Timing chain tensioner fun

atomman

Club Member
If you skim the head don't you need to shim the cam towers back up ?

So you can get the timming chain tension right or is that only for major skim jobs ?
 
If you skim the head don't you need to shim the cam towers back up ?

So you can get the timming chain tension right or is that only for major skim jobs ?

Its not so much of an issue as he's using the fancy tensioner, as long as the wipe patter/geometry is still good.

Thats the way I understand it as someone who has only ever pulled a 240z engine to bits:D
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Its not so much of an issue as he's using the fancy tensioner, as long as the wipe patter/geometry is still good.

Thats the way I understand it as someone who has only ever pulled a 240z engine to bits:D

The tensioner surely only affects the 'slack' side of the chain so yes in theory the towers need raising to get the distance between crank and cam back to design and hence cam timing.

If you use an adjustable cam sprocket then the distance is not so critical because the cam/sprocket relationship is not fixed.
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
The tensioner surely only affects the 'slack' side of the chain so yes in theory the towers need raising to get the distance between crank and cam back to design and hence cam timing.

If you use an adjustable cam sprocket then the distance is not so critical because the cam/sprocket relationship is not fixed.

I don't think you've quite got the hang of this yet....
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
My point being that one of the very great benefits of the Kameari 'Twin Idler' cam chain tensioner is that you don't have to* shim the cam towers any more.

Cam timing isn't dependant on the distance between the cam and the crankshaft. Correct cam chain tension is, with the OEM cam chain tensioning system. The KEW Twin Idler system cures this.

Correct ( individual ) cam timing - as has been pointed out - is best achieved with a vernier cam sprocket.



*you still can, if you want.
 

richiep

Club Member
As Albrecht notes, one of actual marketed features of the Kameari Twin idler setup is that it removes the need to use shims because of its degree of adjustability. See under "product specs - features" here:

http://www.rhdjapan.com/kameari-l-type-twin-idler-gear.html

Nice price too at £280 (plus shipping etc) given the recent weakening of the yen. One of these on my shopping list for the 3.1 stroker.
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
I haven't got a vernier cam sprocket at the mo - I'm waiting on Kent to tell me the timing info for my cam. Then I'll see how close I can get with the standard sprocket.
My thinking is that I should be able to get close - by my calc, each link of the chain represents about 3.3 degrees on the crank (360/110), so I should be able to get that close at least.

Franky, I don't think skimming the head affects the wipe pattern - it'd only be a factor if I skimmed the top of the head too. (or indeed, if I fit cam tower shims)
 
I haven't got a vernier cam sprocket at the mo - I'm waiting on Kent to tell me the timing info for my cam. Then I'll see how close I can get with the standard sprocket.
My thinking is that I should be able to get close - by my calc, each link of the chain represents about 3.3 degrees on the crank (360/110), so I should be able to get that close at least.

Franky, I don't think skimming the head affects the wipe pattern - it'd only be a factor if I skimmed the top of the head too. (or indeed, if I fit cam tower shims)

It'd be a good time to fit a fully adjustable one?
 
As Albrecht notes, one of actual marketed features of the Kameari Twin idler setup is that it removes the need to use shims because of its degree of adjustability. See under "product specs - features" here:

http://www.rhdjapan.com/kameari-l-type-twin-idler-gear.html

Nice price too at £280 (plus shipping etc) given the recent weakening of the yen. One of these on my shopping list for the 3.1 stroker.

Thanks to Alan, I've saved a fair few £££ by him pointing out the exchange rate was moving in our direction.:)

Obviously its just a shopping list of stuff I'd likebut its come down by a huge % in total. On the flip side it just makes the list longer too.
 

Huw

Club Member
I haven't got a vernier cam sprocket at the mo - I'm waiting on Kent to tell me the timing info for my cam. Then I'll see how close I can get with the standard sprocket.

What cam are you running by the way? If its a DII Fast Road the info for the cam is:

Cam lift .302"
Duration 290 degrees inlet 270 exhaust
Power band 2000-6000
Valve clearance .008" inlet .010" exhaust (cold)
Valve timing 35/75 65/25
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Thanks Huw, no it's a P284R.
They list a p284 for some old fords, so it's prob same profile as that, but best to be certain.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
I don't think you've quite got the hang of this yet....

Ok right I've had a 'proper' look at this now from various sites. My mistake, I didn't realise that it ran the 'pulled' side of the chain over a gear and you effectively lengthen the 'pulled' run by adjusting the top idler inwards until you acheive the timing.

Good bit of kit.
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Hi Rob, no the tensioner still works on the slack side - even without the kameari kit, there's no real dependency between cam timing and distance between crank and cam. The bright links and timing marks are just a short cut for timing the standard cam.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Hi Rob, no the tensioner still works on the slack side - even without the kameari kit, there's no real dependency between cam timing and distance between crank and cam. The bright links and timing marks are just a short cut for timing the standard cam.

Jon, there are two pulley wheels - one for tension (to replace the standard set-up) and one at the top (under the cam sprocket) to pull the chain in on the other side to alter the length of the run from crank to cam.

Normally if you skim a block or head by a significant amount (not just a clean-up) you have to re-time the cam. I've done it on an Imp using a special sprocket and dial guage.

Think about it, if the head is skimmed by 30 thou of an inch the chain will be 30 thou too long so the sprocket will lag behind the correct timing position.
 

morbias

Well-Known Forum User
Maybe be there is some confusion here between the Kameari adjustable chain tensioner and the Kameari twin idler gear?
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Jon, there are two pulley wheels - one for tension (to replace the standard set-up) and one at the top (under the cam sprocket) to pull the chain in on the other side to alter the length of the run from crank to cam.

I know the twin idler has two pulleys, I've seen one somewhere recently :rolleyes:
BUT - like I said before, both idle wheels go on the slack side - one at the top and one at the bottom.

Think about it, if the head is skimmed by 30 thou of an inch the chain will be 30 thou too long so the sprocket will lag behind the correct timing position.

Maybe we're talking at cross purposes - I'm not disputing that skimming the head will rotate the cam sprocket counter-clockwise relative to the crank.

What I'm disputing is that one needs cam tower shims to correct it. As you said, you just re-time the cam.
Given a link is 3.3 deg, and the 3 sprocket positions give 4 deg adjustment, then I think I can advance with the standard kit 0.7 deg, 2.6 deg, 3.3 deg, 4 deg etc. If that isn't enough, then I can get a vernier cam sprocket.
 

moggy240

Insurance Valuations Officer
Staff member
Club Member
whats with the big round thing that I presume is on the crank shaft end
 
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