I just got a new timing chain tensioner in the mail and it puzzles me a bit, thought these things were supposed to lock in place when they are released, but this new one appears to be a hydraulic piston that seemingly...runs off oil pressure? I can move the piston back and forth in the tensioner with ease.

 

Sounds right to me.

 

 

yeah thats what my new one looked like when i took it apart to check compression

 

So i dont get it, how does this work?

 

ah i got it, you gotta depress and twist the end counter clockwise, that makes the spring come out to the set position, seems its already preset in the box, dunno how hitting it is gonna make it pop loose though, i was smacking this thing on my desk for a while and nothing was happening.

 

thats why they tell ya to install it, hit it, then pull it back out to see if set. then reset it and repeat lol. its annoying but thats what I did.

 

I'd be interested know how this one I different from the old design? My tensioner from the factory broke last week and trashed the upper end of my motor.