can you remove your timing chains when in situ?

[Mark Serj]

Hi guys,

Now on the home straight of the engine rebuild & installing timing gear....well I was until I realized the guide holes need slotting so have quit for the nite. Its not possible to get the timing chains onto the cam gears due to the proximity of the head casting tunnel. Its no big deal but I wondered if it was just a vagary of BL's QC when fettling out the chain tunnels (well mine appear to have been!). I seem to recollect my last rebuild being similar.

I had quick look at Tony H's video and he has no problem...bah!!!!

Mark

[Bandit1200]

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[Guest]

Errr, I have done my chains and guides with the engine in situ, is that what you mean?

[Mark Serj]

Sorry if not quite clear guys. Engine has heads on, camshafts in and with gear wheels in situ. I am now installing all the timing gear, so I slip the chains up the head tunnel, expecting them to go over and onto the gears ('as if you are putting a medal on a person'!), but there isn't enough space between the periphery of the gear and the head (aka chain tunnel) to get the chain onto the gear. I have to resort to removing the gear wheel, put the chain on and then put the gear wheel back on the camshaft.

Hope that makes sense....?

Cheers

[macstag1]

Hi Mark, I have just changed my timing chains and sprockets etc. The new chains are looped over the unfastened cam sprocket, and then the chain is lowered down the tunnel and looped over crankshaft sprocket and jackshaft sprocket before the cam sprocket is lifted up slightly and located onto end of camshaft, ensuring timing marks are aligned.
I am sure you have worked that out by now though. I have to say without Hans on the Rimmer video, it would have been a very confusing job.
Cheers Mac

[thebadleys]

Hi Mark, I have just changed my timing chains and sprockets etc. The new chains are looped over the unfastened cam sprocket, and then the chain is lowered down the tunnel and looped over crankshaft sprocket and jackshaft sprocket before the cam sprocket is lifted up slightly and located onto end of camshaft, ensuring timing marks are aligned.
I am sure you have worked that out by now though. I have to say without Hans on the Rimmer video, it would have been a very confusing job.
Cheers Mac

Agree Mac, the Rimmers video is a good guide for this and a few other jobs, I did mine last year and it was not an issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-xuBE_A9nQ

Nigel

[Mark Serj]

Sure thing guys, I understand what you mean, but when you watch the TH video, he can get his chains onto the camgears when they are bolted to the camshafts. In other words there is enough clearance between the periphery of the camgear and the head casting / tunnel, to enable the chains to be engaged. The inside of the chain tunnel on my heads are juuuuust too close on both sides of the camgear to allow the chain to fit, so the camgear wheel has to be removed, fit the chain and then bolted back on. Bit of a pain, but no biggie.

[I am Groot]

I cant recall having to do this but you must have your reason but i would use thread lock on the nut!

[dasadrew]

...a vagary of BL's QC when fettling out the chain tunnels (well mine appear to have been!)... ...

Mark

That's interesting; one of my heads has got some traces of scuffing or similar where the chain goes and I had just attributed that to some loose chain (OMG!) or similar in the car's history.

Drew

[richardthestag]

i have these marks inside the timing chain cover

IMAG1349.jpg

didnt happen on my watch

[Stagdad]

Have you gone for Iwis Chains? they are more manly and therefore wider. Rolon on the left, Iwis right.
Rolon outside link (600x800).jpgIwis outside link (600x800).jpg

[Mark Serj]

Morning all, holy chain stretch batman, I didn't consider that as yes I am using Iwis chains!

Having had another fiddle last night I can just wiggle the RH chain onto the camgear, but I don't like the scraping against the chain tunnel on the way, and when you remove it, it can get jammed easily, so it's wheels off for me. Interesting comment Drew, I reckon the tunnels have been hand fettled on the heads to some extent or other on all the heads I've seen, but that maybe just coincidental. Ah well I'm sure the Iwis chains will be worth the hassle, but lets not open that old chestnut again

[Stagdad]

I recently checked my iwis chains after 20k everything still perfect. So like you say worth the small amount of hassle.