Cam chain tensioner

Paul I've found the best way to put your hands on the bolt is to reach it from underneath the car.

 

Paul,
check with GT Car Parts, T Rutlands or Tom Shannassy. No worries about the part, it's available. If you trouble, let us know, we will help further

 

Paul,
the chain should not be loose on either side. If you have anymore then a few mm's of play, the tensioner needs to be adjusted. Look into the rails that the chain rides on, if you see metal and rubber, they need to be replaced. If this is the case, let me know, I have a superior solution.

 

Paul

Access is from below as Dave indicted. I duly cut up an 8mm Allen wrench per the manual but it was not the tool of choice. It is hard to get a straight shot with the wrench so previous "techs" rounded off the inner end of the bolt. However, Ferrari had plan B. The bolt is drilled at 90 degrees and you can use a thin steel drift pin to turn the adjuster. In either case you need to loosen the lock nut first. I found an inch size shorty open end (Craftsman) that did the trick. I could only find the right size mm wrenches in longer lengths and space is at a premium.

To answer your other question. No the chain should not be noisy! However, the adjustment procedure is adjust until noisy and then back off a quarter turn (I think 1/4 turn). So if you are noisy are you too tight or too loose? My bet is too loose. After driving 4000 miles since purchase I decided to tighten the chain since it is recommended at 5000 mile intervals and who knows when it was done last? My chain was quiet before beginning. I was able to tighten about 1/5 turns before I gave up with the task, and I back off a bit. I never got to the point that it got noticeably noisy. The end result is that my already quiet chain is even quieter now. As I will be putting similar miles on this year, I plan to do the same next winter except I will remove the lock nut and clean the bolt threads so that it will adjust easier.

If you need the wrench size let me know.
Ken

 

Ken's post is right on (thanks from all of us)

We need someone to post a "step by step" procedure on this task. We all need to do this to our cars and I'll bet 85% of the cars out there haven't had this service in over 10 years.

 

Bill Pollard did mine last year!

Aidan

 

you loosen the chain intill it becomes noisey then tighen a quater turn more from that point.

 

I just saw a typo in my post. I was able to adjust the screw about one and one half turns in and then I back off about 1/4 turn.

Yes, I figure mine was not done in some time. Once every 5000 miles sounds like overkill (Ferrari techs love those recommendations), but with all the tools in hand I will do it again next winter and then I can decide the right frequency.
Ken

 

I agaree with Ken,
once a year is plenty. Most important thing to remember about owning a Ferrari, especally an old one, IS TO DRIVE THE DAMN THING. Miles are the best insurance for keeping things in check.

B3

 

Being lazy here sorry. I didn't feel like sending 2 PM's.

Aidan and Paul........your wine is on the way. Paul yours should show Thursday, Aidan on Friday.