lawl.

Sounds good man.

 

Because free is better than $150 or whatever it is for a new one? I'm baffled why you wouldn't want to save $150?

That means $150 more dollars I can spend on another set of Hoosiers.
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Because I would rather fix it right than patch repair something as critical as a timing chain tensioner. If $150 is going to make or break you, maybe you shouldn't be buying hoosiers. My idea of saving money on Hoosiers is not buying the after market accessories. Maybe I just see this as a more important item than most. Unfortunatly I think the real problem is ownership dillution due to drop in price of the S2000. People who cant afford to maintain one properly, but can afford to buy one. I think it all comes full circle that I'm an old timer and I can promise you this conversation would not be happening 5-7 years ago. Oh well.
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The reason why people do the sandblasting/drill hole/buy a billman one is because simply replacing with a new one doesn't work. I tried that quite a few years ago and the new one went bad within 6 months. The next time I got the worm gear sandblasted and I have not had the problem since. We are talking at least 4 years now.

I would normally agree with you on fixing it right but in this particular case honda got it wrong with their TCT.
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Now this is good info I was not aware of. And also changes my reasoning. I'm all for repairing something, but knowing why you repair something is important vs just doing it to save cash. What I remember was the units would fail to maintain residual oil in the tensioner, and upon first start up (before oil pressure got to the unit) it would click. I need to do some research on what Billman (there is a name I haven't heard in years) does to his to modify the OEM unit.

Cheers for the quailty discussion.

 

kuruma - The issue with a bad TCT is that the worm gear has lost its rougher/more porous surface finish due to a hundred thousand miles of oil flowing over the surface and basically eroding the surface smooth, much like a pebble you find in a river that has been smoothed by the years of flowing water. The more coarse and porous surface of the worm gear is what helped provide tension inside the assembly onto the TCT as oil flows over it. If the surface is smooth, you lose this surface friction and therefore lose tension on the timing chain. This failure mode doesn't involve loss of residual oil causing a quick hiccup on start up. Its a continuous loss of tension on the timing chain, which results in a constant whirring or light clicking at idle/cruise.

By taking apart the assembly and sandblasting the worm gear, you restore a more coarse and porous surface finish to the worm gear, removing the smooth surface finish that time and oil wear have caused. This restores the surface friction on the unit as oil passes over it, thus restoring proper tension on the timing chain.

A very good DIY article was published on this site, which is why so many have the confidence to repair the TCT instead of buying a new one all together. The side effect of DIY repair versus new replacement is saving $150.

https://www.s2ki.com/home/2012/02/08...ain-tensioner/

 

I bought mine from Billman and the general idea is that the OEM design is somewhow flawed, i dont recall how, but its beyond just needing to sandblast the worm gear.
The part he sells is on a core exchange basis and it's a fully put together part where you just take out your old one and put the new one in, and his part is somehow a better design, but again i dont recall excactly how. I guess it just prevents it from needing to sandblast it again?

 

Gotcha, I'd be interested to know what else he modifies in his.

Here's mine pulled out and apart today. Blasting and reinstalling tomorrow.

 

Three ways to fix the TCT:
Blast it, drill it, or spring it.

One way to waste money and have the problem return in less that 10k miles:
Replace the unit with a new one.

As said in the previous posts, Honda screwed up on the TCT.

The drill method adds more oil volume to the unit and holds the chain in a better position.

All three methods change the ratio of forward oil pressure vs. reward thrust from the chain arm.

 

He will not divulge that information. Call it a patent secret. It's guaranteed for life by him. I have one myself just waiting to install some day(before this TCT starts to tick).

 

^Figured, and I can't blame him. Having taken mine apart I can see where drilling out the oil hole as mentioned in the first post would help apply more oil pressure to the system. I sandblasted my worm gear and the inside of the piston this morning and put everything back together during lunch. Drove it back to work and the TCT flutter noise is gone! I guess we'll see how long it lasts.

 

nice! let us know if you have any further issues.

If you do, just contact billman, he'll send you one and once you install his, send yours back to him and you're good to go. Like mentioned, it's guaranteed for life from him, and his reputation speaks for itself.

 

Hey coolguy 94 have u drilled it yet or just sandblasted the tct....