain Tensioner - again

[Melton Hefner]

When my pin worked loose the tensioner rattled around until it wore through the front of the chain cover.

The car is new to me so I don’t know how tight the pin was when it worked out but it is welded in tight this time.

 

[KVH]

I would have thought the chain would sling off, jam up the gears, and begin some calamity. Glad there are “glass half full” guys out there.

 

[CJD]

Fortunately the TR engine is not an interference engine, unless you have done some significant cam and valve train mods. In other words, in stock form, if the chain breaks, the engine stops...and that's it. No pistons hitting valves. If the tensioner breaks, then the chain makes a racket against the cover, until it finally skips a tooth or two...and then the engine makes racket AND runs like crap.

This is a very forgiving engine.

 

[charleyf]

Fortunately the TR engine is not an interference engine, unless you have done some significant cam and valve train mods. In other words, in stock form, if the chain breaks, the engine stops...and that's it. No pistons hitting valves. If the tensioner breaks, then the chain makes a racket against the cover, until it finally skips a tooth or two...and then the engine makes racket AND runs like crap.

This is a very forgiving engine.

I bought a TR4A as a parts car. The head had been removed and I understood that the car was running until the owner started having problems. That was when he pulled the head. And gave up on the car. One thing that I eventually found while stripping the engine was -- a broken timing chain tensioner.
I theorized that maybe without the tensioner the car was performing badly. Maybe like the timing was jumping around. But maybe it would just be noisey.
Charley