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Hipine · 05-06-2004, 04:32 PM

Good idea with the vise grips, flounder. Might just try that.

As far as gauging the stretch, I think a $40 timing chain every 100,000 miles is cheap insurance and I don't feel inclined to wait till the last minute of stretch limit before replacing it.

Plus, the more the chain stretches, the more the sprockets are subject to wear as the not-quite-fitting-anymore chain gets pulled into the sprockets.

The stretch gauging idea is a good one though if you're buying a truck and don't know how old the chain is, or if you want to keep an eye on it and record it, say at valve lash intervals. That is, in the interest of possibly changing the chain MORE often than every 100k.

And offset keys?!?!? I think it's easier to change the chain than to try and replace the keys in the cam or crank! Not to mention the fact they only address valve timing and not the cain/sprocket mismatch that develops with chain stretch.

-Dave G.

05-06-2004, 04:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hipine BenzWorld Elite Date registered: Nov 2002 Vehicle: 1980 LWB 280GE Location: Bailey, CO, USA Posts: 3,504	Cracking me up... Good idea with the vise grips, flounder. Might just try that. As far as gauging the stretch, I think a $40 timing chain every 100,000 miles is cheap insurance and I don't feel inclined to wait till the last minute of stretch limit before replacing it. Plus, the more the chain stretches, the more the sprockets are subject to wear as the not-quite-fitting-anymore chain gets pulled into the sprockets. The stretch gauging idea is a good one though if you're buying a truck and don't know how old the chain is, or if you want to keep an eye on it and record it, say at valve lash intervals. That is, in the interest of possibly changing the chain MORE often than every 100k. And offset keys?!?!? I think it's easier to change the chain than to try and replace the keys in the cam or crank! Not to mention the fact they only address valve timing and not the cain/sprocket mismatch that develops with chain stretch. -Dave G.