timing chain tensioners - necessary?

[wibble_puppy]

ello

when i took the timing stuff off the van there were no tensioners in place on the camshaft gear wheel.

Do i need them?

I've fitted a duplex kit, if that makes a difference

wibble

[bigginger]

AFAIK the Minor never had one

[aupickup]

should not need them with the duplex kit

[Willie]

Ginger, I think the rubber tensioner rings were missing!

[wibble_puppy]

they are listed in the parts list and all that, but my engine ain't gonna have 'em

thanks for the advice, guys

[bigginger]

Ginger, I think the rubber tensioner rings were missing!

I've seen them mentioned before, but never seen them (and yes, I'm thick), but what rubber tensioner rings?

[wibble_puppy]

these ones

[bigginger]

Where do they fit, then?

[polo2k]

over the teeth

[bmcecosse]

Well - just to the side of the teeth actually - in grooves at the side of the teeth. And yes - duplex gears don't have them - only the early single row (simplex) gear. Later simplex on the Mini etc used a 'proper' tensioner system with a rubber pad and a spring blade. It works - the early tensioner rings system doesn't last long!!

[paulk]

How much effort to fit the Mini set up?
I assume it does quieten down the front end a bit.

[bmcecosse]

You need to use the Mini timing case cover and gasket - and you need to drill one small blind hole into the front plate - this then is the pivot point for the tensioner mech. V easy to do - just gather all the bits together. Although some have used this setup with duplex - when I tried that the rubber pad fell off and disintegrated after a very short time - nasty mess, and nasty noise as the metal spring rattled against the chain!

[XDB]

I bought a single chain kit but it didn't have any tensioners so I swapped it for a duplex kit. Still no tensioners but shouldn't be a problem. The engine now is very quiet with duplex chain.

[ferret76]

On a sort of related topic, I replaced the timing cover gasket to stop an oil leak. I didn't touch the chain at all, put it all back together no worries. Now the timing chain is rattling against the timing cover and making a hell of a racket. How is this possible, is there some sort of magic smoke that escapes when you remove the cover? Do I need to pull the cover off again and do some sort of jiggery pokery with the chain?

[bmcecosse]

Maybe the cover has been knocked inwards slightly and is touching the rotating sprocket ? Is the 'oil thrower' on correctly - right way round ? You will certainly have to take it off to sort out the problem.