We independently tension the timing chain on the VAZ 2106

If under the hood of the VAZ 2106 suddenly something began to ring and rattle, then this does not bode well. Neither the engine nor the driver. Most likely, the timing chain under the cylinder block cover was so loose and loose that it began to hit the tensioner shoe and damper. Can you tighten a slack chain yourself? Yes. Let's figure out how it's done.

Appointment of the timing chain on the VAZ 2106

The timing chain in the engine of a VAZ 2106 car connects two shafts - the crankshaft and the timing shaft. Both shafts are equipped with toothed sprockets, on which the chain is put on.

The timing chain is put on two sprockets, one of which is attached to the timing shaft, the other to the crankshaft.

After starting the engine, the chain ensures the synchronous rotation of the two above shafts. If synchronism is violated for some reason, this leads to malfunctions in the operation of the entire gas distribution mechanism of the car. In addition, there are malfunctions in the operation of the cylinders, after which the car owner notes the appearance of failures in engine power, poor response of the car to pressing the gas pedal and increased fuel consumption.

Learn how to replace the timing chain: https://bumper.guru/klassicheskie-modeli-vaz/grm/zamena-tsepi-vaz-2106.html

Timing chain characteristics

Timing chains are installed on classic VAZ cars, which differ only in the number of links. The length of the chains is the same:

• a chain of 2101 links is installed on VAZ 2105 and VAZ 114 cars, the length of which varies from 495.4 to 495.9 mm, and the link length is 8.3 mm;
• on VAZ 2103 and VAZ 2106 cars, chains of the same length are installed, but they already have 116 links. The link length is 7.2 mm.

The timing chain pins on the VAZ 2106 are made of high-quality alloy steel, which has high strength and wear resistance.

Checking export timing chains

A car owner who decides to find out the degree of wear of the timing chain on the VAZ 2106 will have to solve a very difficult task. The fact is that a worn and stretched chain outwardly differs little from a new one. On the old chain, as a rule, there are no serious mechanical damages, and it is almost impossible to notice the wear of its pins with the naked eye.

But there is one simple wear test that every car enthusiast should be aware of. It is carried out as follows: a piece of the old chain about 20 cm long is taken from one side, placed horizontally, and then turned in the hand so that the chain pins are perpendicular to the floor.

If the overhang angle of the timing chain does not exceed 10-20 degrees, the chain is considered new

After that, the overhang angle of the chain is estimated. If the hanging segment of the chain deviates from the horizontal by 10–20 degrees, the chain is new. If the overhang angle is 45–50 degrees or more, the timing chain is badly worn and needs to be replaced.

There is a second, more accurate method for determining timing chain wear. But here the car owner will need a caliper. On an arbitrary section of the chain, it is necessary to count eight links (or 16 pins), and use a vernier caliper to measure the distance between the extreme pins. It should be no more than 122.6 mm.

The measurement of the chain with a caliper should be carried out at least in three places

Then another random section of the chain for 16 pins is selected, and the measurement is repeated. Then the third, last section of the chain is measured. If in at least one measured area the distance between the extreme pins exceeded 122.6 mm, the chain is worn out and should be replaced.

Signs of a Poorly Adjusted Circuit

When people talk about a poorly adjusted chain, they usually mean a chain that is loose and slack. Because a tightly stretched chain does not show any signs of breakage. She just rips. Here are the main signs that the timing chain is loose:

• after starting the engine, a loud rattle and blows are heard from under the hood, the frequency of which increases as the crankshaft speed increases. This is due to the fact that the slack chain continuously hits the damper and tension shoe;
• the car does not respond well to pressing the gas pedal: the engine starts to increase speed only after one or two seconds after pressing. This is due to the fact that due to the sagging chain, the synchronization of rotation of the timing shaft and the crankshaft is disturbed;
• there are power failures in the engine. Moreover, they can occur both when accelerating and when the engine is idling. Due to the desynchronization of the operation of the shafts, which was mentioned above, the operation of the cylinders in the motor is also disrupted. In this case, one cylinder either does not work at all, or works, but not at full strength;
• increase in fuel consumption. If the cylinder block does not work properly, this cannot but affect fuel consumption. It can increase by a third, and in especially severe cases - by half.

Read about replacing the tensioner shoe: https://bumper.guru/klassicheskie-modeli-vaz/grm/natyazhitel-tsepi-vaz-2106.html

If the driver has noticed one or more of the above signs, this only means one thing: it's time to remove the timing chain and check for wear. If it is badly worn, it will have to be replaced. If the wear is negligible, the chain can simply be slightly tightened.

How to tighten the timing chain on a VAZ 2106

Before proceeding with tightening the sagging timing chain, let's decide on the tools that we need to work. Here they are:

• open-end wrench for 14;
• open-end wrench 36 (it will be required in order to turn the crankshaft);
• socket head 10 with a knob.

Sequencing

Before adjusting the chain, you will have to perform one preparatory operation: remove the air filter. The fact is that his body will not allow you to get to the timing chain. The filter is held on by four nuts by 10, which are easy to unscrew.

1. After removing the air filter housing, access to the car carburetor opens. On the side of it is the gas thrust. It is detached with a 10mm socket.
   

   The gas draft on the VAZ 2106 is removed with a 10 socket wrench
2. A lever is attached to the rod. It is removed by hand.
   

   To remove the traction lever from the VAZ 2106, no special tools are required
3. Then the hose is removed from the bracket, supplying gasoline to the carburetor.
   

   When removing the fuel hose, it should be squeezed tighter so that gasoline from it does not spill into the engine
4. Using a 10 socket wrench, the bolts holding the cylinder block cover are unscrewed.
   

   The cylinder block cover is held on by six 10 bolts, turned off with a socket head
5. In the engine, near the air pump, there is a cap nut that holds the tensioner. It is loosened with an open-end wrench by 14.
   

   If the cap nut is not loosened first, the crankshaft cannot be rotated.
6. As soon as the cap nut is sufficiently loosened, the chain tensioner will discharge with a characteristic click. But sometimes the click is not heard. This means that the tension fitting is clogged or rusted, so you will have to gently tap the fitting with an open-end wrench to discharge the tensioner.
7. After that, you should slightly press the timing chain from the side (usually this is enough to understand whether the chain is sagging or not).
8. Now, with the help of a 36 open-end wrench, the crankshaft of the car turns two turns clockwise (the tension of the timing chain will increase, and it will become increasingly difficult to turn the timing shaft).
9. When the chain reaches maximum tension, and it will be impossible to turn the crankshaft with a key, it is necessary to tighten the cap nut of the tensioner with the second open-end wrench by 14 (in this case, the crankshaft must be held all the time with a key by 38, if this is not done, it will turn in the opposite direction, and the chain weaken immediately).
10. After tightening the cap nut, the chain tension must be manually checked again. After pressing on the middle of the chain, no slack should be observed.
    

    When pressing on the timing chain, no slack should be felt.
11. The cylinder block cover is installed in place, after which the timing system components are reassembled.
12. The final stage of adjustment: checking the operation of the circuit. The hood of the car remains open, and the engine starts. After that, you need to listen carefully. No rattle, ringing or other extraneous sounds should be heard from the timing unit. If everything is in order, the timing chain adjustment can be considered complete.
13. If the car owner is faced with the task of not tightening, but slightly loosening the chain, then all of the above steps should be done in reverse order.

Video: we independently tension the timing chain on the "classic"

How to tension the camshaft drive chain VAZ-2101-2107.

About malfunctions of the tensioner

The timing chain tensioner on the VAZ 2106 is a system consisting of three important elements:

• tension shoe fitting;
• tension shoe;
• timing chain damper.

The timing chain tensioner on the VAZ 2106 is a complex system consisting of several elements

About replacing the timing chain damper: https://bumper.guru/klassicheskie-modeli-vaz/grm/uspokoitel-tsepi-vaz-2106.html

All malfunctions of the tensioning mechanism are somehow related to wear or breakage of one of the above elements:

• breakage of the tensioner. It can occur both due to mechanical wear of this part, and due to its corrosion. Whatever the reason, the result is the same: the tension shoe stops moving out and puts pressure on the timing chain. As a result, the chain loses stability, begins to dangle and hit the damper, and in especially severe cases, it flies off the guide sprockets or breaks. There is only one solution: replace the tension fitting. This part cannot be repaired, since its body cannot be disassembled (and even if the body were collapsible, it is not possible to find spare parts for the tension fitting on sale);
• failure of the timing chain damper. The damper breaks either due to fatigue failure of the metal, or due to a weakened timing chain, the blows of which led to the loosening of the fixing bolts, followed by the breakage of the damper. The second case is the most dangerous, since broken bolts and parts of the damper can lead to a broken timing chain. And this, in turn, will lead to damage to the valves, cylinders and to a complete seizure of the motor. It is far from always possible to eliminate such a breakdown, even with the help of an expensive overhaul. Solution: Replace damper. The reason is simple: the damper is a very important part, and, for example, no one will restore it by welding. There is only one condition: the new calmer should not be Chinese, but a real VAZ one;
  

  Timing chain guide from VAZ 2106, broken due to fatigue failure
• tension shoe wear. The working surface of the tension shoe is coated with a thick layer of a special polymer material that is resistant to abrasion. But even this material cracks and thins over time, which leads to vibration during the operation of the timing chain. Vibration is accompanied by characteristic shocks, the frequency of which increases with increasing engine speed. Since it is not possible to restore the damaged polymer layer without special industrial equipment, there is only one way out: replace the worn tension shoe with a new one;
  

  It can be seen that the polymer surface of the VAZ 2106 tension shoe is already quite worn out and covered with scratches
• Timing chain is not tensioned. This is observed if the chain is already stretched to the limit, and the crankshaft is simply impossible to turn with an open-end wrench. The second option is also possible: the car owner, who decided to tighten the chain, did not sufficiently loosen the cap nut holding the tensioner, or the tensioner fitting did not discharge due to a breakdown. The solution is obvious: check the condition of the cap nut and fitting, and troubleshoot as indicated above.

So, tensioning a sagging timing chain does not require any special skills or knowledge. This task is quite within the power of even a novice motorist who at least once held a wrench in his hands. All you have to do is follow the instructions above exactly.