What are the symptoms of a chain tensioner going..

[Guest]

Been having a strange noise coming out of the front of the engine that sounds like a "clanging". Not real loud but definitely noticeable. After the engine warms and the idle smooths out, the noise goes away. Could this be the sound of a timing chain tensioner going out? I was told when I changed everything in this area that any new chain tensioner is not as good as an original. What say you??

 

[prb51]

Never had that issue on a Tr but on other cars. A loose chain stays loose and is most noticable on revving the engine. Normally a whirring sound as the chain interferes with something under load. Since there are no hydraulics involved warming shouldn't make a dif me thinks.

 

[TR3driver]

FWIW, I had a similar noise on my TR3A, except it could always be heard at certain rpms somewhat above normal idle (meaning cold fast idle would sometimes hit the right speed). Hard to hear while driving unless there were no other cars around and some solid surface (like the side of a mountain) to reflect the sound.

I believe the noise was the timing chain slapping against something (tensioner was broken); but I also found that the front hub had come loose on the crank so that might have been the cause of the noise.

Broken tensioner was, AFAIK, the original one. Replacement from TRF has apparently lasted a long time (tho I've not opened it up to check that it's still intact).