Yep.Cool job, thanks for the detective work. That makes more sense than wondering if the springs wear out.
So age and poor oil quality are the biggest factors to the tensioners going bad. Use best oil always, change more often, and replace the air cleaner often to. If the oil gets black quickly, check your air filter. That's either from dirt going through it, or a fairly worn engine.
Because the guides aren't broke all the way still wedged in their just enoughwhy does the pre-oiler the only way I have found to prevent start up rattle even with new tensioner but 2 broken guides
Interesting, makes me wonder if high mileage oil w/seal-conditioners would help.