Does anyone know of a post that has photos of the second generation primary cam chain tensioners? You know the ones that are a real @#$%$#@ to get to. Or does someone have photos they could post? I am interested to see just how well the second generation primary tensioners and slippers are standing up.

Thanks to all.

EZDriver

 

The second generation only added a spring without improving the slippers or body of the tensioners.

 

My contribution to the "show us your tensioners" thread. These came out at 67,000 miles.

 

whoops

 

Thanks for the pics. What about the primary system slippers. How well did they stand up at 67000 miles. It looks like to me that the primary tensioners are surviving fairly well and I think I'll hold off changing the primary system (40K now) especially considering how much work it will be.

Thanks

EZDriver 2000XK8 1995 XJ6

 

Going on the thumbnails above, they look as if they're made of mahogony.

 

I don't have the slippers on-hand, but I had a close look and they were fine. Note the last photo, DSC9063001.jpg, where you can see the plastic starting to lift at the centre of one of the secondary tensioners. I wonder what the best/worst lifespans were on these parts.

 

While those are in great shape, theyre plastic bodied. Time and mileage takes them out. I would only personally recommend changing the secondaries only. I only do lower if in there for another reason or if the slipper comes off the upper tensioner and gets eaten by the chain. This causes chain streach and down the road chain, and then engine failure when the upper chain snaps

 

In one case recorded here, a secondary was cracked at 32K miles. It is possible that there is at least one case where the secondaries have lasted the life of the car or is still on the road at high mileage.

Most people replacing and reporting at 80K+ miles report cracks, if not partial disintegration.

Both secondaries you show are exhibiting at least the start of cracking. They are almost always the same pattern and location. They are all built the same, and fail in the same way.

What mileage is on the ones in your pictures?

 

They came out at 67,000 miles. Jaguar didn't find any record of prior replacement; that doesn't guarantee these are the originals of course, but it's more than likely they are.

I like knowing that there are metal tensioners in there now.

 

I just replaced my secondary, primary and rails at 59,000 on a 1999. Both secondary 2nd gen tensioners were cracked top to bottom but the primary tensioners were fine. However, both curved rails were split in three places. Glad I changed them.

 

Do you have pictures of the primary rails or can you describe how they were cracked? A lot of us are changing the secondary or upper tensioners only and are relying on sufficient audible warning to tell us that we have to go in and fix the primary system. The secondary or upper tensioners don't give adaquate warning before really bad things happen. Most people think this is a satisfactory approach considering the expense and effort to fix the primary.

EZDriver 2000 XK8 1995 XJ6

 

I'm trying to find my pictures and will post them when I do...or take some more. I bought the car in Oct, then learned about the tensioners. Everything I read recommended replacement of the chains, guides and primary and secondary tensioners. My chain guides were cracked and ready to break apart with 65k miles. The secondary tensioners were cracked and the guide on top was almost completely eaten away. The primary tensioners were okay..but again, not the guides. So I replaces everything including the chains, all gaskets, spark plugs etc. My advice...do the whole job. Yeah it's a pain but if your going to keep the car for years, then do it!

 

Here are pics of the secondary tensioner. I need to get to my other pc to get the pic of the rail.

 

I have a complete description, with pictures, of the steps I took in replacing my tensioners and rails in pdf format if anyone would like to see a copy. It is a 33 mb file and I do not know if I can post such a beast on the forum, but I could send it to you via a FTP site if you give me your email address.

It is of course for educational purposes only.

 

Take a look in here, the procedures and photos are there plus more.
Jaguar write-ups and goodies