Timing Chain tensioner rubber

[jdoclogan]

Oil has been a topic multiple times throughout my membership. This is my first finding of what I suspect to be engine oil additives seriously impacting the rubber timing chain tensioner. It swelled and broke apart. I forgot to take a photo of the oil pump screen (it was clogged with massive amount [1/2" thick] of small bits of rubber) before I cleaned it.

The photo shows rubber component from three rubber chain tensioners.
1) NOS original or new reproduction
2) Used component
3) Deterioration after using oil with additives for racing.

 

[260Alpine]

Maybe you can have one 3D printed out of delrin or nylon? The MGB guys use this French made Jag tensioner:

 

[jumpinjan]

Just use an original one, it will work just fine.
Jan

 

[alpine_64]

Put up with the extra noise and can run the metal blade

 

[puff4]

Seems like a great application for a machined piece of Nylon 6?

 

[bernd_st]

I tend to reuse good No. 2) 's recently. They almost hold forever with no risk of swelling..,