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Timing Chain?

G

Greeney in France

Bloody nice bloke actualy
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When I started the La poste van today after a good couple of weeks not running I noticed a "noise" It seemed to come from the back of the engine.
it gradually gets quieter over 10mins and you can't really hear it when revving. Can they get noisy timing chains? that was my first thought, anyone else have any miraculous ideas without hearing it?:rolleyes:
 
what year is van
850s about 1976 had funny clocwork type spring (for a short while pretty sure they went back to older hydraulic sliper tensioner on later cars as not too reliable)
think problem was because of w/pump and alternator loading camshaft too much
other renaults same year were only turning valve gear hence no problems
check official workshop manual??
 
I am afraid I dont know actually until tomorrow I bought the van from someone "passing" (known in the vicinity) he promises I will get the carte gris sunday. I cant even buy stuff for it as most places here ask for carte gris before they sell you anything:rolleyes:
I have presumed it mid 80s though by style it has the electric fan on the rad instead of the belt driven and discs on the front the oval plaque says 210B
 
Acording to Angel:
angel said:
R2108 fourgonette with elevated roof and 852cc spanish built engine
Click to expand...
If it is that one the tensioner could be any type - the Spanish seemed to make Renault 4s from bits they had lying around. Though I'd be surprised if it is that type as they didn't normally let then out of Spain. :D
 
If it is 210B (different from 2108) it is a van with a "B" engine (3-bearing) 845cc.
All 3-bearing engines (with timing chain) had hydraulic tensioners, thier difference was the initial preload system, but they are interchangeable. The "clockwork spring" tensioner was to be found on some 5-bearing engines.
This hydraulic tensioner is being fed by oil through a very fine wire mesh filter. This can be clogged, so that's why you hear the rattle, until oil pressure has built up in the tensioner. It seems strange that it goes away in 10 minutes, though. Are you sure it is from the chain?
An easy way to check for excessive timing chain wear is to grab the camshaft pulley and try to rotate it back and forth, there should be no play.
 
How do I check this wire mesh filter?
The engine runs beautifully with no noise when warm even after weeks not starting it starts first or second turn. There is no smoke apart from a bit on choke obviously but choke goes in within 30seconds and it is fine.
No I am not sure if its the chain it was just my first impression as it seems to be coming from the back end.
Il try the pulley tomorrow thank you
 
Oh god I feel another restoration coming on... I took the lights out of my G Wagen to change from driving on the right to driving on the left and ended up doing a bare metal respray :eek:
R4 Engine out means all painted up and detailed, well its that close to the body i may as well take the body off:roll: here goes again...
 
Come on get it together - that's not the Renault 4 spirit. Much more fun to watch then go on for ever, and bolt bits back on only after they fall off. :D

How about the Renault 3? I've been hoping to see the gallery filled with lots of R3 photos before now. That one could do with preserving.
 
Sorry I have got it but I dropped my digi cam in the dogs bowl..."Sounds a bit like a sorry I dint do my omework" excuse
I am however really pleased, it was well stored, covered in rat poo and straw and a mummified rat but generally very good considering it has nt been out of the barn since 1986
engine still moves free.
I will get some as soon as I can beg borrow or steal a camera
My R3 is number 103 if I read the plate correctly
 
hi again
like the way you can go slightly off topic here and no one complains

back to topic

angel way back in 1980 had to take engine out of 1976 r reg 845cc as tensioner fell to bits
renault supplied a kit to change it back to older type (was def clock work spring type)

there was definitly a ( loose )technical note about it in the back of an old factory manual ive got somewhere?

my turn to go off topic now
just remembered that car was supplied by ministry as disabled conversion with hand controls and
vacuum servo clutch cable on gearstick!!
was very low spec ,no openning windows rear doors ,no rubber mats on rear wheel aches , think also had plain black card doortrims as well
anybody else seen or heard about these cars
paul
 
Did the spring type chain tensioner resemble that of the 1100cc engine? (external spring). It may had been a temporary sloution for Renault...
I have never heard about a disabled conversion kit for the R4. It may be from an aftermarket firm (as all those conversions are) but it seems very interesting. Renault officially listed a driving school conversion kit in the '70s though.
The trim you describe is the base model (4L in 1976), unusual to most of us but rather popular in France.
 
Best way to cange these is to cut a hole in the bulkhead, repair it from inside the car then weld it back up again :-)
 
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