Mechanical chain tensioner. This is the first “tuning” part that should be installed in a car of the Niva family. An engine from the 60s of the last century, with an oil pump that is designed to drive oil on a 1.2 liter engine, not exceeding the speed threshold of 4000 rpm. What do AvtoTAZ designers do? They hang a hydraulic chain tensioner on the poor little oil pump and also, to make it not at all boring, 8 hydraulic supports. What do we have as a result? A small furry northern animal that crept up very close. Russia produces tanks and missiles well, but everything that the “designers” contribute to the design of the Fiat engine is rejected by it.
A few options for what I came across:
- cold weather, about 20 degrees below zero, the engine starts. Engine oil is cold and thick. The chain rattles terribly and finally jumps 6 teeth (as the autopsy showed), the curtain for the engine has dropped.
- normal weather. At idle, the hydraulics “whistle,” the chain “murmurs,” there’s simply not enough oil pressure.
- off-road conditions. The car is sideways on the mountain, oil is leaking from the oil receiver. The first thing in line that lacks it is the hydraulic tensioner and hydraulic supports. The engine begins to make death grunts.
Mechanical chain tensioner. Main manufacturers.
The photo shows three main options common in Russia. The first product is made by the people and on the forums of the ANC “auto pilot”. The second product is manufactured by Rusmash, usually called the pilot. The third tensioner belongs to the designer Isaev, colloquially Isay. My team and I personally have installed several dozen of each type of tensioner on cars, so I have the right to talk about statistics and operating features. Something from behind the scenes. The first two tensioners belong to the pen of one person. Designer Igor Medvedev. On motor forums under the nickname Rhodes-M. As far as I know, patents for these inventions or utility models are registered in his personal name. I work together with this person on other projects, so the information about the designs and manufacturing features is first-hand.
Autopilot. Principle of operation. Rack. Of the three, this is the undisputed leader. I have not noticed any shortcomings in operation. Cars with mileage of more than 150 thousand have already arrived where I installed autopilots from the very first batches. It is very convenient to work when replacing the camshaft; it does not need to be removed from the cylinder head. Flaw. It is difficult to find an “original” that has passed quality control. Medvedev left and the quality of input immediately dropped greatly. The cost of production has become cheaper.
Pilot. The operating principle is a toothed rack. Good quality tensioner. The big brother of "autopilot". Stable quality. It is also possible to work without removing it from the cylinder head. The main disadvantage is the huge percentage of fakes on the market. This tensioner was the first successful design, and the Chinese grabbed it. If Autopilot is completely impossible to find, then Pilot is very difficult to find “original”. Based on the St. Petersburg market, I estimate the prevalence of counterfeits for this tensioner at 70%. I work with Rusmash directly, so this as a “minus” is insignificant.
Isaiah. The operating principle is a clock spring. To avoid questions and insinuations, I contacted the designer directly and in 2015, we installed several dozen of them. The main disadvantage of the product, which the designer passes off as its advantage, is that there are no precision parts. When the rod doesn't move out too much, everything is fine. When the chain is worn out and the rod goes beyond half, it “walks” quite a lot. If we are talking about a production engine without “pretensions” for tuning, this may be acceptable. If the engine is “more serious” this is unacceptable. The tolerance for axial “walking” of the chain and sprockets in the timing tract is only 0.3 mm.
Summary . We try to install Autopilot (if available) on tuned cylinder heads. For the most part, we work with Pilot, but if a client, based on forums or his own views, asks to install Isai, then we do not dissuade him. For double-row chains and -213 engines the situation is similar.
chain tensioner Pilot for 21213
Replacing the hydraulic tensioner.
When a chain stretches, you cannot limit yourself to just replacing the tensioner. For high-quality repairs, it is also necessary to change the gasket seals and chain.
To replace, you will need the following procedure and set of tools:
- a 10mm wrench to disconnect the fitting of the oil supply tube to the hydraulic tensioner.
- After this, the fitting is loosened and the tube is pulled upward.
- Using a 10mm wrench, remove the nuts that hold the tensioner.
- After this, the device can be removed and a new one installed.
- An old timing belt tensioner cannot be repaired. Before installing a new spare part, the seat must be coated with sealant to prevent oil leakage.
Installing a new part is carried out in the reverse order:
- The tensioner is inserted into the seat. The part must be identical to that recommended by the manufacturer.
- Tightened with two nuts. When tightening, you do not need to exert excessive force so as not to break the thread.
- We fix the tube for supplying oil to the hydraulic tensioner.
It is important to remember that without replacing the timing chain, the problem may not be corrected, since the chain may be stretched so much that this wear will not be compensated by a new tensioner.
Chain tensioner. Installation.
When replacing the hydraulic chain tensioner and installing a mechanical tensioner, I always remove the valve cover, and after “pulling out” the pin, use a ratchet wrench to make one full revolution of the crankshaft. This way you can avoid one “mean” moment. A slack chain can come out of the grooves of the tensioner and chain guide shoe, and if this is not noticed and corrected, very unpleasant consequences are possible (this applies to a single-row chain). Also, as a result of the first revolution, the primary slack of the chain is selected and, as a rule, the rod immediately comes out one or two more clicks, relative to the first shot.
Replacing the timing drive and installing an automatic tensioner “pilot” in a Chevrolet Niva (VAZ 2123)
The engine rattles with a chain, diesel sound. Conclusion: replacing the timing drive. It’s far beyond -30 outside, but there’s nothing to do, I’m leaving soon for a month, my wife needs to leave the car in proper condition. All necessary components were purchased: chain, 3 sprockets, tensioner shoe, stabilizer, automatic pilot chain tensioner, oil pressure alarm sensor, front seal, cover gasket, pump gasket
How to check the hydraulic chain tensioner of a Niva Chevrolet
The hydraulic tensioner is designed to adjust the chain tension in the Niva Chevrolet.
Since this part plays an important role, the engine cannot operate without it. Over time, any part can wear out, especially for those parts that constantly rub against each other or rotate, and the timing chain can stretch during operation. Chain stretching, experts say, is normal. That is why a hydraulic tensioner is installed on the car.
Hydraulic chain tensioner. The genuine pain of the domestic auto industry
Hydraulics, as you know, is a science that loves precision. The diameters of holes and bushings are ideally adjusted to microns, valves work reliably like clockwork and high requirements for the purity and quality of the working fluid (in our case, oil). Alas, when it comes to cheap domestic spare parts, the path to hell is paved with good intentions, such as the use of a progressive hydraulic tensioner for Lada 4x4 engines.
It would seem like a finely tuned automatic system. No periodic adjustments or diagnostics for you: the plunger reliably self-locks at working cut-offs until chain wear increases and additional force becomes necessary to tension it. Alas, when it comes to domestic spare parts, all this is good only in theory.
The principle of operation of the hydraulic tensioner on Niva
Without once again venting in angry odes towards the domestic automobile industry, we will simply summarize that the problem of extraneous noise from the internal combustion engine, the main cause of which is often the hydraulic chain tensioner on the VAZ 21214, exists and we have to deal with it somehow. And, as we know, there is no smoke without fire, and another common problem with the hydraulic chain tensioning system is the failure of the oil-conducting system. Killed by running a dry internal combustion engine sounds like a bad dream. What to do and how to continue to live?
Replacing the timing drive, installing an automatic tensioner
The part designed to regulate the chain tension in a Niva Chevrolet car is called a timing belt (gas distribution mechanism) hydraulic tensioner. In the Chevrolet Niva timing system, the hydraulic tensioner performs a very important function, so engine operation without such a part is simply impossible. Over time, all parts of a car tend to wear out.
Rotating parts of cars are especially prone to wear, weakening, stretching and breaking. This part includes the timing chain, which stretches over time and wears out. Chain stretching is normal but must be addressed. It is to eliminate chain stretch that a hydraulic tensioner is installed in the timing system. It has a wear property that is detected by loosening the chain to half the sprocket tooth.
Replacing the hydraulic chain tensioner on Niva
The new model Nivki, which is better known to us as the Chevrolet Niva, cutting through domestic roads, inherited the above-mentioned disease from its older brother, the VAZ 21214, which, in turn, is now proudly called Lada 4x4. But the problem is not as scary as its description. In order to keep the power unit in good condition, it is enough to always keep your finger on its pulse: listen to extraneous sounds, regularly carry out maintenance after 60-100 thousand kilometers and not let the problem take its course.
If it was not possible to solve the problem of extraneous noise by replacing one hydraulic tensioner with a new one, you can decide to install a mechanical device. Going to car forums for the VAZ 21214, you might be surprised how people almost unanimously give their preference to mechanics. The mechanical tensioner of the “Pilot” series is very popular among the masses. But this does not mean that you should definitely take it; among the mechanics there are a lot of worthy offers, and they are not that expensive. To lengthen the product for the Chevrolet Niva, you just need to weld an additional bushing onto the plunger.
Mechanical chain tensioner
Please note that simply replacing a used VAZ 21214 hydraulic tensioner with a new one is not the right way out of this situation. At a minimum, it is necessary to change the timing chain, which is clearly in critical condition, disposable rubber sealing gaskets in the form of rings and oil seals. And, if replacing such a simple device as a hydraulic tensioner does not present any particular problems on a VAZ 21214, then as for the timing chain, this is already a reason for a separate article.
Checking the timing chain tensioner
By pulling the chain away from the sprocket, you can determine the degree of its stretch. A mandatory check of the degree of chain elongation must be carried out every 70-100 thousand kilometers .
It is necessary to check the timing chain tension every 100 thousand km.
If extraneous noise is noticeable in the engine compartment, it is important to pay attention to the chain before the end or start of such a run.
Location
This device is located in the Niva Chevrolet in the engine compartment on the passenger side. The hydraulic tensioner is located under the cooling system pipes on the engine block.
Replacing the hydraulic chain tensioner on a Chevrolet Niva with a manual one
If the chain stretch is large, then the hydraulic tensioner should be changed. It is also important to simultaneously replace the chain, gasket and oil seal. Replacement is carried out in this order
:
The old hydraulic tensioner can no longer be repaired.
Assembly order
- The new device is inserted into its seat.
- Screwed with two bolts to the engine housing.
- A tube is connected through which fluid flows to the tensioner.
If the car has already traveled 100,000 kilometers, but there is no extraneous noise from the chain in the engine compartment area, then you still need to inspect it for damage and stretching.
Video about replacing the timing chain hydraulic tensioner Niva Chevrolet
Replacing the Niva Chevrolet camshaft drive chain tensioner shoe
Replacement
hydraulic chain tensioner to a mechanical one, as well as
replacing
the shoe on
a Niva Chevrolet
with your own.
You will also have to buy:
- three gears - crankshaft, camshaft and oil pump;
- tensioner
shoe ; - sedative;
- chain tensioner Niva Chevrolet
; - oil pressure alarm sensor;
- frontal oil seal;
- cylinder head gasket and pump gasket.
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