21 replies to this topic

[AlexM]

Solved the alignment issue

when you put it together should the chain be tense right away? because there is a little slack on both sides?

[Sprocket]

Lol he who does not use a tentioner will have a noisey engine, duplex or not. Kents silent is the only one that does not need one. The tensioner removes the back lash that is pressent when installed, as you have found.

Read TBASE, visard clearly points out thats its use is well worth it

Any slack promotes eratic cam timing. Two degrees is enogh to loose you huge power.

Just use the tentioner you have, not ideal, but better than nothing.

[AlexM]

Ok, all is back together, i decided to use the tensioner.

There is a light dull knocking which makes me think the chain is fouling on something, its coming from the cover. Its not a metallic sound and i checked the clearance on the casing very carefully, so i don't think its that.

Is it possibile the tensioner is positioned too far over causing the chain to knock against it?! Is the chain supposed to rest against the tensioner lightly or should the tensioner be positioned hard against the chain?

I can't think what else it would be.

This is frustrating sinse i took so much care trying to get this all right.

[AlexM]

What can you do to set the timing on an spi? Or is it all electronic? I'm going to check the valve clearances tomorrow, is there anything else i can do?

[fikus01]

its all electronically adjusted tho the dizzy stil has to be in roughly the right place or the spark will not make it to the lead!! or worse it cud spark 2 at at time!! basically if it started and ran before and u havent changed the position of the dizzy it shud be ok!! did u remove the cam or turn it at all or is it in exactly the same place it was when u started?

[Sprocket]

Youve got about 40 degrees of movement on the spi dizzy and it still wont adjust the timing. You only need to be in a ballpark setting somewhere neer the middle of that adjustment, or youll be burning dizzy caps out in days. Ignition timing is set by the ECU with about 47(maybe less on the Cooper) degrees advance max when you floor it, idling at around 15.

[AlexM]

Ok cheers, ill reset everything and check the valve clearances as a precaution, they are pretty tappety anyways so they'll be on my to-do list.
I was very careful about not moving anything so all should be well.