Timing chain wedge

[datzenmike]

It was years ago but I don't think water was mentioned. Just a couple of feet of folded hose jammed down there. There is a narrow spot between the two chains just above the tensioner and wider below so the type that block have to be thin enough to pass there. I did my design before the I had the timing cover on. The one I made actually reaches around the curve and pushed the tensioner in as you tap it downward. Again this is a Z24 and the guides are longer than the Z22/L20B. The curved tensioner side I moved to the limit the mounting slots would allow to remove as much slack as possible. This might make the pinch point even narrower.

 

 

[G-Duax]

Sorry Mike, but I was trying to be funny.....

I was thinking of a small air bladder though, that could be inflated, and you came along with the garden hose thing, and everything just kind of melded together :-)

Just think of the carnage that would be caused if there was a small leak in the hose, and someone filled their oil pan with water...

[G-Duax]

By the way, there are a lot of people selling the Z-series wedges that are shorter.

[85"720]

On 12/7/2018 at 3:56 PM, datzenmike said:

Someone mentioned using a folded garden 

 

Edited December 9, 2018 by 85"720

[85"720]

23 hours ago, Tedman said:

Just noticed the OP is working on a Z24. The How to Keep Your Datsun/Nissan Alive book shows a much shorter wedge shape for the Z series motors (section 9-15). Both types are shown full size so you can easily trace and make a template.  Not sure if there's a pdf version of that book on line somewhere, but there ought to be.

 

edit- Found it here:

http://datsun510.com/index.php?/files/file/21-how-to-keep-your-datsun-l-z-series-alive/

 

 

23 hours ago, wayno said:

You guys are getting way to fancy, I use a piece of plastic, I just cut one end at a slight angle, the plastic is 5/8" X 1 3/16ths" X 14 1/2" long, if I cannot find my plastic ones I just cut a piece of wood around the same size.

 

On 12/7/2018 at 3:56 PM, datzenmike said:

Someone mentioned using a folded garden hose.

 

23 hours ago, G-Duax said:

I like Mike's garden hose idea.

Just cap one end, fold over, insert into engine, hook the other end up to the faucet, and turn on.....

Water pressure expands the hose, and keeps everything in place  ?

 

21 hours ago, bottomwatcher said:

Well while  everyone  is going nuts with this. Stick a philipshead  screwdriver in between the chain and cam gear to suck up any slack. Then wedge the wood. The idea is to wedge the tensioner before removing the cam gear and any slack from the bottom  end makes it easier on the top. Once secure yank the Philips and you have a few millimeters of slack to work with. Hope this makes sense.

 

 

 

 

 Damm I didn't know I was going to  raise hell with this question.lol

Edited December 9, 2018 by 85"720

[datzenmike]

It's all good info aimed at preventing that worst of all L series problem for those unfamiliar with the L series. 

[G-Duax]

We are just bored, and you seemed like fresh meat......

[bottomwatcher]

Most of us have experienced the popped out tensioner and don't want anyone else have to go through that. There are several of life's angry moments that stick in my brain. The popped out tensioner is one of them.

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Dropping a lash pad down inside the front cover is another of those angry moments.

[seattle smitty]

I recently went through this.  I had made a wedge copying a design from a big book that came out in the mid-'70s at the height of 240/260z-car and 510 racing (some of you have this book, with a color photo of a Brock Racing Enterprises 510 on a track somewhere).  I found the wedge and discovered it was too thick to work on my Z-22. After some sawing and sanding, it turned out a little too thin because it never quite was stopped by the tensioner.  But it worked fine, which indicates that the tensioner need not be rammed all the way in.  Or maybe it just means that the old chain was stretched a little.  Anyhow,  when I first made the tool, I drilled a small hole in the top and put a lanyard (piece of braided cord) through it so I could always retrieve the tool.  

[john510]

On 12/7/2018 at 3:56 PM, datzenmike said:

Someone mentioned using a folded garden hose.

And it works great !

[datzenmike]

22 minutes ago, seattle smitty said:

 After some sawing and sanding, it turned out a little too thin because it never quite was stopped by the tensioner.  But it worked fine, which indicates that the tensioner need not be rammed all the way in.  

 

Agreed, it doesn't have to push the tensioner in, just prevent it from coming out any more than it is. The one I made I hadn't put the timing cover on yet so I could use the slack side guide to get the curve right. As it turns out it goes around the curve nicely with it's back against the tension side. A few taps and the tip pushes the tensioner in slightly. A garden hose might do the same thing?

[85"720]

20 hours ago, john510 said:

And it works great !

I'm going to try this method  today. Hopefully  it goes well

[banzai510(hainz)]

Just buy the wedge and use it.YOu dont want to second guess yourself

[85"720]

6 minutes ago, banzai510(hainz) said:

Just buy the wedge and use it.YOu dont want to second guess yourself

They don't  sell the wedge anymore. Its out of stock and on backorder 

[banzai510(hainz)]

Back order now means theyll never make more. unless you get lucky.

I used my L series one and it worked good you can actually feel the wedge work getting behind the tensioner as a yu jam it down in there

[datzenmike]

After I was finished with mine I naturally found my old one.

[G-Duax]

I always find stuff 2 weeks later, when I'm looking for something else....

[datzenmike]

I have three of many of the most used things. I think what goes wrong is saying to myself... 'where should I put this so I'll find it next time?' Another is the 'shit claws factor'. I carry a tool in my hand but then set it down to move something, look at something, find another tool..... and then move on only to look down at an empty hand later. WTF? Before starting a job I try to track down what I'll need and say fuck it and go into town and buy it. Next spring when I get my 710 ready for the Canby trip I'll look in the back and there's a Tupperware container full of spare tools and..... there it is!!!!!

[bottomwatcher]

I am glad I am not the only one that does these things. 

[85"720]

All went well. I ended up  using a water hose ?

[datzenmike]

We'll put garden hose in the 'it worked' column. So, just fold and stab it in?

[85"720]

19 minutes ago, datzenmike said:

We'll put garden hose in the 'it worked' column. So, just fold and stab it in?

Yea pretty much.  I jammed it in and wacked it  a few times  with the wrench  I was using. 

[Crashtd420]

2 hours ago, 85"720 said:

All went well. I ended up  using a water hose ?

Now that's ratsun.....

I gotta ask did you have an old piece of hose or did you use the full length garden hose ? 

[85"720]

30 minutes ago, Crashtd420 said:

Now that's ratsun.....

I gotta ask did you have an old piece of hose or did you use the full length garden hose 

I was telling my dad about  what people  use to wedge the chain and I told him  I needed some wood or use a garden hose. He said just use the garden hose. he said  it needed to be cut  anyways so might as well  use it for something lol.