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Skunk2 Timing Tensioner
Part #: 340-05-0002
$179.88
$170.89
For each
For each
Free Shipping! *to continental U.S. only
Fits On:
K-Series Engine
Description:
Honda isn’t perfect. As good as its K-series engine is, its tensioner has its problems. But Skunk2 has the solution—its Pro Series Timing Chain Tensioner. It’s never been safer to run big cams in your K.
Timing chain tensioners are simple but important. Take Honda’s K-series, for example. The crankshaft keeps the intake side of the chain tight but it’s the tensioner’s job to do so for the exhaust side. Without it, the cams would start spinning but ultimately just sit there doing nothing. Honda’s design incorporates both spring pressure and engine oil pressure. At low engine speeds, when oil pressure is low, the tensioner’s internal spring moves its piston toward the timing chain guide, reducing chain slack. As engine speed and oil pressure rise, the spring relaxes and oil pressure pushes against the piston. But Honda’s spring doesn’t always work as you’d expect, and excess tensioner piston travel and timing chain slack when oil pressure is low is common—especially during start-up when the spring is left to control the exhaust cam slamming shut all by itself. All of this can lead to engine damage, even on unmodified engines. Worst of all, you’ll never know any of this is happening until it’s too late.
The problem is intensified once camshafts with aggressive closing ramps and/or stiffer valve springs are added. When the exhaust valves close while idling or during start-up, the tensioner’s piston slams back toward its housing, which causes its teeth to bash against its ratcheting mechanism. This isn’t a good thing since the ratchet and piston teeth are the only things that prevent the piston from being pushed in too far, which would otherwise lead to a dangerously loose timing chain that can potentially jump teeth, so keeping it intact becomes even more important. Once the piston’s teeth wear down, the safety mechanism’s gone. Meanwhile, as the tensioner’s spring struggles to resist the exhaust camshaft’s closing motion, the timing chain continues to slack, which is obvious by its kinking in the upper region near the camshaft gears. All of this is caused by a spring that’s too weak to counteract the exhaust valves slamming shut and weak, undersized piston teeth that wear from repeated bashing against their ratcheting mechanism. Until now, the solution was to “add a click” to the OEM tensioner, which reduces tensioner piston travel but doesn’t solve the overall problem. Stiffer springs have also been experimented with, but neither solution addresses the bashing effect and potential for worn piston teeth.
Skunk2’s K-series Timing Chain Tensioner fixes all of this. Pro Series Tensioners are machined from high-quality 7075-aluminum, heat-treated, and feature stiffer, OEM-quality springs that prevent the exhaust camshaft from slamming shut at low engine speeds and eliminate chain slack, even under low oil pressure conditions where the factory spring would have been compromised. Skunk2’s tensioner also includes an upgraded 16mm diameter piston (1.5mm larger) with a larger ratcheting mechanism featuring deeper and wider, hardened-steel ratcheting teeth for extra protection—the ultimate fail-safe to ensure against excessive piston travel due to worn teeth. Skunk2’s tensioner also fits tightly against the timing chain guide to ensure against rotational movement, which can exert uneven load against the ratcheting teeth. Even the factory-designed oil passages and check valves are retained, which means the tensioner remains lubricated and pressurized just as Honda intended.
Pro Series Timing Chain Tensioners underwent hundreds of hours of engine dyno testing in order to simulate the most extreme conditions possible, like low-rpm (low oil pressure) testing complete with some of the most aggressive camshaft and valve spring combinations available. Test engines were also repeatedly shut down and re-started to recreate the harshest timing chain tensioner environments possible.
Have you eliminated your K-series’ weakest link?
FEATURES:
High-Grade, 7075 Aluminum Construction
Stiffer, OEM-Quality Spring
Larger And Stronger Internal Piston
Larger And Stronger Ratcheting Mechanism
Retains OEM Oil Passages And Check Valves
Honda isn’t perfect. As good as its K-series engine is, its tensioner has its problems. But Skunk2 has the solution—its Pro Series Timing Chain Tensioner. It’s never been safer to run big cams in your K.
Timing chain tensioners are simple but important. Take Honda’s K-series, for example. The crankshaft keeps the intake side of the chain tight but it’s the tensioner’s job to do so for the exhaust side. Without it, the cams would start spinning but ultimately just sit there doing nothing. Honda’s design incorporates both spring pressure and engine oil pressure. At low engine speeds, when oil pressure is low, the tensioner’s internal spring moves its piston toward the timing chain guide, reducing chain slack. As engine speed and oil pressure rise, the spring relaxes and oil pressure pushes against the piston. But Honda’s spring doesn’t always work as you’d expect, and excess tensioner piston travel and timing chain slack when oil pressure is low is common—especially during start-up when the spring is left to control the exhaust cam slamming shut all by itself. All of this can lead to engine damage, even on unmodified engines. Worst of all, you’ll never know any of this is happening until it’s too late.
The problem is intensified once camshafts with aggressive closing ramps and/or stiffer valve springs are added. When the exhaust valves close while idling or during start-up, the tensioner’s piston slams back toward its housing, which causes its teeth to bash against its ratcheting mechanism. This isn’t a good thing since the ratchet and piston teeth are the only things that prevent the piston from being pushed in too far, which would otherwise lead to a dangerously loose timing chain that can potentially jump teeth, so keeping it intact becomes even more important. Once the piston’s teeth wear down, the safety mechanism’s gone. Meanwhile, as the tensioner’s spring struggles to resist the exhaust camshaft’s closing motion, the timing chain continues to slack, which is obvious by its kinking in the upper region near the camshaft gears. All of this is caused by a spring that’s too weak to counteract the exhaust valves slamming shut and weak, undersized piston teeth that wear from repeated bashing against their ratcheting mechanism. Until now, the solution was to “add a click” to the OEM tensioner, which reduces tensioner piston travel but doesn’t solve the overall problem. Stiffer springs have also been experimented with, but neither solution addresses the bashing effect and potential for worn piston teeth.
Skunk2’s K-series Timing Chain Tensioner fixes all of this. Pro Series Tensioners are machined from high-quality 7075-aluminum, heat-treated, and feature stiffer, OEM-quality springs that prevent the exhaust camshaft from slamming shut at low engine speeds and eliminate chain slack, even under low oil pressure conditions where the factory spring would have been compromised. Skunk2’s tensioner also includes an upgraded 16mm diameter piston (1.5mm larger) with a larger ratcheting mechanism featuring deeper and wider, hardened-steel ratcheting teeth for extra protection—the ultimate fail-safe to ensure against excessive piston travel due to worn teeth. Skunk2’s tensioner also fits tightly against the timing chain guide to ensure against rotational movement, which can exert uneven load against the ratcheting teeth. Even the factory-designed oil passages and check valves are retained, which means the tensioner remains lubricated and pressurized just as Honda intended.
Pro Series Timing Chain Tensioners underwent hundreds of hours of engine dyno testing in order to simulate the most extreme conditions possible, like low-rpm (low oil pressure) testing complete with some of the most aggressive camshaft and valve spring combinations available. Test engines were also repeatedly shut down and re-started to recreate the harshest timing chain tensioner environments possible.
Have you eliminated your K-series’ weakest link?
FEATURES:
High-Grade, 7075 Aluminum Construction
Stiffer, OEM-Quality Spring
Larger And Stronger Internal Piston
Larger And Stronger Ratcheting Mechanism
Retains OEM Oil Passages And Check Valves
At Skunk2 Racing their goal is to build the highest quality and best performing aftermarket parts for today's sport compact cars. Skunk2 Racing products are designed for enthusiasts by enthusiasts. Drawing on nearly a decade of experience in the sport compact industry, they are able to create products that cater to the needs of the true enthusiast. As part of their commitment to continually build the best products, Skunk2 Racing remains actively involved in various forms of motorsports. Racing provides them with the data necessary to produce high performance parts utilizing innovative design, advanced metal alloys, cutting-edge manufacturing methods, and stringent quality control measures. All Skunk2 Racing products are carefully planned and designed using the latest computer simulation and modeling techniques, followed by careful testing in controlled laboratory environments using state of the art equipment. Furthermore, each product is subjected to rigorous road and race testing to ensure proper performance in the most extreme conditions. For these reasons, top street cars and race cars around the world rely on Skunk2 Racing products.
If you aren't yet convinced of the quality of Skunk 2 products, check out their track record:
• 1999 - Skunk 2 finished in drag racing with a perfect season.
• 2000 - The Skunk2 Integra was the first naturally aspirated car to run 10 seconds; it would take another year and a half for the competition to do the same.
• 2000, 2001, and 2002 - All Hondas finishing on the podium in World Challenge utilized Skunk2 parts or Skunk2 engines.
• 2005 - Marked the return of Project Beta and the Skunk2 Team once again redefined the standard of speed and performance by smashing its own records.
If you aren't yet convinced of the quality of Skunk 2 products, check out their track record:
• 1999 - Skunk 2 finished in drag racing with a perfect season.
• 2000 - The Skunk2 Integra was the first naturally aspirated car to run 10 seconds; it would take another year and a half for the competition to do the same.
• 2000, 2001, and 2002 - All Hondas finishing on the podium in World Challenge utilized Skunk2 parts or Skunk2 engines.
• 2005 - Marked the return of Project Beta and the Skunk2 Team once again redefined the standard of speed and performance by smashing its own records.
Q: What is a timing chain? Why buy one?
A: Timing chains are one of the most crucial components inside your motor. As the crankshaft spins around and the pistons go up and down, it is crucial that the camshafts open up the valves in precise synchronicity with the rise and fall of the pistons. If the order is even slightly off a piston could collide with a valve destroying your motor and causing costly repairs. Over time your original timing chain will wear, stretch and fatigue. This can cause the timing to go slightly out of whack, but more importantly puts the chain at risk for breaking. Replacement timing chains will ensure that your motor stays running reliably and in perfect tune for many years to come. Performance timing chains are also available and provide additional strength for high performance applications. Many of these performance units also include adjustable timing gears which allow you to precisely dial in your vehicle’s cam timing for maximum power. This type of tuning is especially important if you are running a high lift or long duration aftermarket cam shaft.
A: Timing chains are one of the most crucial components inside your motor. As the crankshaft spins around and the pistons go up and down, it is crucial that the camshafts open up the valves in precise synchronicity with the rise and fall of the pistons. If the order is even slightly off a piston could collide with a valve destroying your motor and causing costly repairs. Over time your original timing chain will wear, stretch and fatigue. This can cause the timing to go slightly out of whack, but more importantly puts the chain at risk for breaking. Replacement timing chains will ensure that your motor stays running reliably and in perfect tune for many years to come. Performance timing chains are also available and provide additional strength for high performance applications. Many of these performance units also include adjustable timing gears which allow you to precisely dial in your vehicle’s cam timing for maximum power. This type of tuning is especially important if you are running a high lift or long duration aftermarket cam shaft.
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