Happy!!

[Happy Plumber]

Disappointed at first, now I can not complain after educating myself. The rattle started at cold start, went away after a short time. Had a misfire that kicked the check engine light. The light corrected itself, rattle was getting worse at cold start. I'm a Plumber by traded and parts changer for fun. I've replaced hundreds of timing chains in atvs and dirt bikes that have plastic guides with a metal tensioner that is spring loaded that do not use oil pressure to keep tension in the chain. Then chain would fail and jump time before the plastic guide would break.
I purchased a 1 owner 02 Eplorer in 2015. Showing 268,000 with all service records and a fresh transmission. The owner had run full synthetic since 1st oil change. After looking through service records the tensioner had never been replaced at now 288,886 miles. Ford recommends they be replaced every 75,000 miles, just tensioner, not the guides/ cassettes. It was to late, the rear guide has broken and I can see why!! The plastic quality and design are set up for failure even with perfect service intervals.
With almost 300,000 miles I have backed up and been thankfull
That these parts have out lasted themselves based on materials. I'm in process of removing the engine to install a new long block. More to come Thanks Happy Plumber!!!!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! That mileage is very impressive considering that it still has the same parts. Make a build thread on your project.

On a side note, do you get plumbing and mechanical (P & M) magazine? It's a good free trade magazine with monthly contests. I came in 1st place a half a year ago, and won a kinetic water ram.