Author Topic: Chain tensioner question...  (Read 2327 times)

a930rocket

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 102
    • View Profile
Chain tensioner question...
« on: March 18, 2011, 09:25:14 PM »
Doing a search, I found a picture of what appears to be the timing chain tensioner and it's accessed from the outside. Can I just pull the bolt and replace the tensioner?

Thought this might be a good safety item while working in other things nearby.
1991 318is

1987 911 Turbo

rjcaptsean

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 109
    • View Profile
Chain tensioner question...
« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2011, 10:41:01 PM »
The 19mm hex just above the A/C bracket is the tensioner cap. Take that off, and the tensioner resides inside.  

Not sure what you mean by "good safety item while working in other things nearby".

a930rocket

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 102
    • View Profile
Chain tensioner question...
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2011, 09:34:22 AM »
Sorry. Should have a little more clear. I was thinking as long as I was in the area of the engine working on things, it would be easy to swap out the tensioner as a preemptive measure until the day I dig into a timing chain,etc redo. I'm guessing I have a 20 year old chain, even if it only has a 142k miles.

Quote from: rjcaptsean;102407
The 19mm hex just above the A/C bracket is the tensioner cap. Take that off, and the tensioner resides inside.  

Not sure what you mean by "good safety item while working in other things nearby".
1991 318is

1987 911 Turbo

DesktopDave

  • Administrator
  • Legendary
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 60
  • Posts: 5076
  • Lives in the 80s
    • View Profile
    • The Iconic BMW
Chain tensioner question...
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2011, 10:02:29 AM »
I'd hold off until you're sure of the condition of the chain, guide rails and cam sprockets.  I've heard of a few cases that putting a new M44 tensioner onto an old timing chain quickly wore the guides out.  The guides were revised as well.
'08 Karmesinrot 128i 6MT
'86 Zinnoberrot 635CSi (M30B32/G265/3.46 torsen LSD)

Sold: '97 Montrealblau 318iS, '91 Brilliantrot 318i, '91 Brilliantrot 318iS

a930rocket

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 102
    • View Profile
Chain tensioner question...
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2011, 02:27:54 PM »
I hear ya. Install something new and the surrounding old parts crap out.
1991 318is

1987 911 Turbo