Here is a picture I took when the notch on my camshaft was lined up.

I went around twice to get it just right. Valves adjusted pretty easy. All of the intakes were close.. maybe a little too much clearance. All of the exhausts were tight.

Will I get better economy now? It did seem to have better low range power.

Is this showing 3 degrees of stretch? That is my analysis. Vehicle has 170k miles. I'm guessing with proper oil changes.. I can go till 200k or better without a problem

JP

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Yep, that's 3° or possibly less. You can go indefinitely if you keep the oil clean............

My SD has just about the same elongation at 185K.

My suspicion is that the chain is only at 0° when brand new. After 20K or so, it stretches to a certain point and remains there if the oil is changed religiously.

M/B has a different spec for a brand new chain versus a chain that has 20K on it.......IIRC.

Brian-

you are right on the ball as usual. Thanks.

Now can you take a look at the other thread I posted? air cleaner pics.

JP

Mein,

The timing chain doesn't stretch, it wears. The pins get a slight flat spot and the rollers get an elliptical hole thus the chain becomes longer.

BTW, It looks like 3* to me depending on how well U lined up the marks on the cam.

P E H

Yep that is the case. "chain stretch" is one of those ideas that make it sound like a piece of leather.

The gears will also wrear in the valleys changing the pitch and travel of the pins in the chain and wearing them out or round etc etc etc. You get the point.

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
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I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

It's a little out of focus due to closeness.

It may not be scientific "close" but it's about as good as I could do eyeball

JP

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