changed my timing chain 2 weeks ago. got everything, chain,sprockets, metal backed guide on right side and plastic on left side and new tensioner. all gaskets and stuff. was not able to check my valve lash so put it all together and drove it. now i hear a ticking noise figured it was my exhaust or valves. kinda sounds like a diesel, so pulled the cover checked the valves and all were good. checked the chain and it felt tight but the bolts that hold the metal backed guide were chewed up like the chain was hitting it. how could it be hitting them? i did notice the bolts and lock washers that came with kit, made bolts stick out farther then the old ones. should i have just reused the old bolts? im really not feeling like taking this apart again. chain still looks good but why is there slack in it like that? i checked the tensioner when i installed the new one it moved freely and chain was tight before cover went back on. anyway not sure if this was my noise but i discovered only 1 of 3 bolts were were tight where manifold meets down pipe. should i worry about the chain hitting the bolts though?

 

 

That doesnt look good to me. Who's kit did you use?

 

unfortunately i bought it on ebay cause it had the steel guide. looked like just an autoparts store was selling it but turned out to be cheap crap... ordered real deal from napa. should be here tomorrow. learned my lesson.

 

installed new chain and has slightly less slack on it but still using ebay tensioner could the tensioner been my initial problem? ive been researching and it turns out the tensioner uses oil pressure so not sure what to do now... i guess theres no way to tell if its bad or not? maybe my oil pressure is just low? i have no guage on dash cant rememeber if i have a oil pressure gauge laying around or not. everything was great the first week of driving it then half way through this week it started making noise and i noticed the bolts chewed up.

i blew air through the oil hole on tensioner and it makes no difference to tensioner just goes straight out the bottom. also when depressed it shoots oil out back above oil hole, theres like a pin or something.

 

I'm a little confused about what you're saying about the tensioner. The tensioner has an internal spring for initial tension but does rely on oil pressure. Most reputable sources will tell you to only use the oem tensioner, try engnbldr.com.

 

lesson learned, don't but cheap auto parts from eBay. all back together new chain and tensioner! made in japan. works great now!