SM IE: Adjusting tension of the timing chains

The engine is noisy and this noise is, I think, coming from the secondary timing chains. The professional mechanics who could fix this problem are not available, so I decide to check myself the timing chains tension. I can easily do it myself, and that way I will know how.

One more time, I prepare this work with the forum of the SM Club de France. I ask questions to this forum experts because I have a doubt about how exactly doing it, even if I have all related documentation. I’m told to use a torque wrench to apply to required tension.

As usual on a SM, the longer step is to remove everything needed to have a correct access. Is this case, the intake manifolds have to be removed to gain access to the head covers.

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I leave the fuel hoses and injectors in place

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I take pictures to help me put everything back together if needed

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I’ll take the opportunity to do a little cleaning

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About 1.5 hours to remove the two intake manifolds. Next time it will be faster 😉

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Here is how it looks like when removed, it’s like a carburetor SM

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It’s not very nice

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On the right side, access is even more difficult, because of the fan assembly and the handbrake cable

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Here is the first head cover removed. With such an easy access, I replace the spark plugs

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I turn a wheel by hand to reach the Top Dead Center (piston 1 for the right side and piston 6 for the left one) as best as I can and I apply tension with the torque wrench

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A little cleaning of the head cover, a new gasket and one more torque wrench application to tighten back the cover

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Same work for the right side but more difficulties because of limited access (the head cover is difficult to remove)

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I put back all parts, here the two intake manifolds

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After 5 to 6 hours of work, everything is back together

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With clean intake manifolds and head covers, it’s nicer

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I checked multiple times that I didn’t forget something and I confirmed my doubts with the pictures I took

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I start the engine. Everything goes well first, but the alternator belt quickly brakes

After a full day of work, not so much results. The timing chains tension didn’t eliminate the engine noise and the alternator belt is making troubles again.

I’ll have to investigate deeper this engine noise. It could be the main timing chain, if its tensioner or limiter is damaged. The main problem is that it’s almost impossible to access this main chain. The engine should be removed but that’s very difficult because my garage is not available, my other SM is in it, and I cannot do this work outside. There is a way to inspect the main timing chain by the lower engine, removing the oil pan, that’s what I’ll have to do as a first step.

About the alternator belt, it’s not so bad and I knew I had to do something. It seems that when the battery is in good shape, this belt is not working so hard so she’s fine, but when a bigger load comes she can’t handle it probably because of a bad alignment. During my work on the timing chains, I left the trunk open (to cool off the interior) thinking that the trunk inside light was not working, but this time the light decided to work and it eventually weakened the battery. So I did my best to realign the alternator, without actual alignment tool, to have a better looking alignment. We’ll see if it works.