Timing belt tensioner blues

[Stevens Talon]

So for the 100th time (it feels like anyway) the timming belt tensioner has died. While i have sourced one the issue is becoming finding them for the 6bolt 4g63. What is the future looking like for this? Manual tensioner? Can the front cover(oil pump) be swaped to a 7 bolt to run a 7 bolt tensioner? Just trying to see what it is looking like with the parts markets failing us dsmers

 

[pauleyman]

So for the 100th time (it feels like anyway) the timming belt tensioner has died. While i have sourced one the issue is becoming finding them for the 6bolt 4g63. What is the future looking like for this? Manual tensioner? Can the front cover(oil pump) be swaped to a 7 bolt to run a 7 bolt tensioner? Just trying to see what it is looking like with the parts markers failing us dsmers

What vendors have you called?

 

[talon77]

It’s still on JNZ’s website for sale…? At least the website shows them still selling the OEM 6-bolt and the Gates tensioners.

OEM 6 Bolt Tensioner | JNZtuning.com

So for the 100th time (it feels like anyway) the timming belt tensioner has died. While i have sourced one the issue is becoming finding them for the 6bolt 4g63. What is the future looking like for this? Manual tensioner? Can the front cover(oil pump) be swaped to a 7 bolt to run a 7 bolt tensioner? Just trying to see what it is looking like with the parts markers failing us dsmers

 

[DSMPT]

the issue is becoming finding them for the 6bolt 4g63.

It is still available. You can easily find it at any stores that carry Mitsubishi parts. Just go to one of support vendor's website and search the part number MD164533.

Can the front cover(oil pump) be swaped to a 7 bolt to run a 7 bolt tensioner?

I think possible but that would require some work and a lot more parts.
I haven't tried this in a running car, so can't be 100% sure yet, but actually you can install a 2g/EVO 7 bolt tensioner on a 6 bolt engine by using a 2g/EVO tensioner arm, tensioner pulley. It would require a little modification on the water pump, timing belt cover and making a spacer but it would require much less work and parts than swapping the front case with a 7 bolt.
The pic below is a 6 bolt engine with 2g/EVO 7 bolt timing components.

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[Stevens Talon]

What vendors have you called?

Have called local dealerships and parts stores. I know i can still get them from some places as said by others on here and have one on the way, but from the info ive been recieving these tensiners are no longer produced so once the inventory outbthere is gone then what are our options

It is still available. You can easily find it at any stores that carry Mitsubishi parts. Just go to one of support vendor's website and search the part number MD164533.


I think possible but that would require some work and a lot more parts.
I haven't tried this in a running car, so can't be 100% sure yet, but actually you can install a 2g/EVO 7 bolt tensioner on a 6 bolt engine by using a 2g/EVO tensioner arm, tensioner pulley. It would require a little modification on the water pump, timing belt cover and making a spacer but it would require much less work and parts than swapping the front case with a 7 bolt.
The pic below is a 6 bolt engine with 2g/EVO 7 bolt timing components.

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More info on this such as what modificatiins have to be done would be appreciated

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

JNZ, Extreme PSI and STM all carry OEM and aftermarket timing tensioners. FYI

 

[Stevens Talon]

JNZ, Extreme PSI and STM all carry OEM and aftermarket timing tensioners. FYI

Yes they do but for how long? While they have them who is supplying them and for how long it seems getting parts for the 1g dsms is getting had all togeather

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I'd say, if you are worried, stock up. I have 3 DSM'S, so I have a spare for all if them, just in case. I build 1 or 2 a year so I also keep any old units that are still compressable and have no leakage. I had one I could press in by hand so it went straight to file 13. So far all of my engines have received a new tensioner.

 

[Stevens Talon]

Well i hope to do that but funds havent been on my side lately

 

[We're on Boost]

I think the day is fast approaching for the Mitsu Genuine tensioner to be not available, because Amayama already says the MD164533 is not available, "discontinued" and "out of production". You can still buy the tensioner pulley and the idler pulley from them but not the tensioner.

 

[Stevens Talon]

Were on boost im hearing the same info so the question im really looking at with this post is what does the future look like. We know the oem ones are running out. Does anyone or any manufactuer actully still produce them and if not what are the options. The parts supply all oround is struggling and dieing off fast for these cars. We have a few people trying combat that but the gap is large.. i have a 2nd talon thats got a bad 4g37 and parts for that are almost non existant. If i had known what i know now about 15 years ago id have stocked up on alot of differnet stuff for these cars

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Gates, PCI...There are aftermarket or solid tensioners for 4g63's. For the 4g37, a Google search brought this up.
Mitsubishi 4G32 4G37 Timing Tensioner TBT1713 - Austral https://share.google/mT9i59M7PVHSVyXMR

 

[FIBA M - EC17PSE]

This is why we have starting looking into making new rebuildable/serviceable hydraulic tensioners! We knew this day was fast approaching! We saw it some time ago.

We MAY have a new OEM 6 bolt kicking about but I would have to search and see if we really do have one!

Along with the new arms hopefully we will have the engines covered for years to come! Pic is of a 7 bolt but the 6 bolt will just be based on that mounting design but same concept

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[Stevens Talon]

Gates, PCI...There are aftermarket or solid tensioners for 4g63's. For the 4g37, a Google search brought this up.
Mitsubishi 4G32 4G37 Timing Tensioner TBT1713 - Austral https://share.google/mT9i59M7PVHSVyXMR

Oh the 4g37 timing set up is very different and simple but it's a sohc non interference motor

This is why we have starting looking into making new rebuildable/serviceable hydraulic tensioners! We knew this day was fast approaching! We saw it some time ago.

We MAY have a new OEM 6 bolt kicking about but I would have to search and see if we really do have one!

Along with the new arms hopefully we will have the engines covered for years to come! Pic is of a 7 bolt but the 6 bolt will just be based on that mounting design but same concept

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Fiba that would be awsome I've been seeing a lot of what you guys are doing and love all the stuff your working on. Already been watching for the 1gb quarter glass/hatch trim clips

 

[FIBA M - EC17PSE]

Oh the 4g37 timming set up is very different andbsimple butbits a sohc noninterference motor


Fiba that would be awsome iv been seeing a lot of what you guys arw doing and love all the stuff your working on. Already been watching for the 1gb quarter glass/hatch trim clips

Our goal is to keep the chassis and engines going strong for years to come. We ourselves need parts so it is a win win for everyone inc us.

We want to keep the car alive and helping everyone along the way is a big plus. That is what we are about for the DSM community. Everyones support counts and supports everyone in the community for the future also.

 

[DSMPT]

but from the info ive been recieving these tensiners are no longer produced

More info on this such as what modificatiins have to be done would be appreciated

Yeah it seems that the 6 bolt tensioner also lately got discontinued
Try to share as much as I know since this may be useful for someone. And if this works, we can still have the OEM tensioner in all of our engines until the 2g/EVO tensioner get discontinued. But as I mentioned above that I haven't tried this (2g/EVO 7 bolt tensioner in 6 bolt or 1g 7 bolt) in a running car yet. I see no reason not to work but there may be something I missed. So far below is what I can tell.

1:
Besides a 2g/EVO 7 bolt tensioner, it also requires a 2g/EVO tensioner arm and a 2g tensioner pulley.

2:
You have to replace the two water pump bolts that blue circled below (#1 and #5) with low profile head ones or grind down the OEM bolt head to clear the interference between the 2g arm and 2g tensioner with those bolts. Grinding would be just a few mm. Using common 5.5mm thickness head ones like the pic below would clear the interference.

3:
You need to grind the bottom of water pump and/or top of tensioner arm where red circled to make enough space for the tensioner push rod stroke. How much grinding would require depends on the water pump brand you use due to slightly different shape between manufacturers. Like the one in the pic below has a rounded bottom line. This may require less or no grinding. Some brand has more square-ish bottom line that probably would cause more interference.

4:
Remove one of three front case mounting bolts that are around RH balance shaft hole (balance shaft sprocket), the one at 4 o'clock. The yellow circled 2g 7 bolt tensioner bolt will go there and the other side bolt utilizes the upper 6 bolt tensioner bolt hole. And the 6 bolt front case doesn't have one of 7 bolt tensioner mounting bosses, so you need to put a spacer behind the yellow circled tensioner bolt/tab. I didn't measure the exact height but should be roughly 19mm height. In the pic below I put a transmission/block dowel pin, and it actually fits almost perfect. If the engine or the front case is off, welding an aluminum spacer may be safer. If you don't weld a spacer, you should apply some RTV on both side of the spacer.

5:
You have to block off the unused lower 6 bolt tensioner bolt hole where green circled. Just use a bit shorter bolt and apply some RTV under bolt head or use a crush washer to prevent oil leak.

6:
You have to trim the timing belt cover, the corner where red circled to clear the interference with 2g tensioner due to different angle and length from 6 bolt/1g 7 bolt tensioner.

For 1g 7 bolt :
Technically as above except the spacer, you won't need to make it because it has a 7 bolt front case. But you will need the 6 bolt or 2g 7 bolt tensioner bolts because the 1g 7 bolt tensioner bolts are too long for 2g/EVO 7 bolt tensioner.

I will update if I missed anything.

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