After fighting for hours to remove the slide pins which hold my upper chain guide in, i finally got them out last night and replaced the upper chain guide, then i replaced the chain tensioner. So everything was ok. Now tonight i hear a noise from the timing cover, so I pulled it, and what do I find?

The plastic support rail which goes on top of the metal timing chain tensioner blade, is in 3 pieces sitting up between the chain and the head. So I pulled the first 2 pieces out now i have to go relieve the tensioner and get the 3rd larger one out.

My question is, is it ok to run the engine without that plastic piece on? And secondly is there anyway possible to replace that plastic piece without pulling the timing cover?

Please help, this is my daily driver!

Thanks,
Josh