freaknbigpanda

The chain is slapping against the dampener as I rotate by hand. Is this normal?

freaknbigpanda

Does anybody have any thoughts on if this is normal or not?

Che70velle

iTrader: (6)

Looks normalish to me. I’ve seen new chains go in and be somewhat tight, and I’ve seen new chains go in and be loose like this. It’s definitely on the loose side. Run it.

freaknbigpanda

Notice how it is slapping or sticking against the left side of the dampener though? Is that normal? Just worried something is off here. Really doesn’t look right to me. I can’t find any videos of anybody rotating their engine with the front cover off to compare

Che70velle

iTrader: (6)

Thats probably from the packing grease making the chain do that. The grease has a sticky factor that oil doesn’t have. This sticky factor causes the links to not want to move as easily as they would when oiled. No worries here. The grease will rinse off as the oil comes up to temp at first start up.

slowride

iTrader: (3)

I figured it was where you happen to stop the rotation of the engine compared to the valve events and the springs were putting tension on the chain opposite of rotation so trying to kick back. I don't think it's an issue.

freaknbigpanda

Probably not an issue but I ended up swapping back to the ls3 style tensioner instead of the ls2 dog bone. With the tensioner this doesn’t happen, it is smooth and consistent as I rotate the engine by hand with no slapping or sticking as shown in the videos. Fingers crossed the tensioner doesn’t break on me but I figured since the motor only needs to last 100 ish track hours before a rebuild it should be OK.

slowride

iTrader: (3)

I do like that style tensioner better also, but for something seeing lots of time and miles I don't have faith. It should be fine if inspected and replaced from time to time.

freaknbigpanda

I also noticed that gm went with this style tensioner for all of the gen V engines, so there must be something that’s functionally better about it right?

slowride

iTrader: (3)

For sure it actively take up the slack using a metal leaf spring embedded on the back side guide. As we all know though many makes of vehicles with timing chains have issues with tensioners and guides that require expensive/time consuming repairs. I've seen LS cars last a long time with no damper block or tensioner so it's hard to say what the ideal fix is, but I have also seen timing chain failures from the leaf spring failing and jamming up the gears etc.

freaknbigpanda

I just wonder what the original design motivation from gm was, I.e. why they replaced the dog bone on the ls2 with the tensioner for ls3 and why they kept the tensioner for Gen. V stuff

slowride

iTrader: (3)

My guess is NVH (I worked in NVH in the past and can see a possible connection of some sort) or maybe it helps with cam timing accuracy when using vvt idk.