I have a question about my 3.6 V6 timing chain. Is there a way to tell if the timing chain is worn out without removing the cover?? I was thinking on the way home tonight, that I could remove a valve cover and turn the motor over to TDC. Turn it over will I see the exhaust rocker move, then turn the crank backwards and note the amount it moves. I am guessing a good timing set should have very little slack while a worn out set would move a lot?? Thoughts???


Thanks Doc.

 

http://www.misterfixit.com/chanslop.htm

There is a very simple check for a loose timing chain due to a broken tensioner, worn gears, or a stretched chain. Pull the distributor cap and observe the rotor position. Take a breaker bar and a appropriate socket and put it on the crankshaft damper pulley. If you have a degree wheel put it on the damper pulley else you can just chalk mark the timing mark position at the appropriate time.

Now - slowly turn the crankshaft pulley in a clockwise direction. Watch the distributor and observe that the rotor is moving. Stop turning. Now - mark the damper pulley position with the chalk or observe the degree wheel. Very carefully turn the crankshaft in the other direction and VERY carefully observe the rotor in the distributor. The instant it begins to move STOP turning and mark the crankshaft position again. Measure the number of degrees of rotation of the crankshaft. If there is a lot of slop in the chain then you will have moved the crankshaft ten or fifteen degrees (or more) before taking the slop out of the chain after the reversal before the camshaft began to turn. Get the picture?? If all is well and there is no slack in the timing chain then you will see about three to five degrees of "reverse motion" before the distributor begins to turn

 

Thank you for your help and info on this. Looks like I will doing this check this weekend.


Doc.