Charles Durning's Journal --
The A Series engines do not have a timing chain tensioner. As a result, as the chain wears it can rub against the sides of the front cover. That rubbing can make quite a racket and even wear a hole in the cover. The A+ Series engines do have a tensioner that can be easily retrofitted to the A Series. All it takes is a new cover, 3 new tensioner pieces and drilling and tapping a new hole in the front engine plate. The best part is the A+ timing marks are on top of the cover so ignition timing can be checked from above. A new notch will have to be made in the crank pulley, but that is easy to relocate. If the front cover is off to replace the front seal or timing components this is a worthwhile improvement to do at that time. I did find an issue with the conversion. The pivot pin for the tensioner is a bit long and will distort the front cover. The solution is to drill a shallow hole the front engine plate to allow the pivot to fully pass through the tensioner bracket. That will keep the end of the pin from sitting proud of the bracket. Now the front cover will fit correctly.
Posted 2017-11-26 05:22:50 by charles durning
The A Series engines do not have a timing chain tensioner. As a result, as the chain wears it can rub against the sides of the front cover. That rubbing can make quite a racket and even wear a hole in the cover. The A+ Series engines do have a tensioner that can be easily retrofitted to the A Series. All it takes is a new cover, 3 new tensioner pieces and drilling and tapping a new hole in the front engine plate. The best part is the A+ timing marks are on top of the cover so ignition timing can be checked from above. A new notch will have to be made in the crank pulley, but that is easy to relocate. If the front cover is off to replace the front seal or timing components this is a worthwhile improvement to do at that time. I did find an issue with the conversion. The pivot pin for the tensioner is a bit long and will distort the front cover. The solution is to drill a shallow hole the front engine plate to allow the pivot to fully pass through the tensioner bracket. That will keep the end of the pin from sitting proud of the bracket. Now the front cover will fit correctly.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  <A+ cover> | Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  <IMG 1901> | Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  <IMG 1917 small> |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  <IMG 1916 small> | Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  <kit> | Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  <IMG 1915 small> |
Posted 2017-11-26 05:22:50 by charles durning
