Timing Chain Tensioner Questions
 

I am in the process of replacing my head with one that I got from EBay. This is going into my 81 300SD and When I got the head from ebay they said it was for an 81-85 300SD, no specific year or engine number. Anyways, the timing chain tensioner on the "new" head was broken so I used the one from my "old" head. While tightening the bolts the "old" tensioner broke. Now, my questions.
1. Is there any different sizes for these engines for these tensioners?
2. Does anybody know where I could get one of the "new" styles?

I am attaching two pics the first will be my "old"(Smaller) tensioner and the second will be my "new"(Bigger) tensioner.

The parts catalog shows an original part number and a replacement part number. No detail to suggest one kind vs the other. Have you looked at what's available at FastLane (link at the top of the page)? Looks like the one that came with the new head.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

SIXTO,

I've already sent an email to Phil asking if he could help me and am awaiting his response. The "new" head came with the bigger more rusted & oily looking tensioner in the pics and the one shown in fastlane looks like the one from my "old" head, the smaller cleaner one.

I believe you want the smaller one. could be the one from e-bay was missing a tensioner, so one from another engine was slapped on to make it "whole"

You say it broke when tightening the bolts? Be sure to push the ram out or the tensioner and slide it back into the big end before trying to set it against the timing chain. You will need to clean it and replace the spring as it was before when doing that. The idea is to shorten the length and let it extend as needed once in place. Otherwire you could easily overextend the tighener and bend it/ break it again.