another timing chain question

[McSlug]

I had same problem with cassette also. but it dropped down eventually after fiddling around. GENTLY.

 

[2000StreetRod]

puller bolt source

^i couldn't help you cause i'm still trying to remove the crank pulley. but i need to find out where i can get the right size bolt for the puller. I tried home depot, lowes, autozone, and oreilly.

I believe that I purchased my bolts at Lowe's. Some of their stores are negligent on restocking the specialty bolts.

 

[greenexplorer85]

ok i found some bolts that will work and have everything on but i think i might be doing something wrong. everytime i go to turn the middle part of the pulley the whole pulley turns which makes the motor turn over. what am i doing wrong?

 

[greenexplorer85]

^i meant to say the middle part of the puller

 

[2000StreetRod]

balancer retaining bolt

ok i found some bolts that will work and have everything on but i think i might be doing something wrong. everytime i go to turn the middle part of the pulley the whole pulley turns which makes the motor turn over. what am i doing wrong?

Have you loosened the balancer retaining bolt? I believe it is 19mm. If you have, how did you prevent the crank from rotating while loosening it?

You loosen it about 1/3 of the way and then install the puller with the center part of the puller pressing against it. You tap the head of the center puller bolt with a hammer and then turn the bolt. Keep that up until the pulley reaches the inner face of the balancer retaining bolt. Remove the puller and loosen the balancer retaining bolt again. Reinstall the puller and pull the balancer out again to the face of the retaining bolt. The balancer retaining bolt is shorter than the thickness of the balancer so at some point the balancer retaining bolt will have to be removed and a smaller diameter (than the threads in the crankshaft) but longer bolt inserted that seats in the crank but the head is not in contact with the balancer. Then reinstall the puller and extract the balancer the rest of the way.

 

[greenexplorer85]

yes i loosened it already but i took it all the way out and before i put the puller i hand tightened the bolt back and then tried to turn the puller. but i used a pipe wrench to hold the harmonic from turninn when i took that middle bolt off. I'll try what you said though

 

[greenexplorer85]

ok i finally had time to work on the explorer again and i was able to remove the pulley and the timing cover. I noticed that a bunch of plastic pieces were broken off. My question is how do I remove the first timing chain to get a better view of whats behind cause i also see some broken pieces behind the first timing chain

 

[2000StreetRod]

Broken pieces

Can you post a photo of the broken pieces? They may be from the left guide assembly instead of just the primary tensioner. Try to obtain as many pieces as possible from the front of the oil pan.

Do you have 4WD? If so, you'll also have a balance shaft chain with tensioner and guide.

To remove the front chain you loosen the jackshaft sprocket retaining bolt. If you do that then you must retime both the left and right camshafts. That means removing both valve covers and acquiring the timing tool set.

 

[greenexplorer85]

ill take some pics give me a minute

 

[greenexplorer85]

ok here are the pieces that i was able to get out and i'm not sure where they go so if you can make out what those pieces are great. Also if you can let me know if I could work without removing the valve covers. thanks

 

[2000StreetRod]

Another angle?

The large piece on the right may be part of the primary guide as shown in the photo below but I can't tell for sure. Does it have the lattice design on one side?

What about 2WD or 4WD?

You should try and retrieve all the pieces and then reassemble to determine if any are still in the engine. There is a good chance that some may be in the bottom of the oil pan and some lodged in the oil pickup tube screen.

 

[greenexplorer85]

It's a 2 wheel drive and this pic is what I have left after digging up some pieces. So if i take that top sprocket off I will need to retime the engine?

 

[greenexplorer85]

How is that piece on the right of that timing chain removed?

 

[2000StreetRod]

plastic locator pin

How is that piece on the right of that timing chain removed?

The primary guide is only held in place with the two bolts that you have already removed. There is a locator pin (projection) on the back of the guide. Just pull the entire guide assembly forward.

I'm afraid that your left front guide assembly is also broken since your primary guide assembly looks to be intact. The chain behind the jackshaft sprocket goes thru the left head and around the camshaft sprocket. The guide assembly keeps the chain in place and the hydraulic tensioner presses against the guide assembly.

The photo below shows the left guide assembly.

If the large plastic piece on the right in your first photo is not part of the primary chain guide then it is likely part of the left upper guide assembly. You may be able to follow the chain upward into the head with your finger to feel for a broken end of the guide assembly. The guide assembly cannot be replaced without removing the left valve cover. Two bolts hold the guide assembly in place. The lower one is behind the jackshaft sprocket. I doubt that you can remove that bolt without removing the jackshaft sprocket.

 

[2000StreetRod]

Comparable situation

I suggest that you review the following thread for what I suspect is comparable to your situation:
Timing Chain Pictures!?!

After the pictures there is some discussion regarding the risk of reassembling the engine without retiming the camshaft. I and other members have timed the camshafts without the timing tool set but the process is more complicated and riskier. Also, since both camshafts are driven by the jackshaft both will have to be retimed when the jackshaft sprocket is loosened. The SOHC V6 valves can be damaged if the camshafts are not correctly timed. You probably should review my thread: SOHC V6 Camshaft Timing

 

[eagles350]

I finally got those Guides in. It took a little more than just wiggling But I got the motor together yesterday. I put it back in today & it sounds great. Hopefully I won't have to do that again for awhile. Thanks for the help.

 

[2000StreetRod]

Congratulations!

I finally got those Guides in. It took a little more than just wiggling But I got the motor together yesterday. I put it back in today & it sounds great. Hopefully I won't have to do that again for awhile. Thanks for the help.

Enjoy your repaired engine! Hopefully, it will last for many years.

 

[greenexplorer85]

so if i were to repair all the front timing chain components I would have to remove the valve cover or the whole cylinder head?

 

[2000StreetRod]

Valve covers but not heads

so if i were to repair all the front timing chain components I would have to remove the valve cover or the whole cylinder head?

1. In order to replace the left front guide assembly you will have to remove the jackshaft front sprocket.

2. Removing the jackshaft front sprocket requires retiming the left and right camshafts.

3. In order to retime the left and right camshafts the left and right valve covers must be removed and you should acquire the timing tool kit.

4. In order to remove the valve covers you will have to remove the upper intake manifold.

5. You cannot just buy the left timing guide assembly. You must buy the entire cassette (chain, guide assembly and sprockets).

6. The jackshaft sprocket retaining bolt and balancer retaining bolt are torque-to-yield and therefore not reusable.

7. There is no need to remove either head.

 

[rlpete01]

I am getting ready to start this job on my sister's explorer and have read about a recall in other related threads, when I search for the recalls I don't find any info pertaining to the timing chain. Can someone let me know if there is a recall and if I should check into that before getting too far on this job?

1998 Eddie Bauer with 4.0 SOHC