Chain tensioner rail lining question.
 

I have an om 617.912 engine installed in my 240D. Today I was adjusting the valves and noticed that the lining on the tensioner rail was completely gone. Did they install rails on the old engines that did not have a lining? If not, will this cause a problem in the next few thousand miles until I can replace it? There does not seem to be any groves or such cut into the metal rail.

Thanks for any ideas.

I thought the rails are plastic, at least in my OM 616 they are, and in nice shape at around 78,000 miles.

chain rail material
 

If you're talking about the main tensioner rail, I thought it was aluminum with a hard plastic coating. I questioned this with an earlier thread because I bought new ones for my OM617 & the main rail had a hard rubber compound on it. I questioned Germanstar(the supplier) about it & was told it was okay, it's a German part. I'm still a little apprehensive about using it. Paul.

'84 300CD

Aluminum with plastic coating sounds far more logical than just plastic, always suspected it had to be metal to deal with the stress there.