Chain tensioner stripped!

[Jcerb]

When i had the valve clearances checked i was told they couldn't set them as the chain tensioner was stripped, and that the engine would have to come out?! Is this true to helicoil this or can you get to it? Never heard of this before?

[Tanguero]

Jcerb said:

When i had the valve clearances checked i was told they couldn't set them as the chain tensioner was stripped, and that the engine would have to come out?! Is this true to helicoil this or can you get to it? Never heard of this before?

If it is the threads in the block that are stripped, then yes the timing cover would probably have to come off, which would mean taking the engine out.

Curious as to how this could happen though. Threads don't strip themselves... and if the threads were already stripped, presumably the tensioner wouldn't be tensioning, so the timing would be all over the place. Would the car even be running and for how long before the engine destroyed its self?

[ridds]

I'd be surprised if you even get a helicoil to fit that. I thought it's quite a large thread with a very fine pitch.

[julian64]

That is going to be interesting. I would suggest you find a nut in aluminium, or make a nut in aluminium, and get someone to spot weld it to the outside of the enginecasing if you have enough room. That'd let you do it to the car without taking the engine out.

Alternatively I can't see any way out other than taking the timing cover off.

[Jcerb]

Hi guys, Jason at str8six discovered it when i had it in for clearances, they were checked. He said it had been like it for some time so shouldn't be a problem coming out, it was tensioning fine. The idea of finding an aluminium hex bolt would be a brilliant idea! Then spot welding would be perfect i would have thought! Does anyone know what size it is??