Timing chain set

gregcon said
So you mean a link type chain and not a roller type?

I think it's worth noting...chains don't really stretch. Rather, they 'seat in'. In other words, the metal isn't stretching...it's more a case of each of the hundreds of joints finding their final resting place relative to the others.

I coulda sworn the better chains were 'pre-stretched', meaning they were run under some tension to help accelerate that seating process.

Let's suppose you could take a 'stretched' chain off an engine with 20,000 miles on it. Then, reinstall it with slightly larger OD gears that used up the added length.....you'd have a tight chain again and I don't think it would keep 'stretching'.

Some of the slop comes from gear wear. I tried pre-stretched chains on my motorcycles and didn’t see any difference.

If you kept them very clean and lubed the chains would last better. But the chain wheels (sprockets) will wear no matter what you do. I’ve seen guys throw a new chain on old sprockets and on a 40 mile ride we would have to stop and tighten the chain several times.

By the time you’re back to the truck, the new chain was junk.

I hate chain drive anything, but at times it’s a necessary evil.