New TCT leaking
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 13,829
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From: Chesterfield VA
One thing I’ll admit is that I couldn’t get the TCT flush to the block before I torqued it there was probably a 2mm gap that I assumed it was the O-ring not wanting to squeeze in.
?-- Chuck
Joined: Jul 2013
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I am not saying that the TCT will self destruct if you have a leaking *edit:VTEC top gasket. I think that's being a bit hyperbolic. If you want to put my theory to the test, loosen but don't unbolt the VTEC solenoid top bolts with the engine running, and tell me if the TCT starts rattling. It did for me, because I'm careless and forgot to torque the bolts down, and when I tightened the bolts, the noise went away. For the record I have a Billman TCT I got from a part out. My theory is backed up by my own F-up.
Joined: Jul 2013
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Okay I’ll do some more investigating when I get home. I doubt it is the vtec solenoid as there was no leak before I changed the TCT. One thing I’ll admit is that I couldn’t get the TCT flush to the block before I torqued it there was probably a 2mm gap that I assumed it was the O-ring not wanting to squeeze in. I hesitated to torque it but when I watched a couple YouTube videos it looked like the people installing them also had a small gap there before tightening so I went for it but maybe that was the wrong move. I did not realize the ballade sports stuff had such a bad reputation or I would have bought an alternative. To be honest I don’t think there was anything wrong with my OEM tensioner yet I just wanted to do preventative maintenence. Should I try putting that one back in? I gotta figure out how to compress it again.. and the ballade sports one for that matter.
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Chesterfield VA
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,424
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From: Great White North
With a Billman TCT or Honda TCT you pull a pin and that's it. No bolts/wing nut to deal with it. If it's not set correctly you'll have an over tightened chain and shred your engine apart.
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Joined: Nov 2020
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Okay well that sucks then, it looked like the guys on the 2 videos I watched also overtensioned there’s aswell then. I tried manually cranking the engine and it only got pushed out more so When I got it back to the 2mm gap I thought that was gonna be as good as it would get. I didn’t drive the car but it idled for a few minutes and I revved it in neutral for like 20 seconds.... do you think I did permanent damage to my timing chain?... I’m going to go take it out in a few minutes I guess. So what should I do try to reinstall it correctly? I still not know how to compress it now that it’s in. Should I try to make a pin for my oem?
