[dlearl476]

I think we need to start a letter writing campaign to Porsche Classic to see if we can persuade them to make another run of tensioners.



In case youre not aware, there are no more tensioners. Anywhere. Which means if yours goes bad, your engine is a boat anchor.

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[Waylander]

Well not quite, you can modify and use an S2 tensioner



But I spoke to Aisin directly, still have the emails somewhere

They assure me all the technical stuff for making more including the casting moulds have been destroyed many years ago

Not sure letter writing will help much, as the redevelopment and manufacturing will not be economically viable

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[ds968]

I would think S2 tensioners would also be NLA…

 

But how about a tensioner recreated with a 3 D printer  ?   Is that even feasible  ?   And if it is, is it economically viable ? 

 

( the NLA cover plates which encase the timing & balance belts unit can be reproduced by 3 D printers , but a tensioner is a much more complex mechanical part, so no idea what 3 D printer capabilities are in that respect …) 

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[dlearl476]

If the ad copy is to be believed, the whole idea behind Porsche Classic is to keep the cars on the road financial considerations be damned. AFAIK, theyve remanufactured quite a few NLA parts, 356 body panels among them.



Like they say, you never know until you ask.

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[Waylander]

If the ad copy is to be believed, the whole idea behind Porsche Classic is to keep the cars on the road financial considerations be damned. AFAIK, theyve remanufactured quite a few NLA parts, 356 body panels among them.



Like they say, you never know until you ask.

Only possible if you have the original moulds and castings

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[dlearl476]

Thats so last century. Like ds968 said, it would be easier for Porsche to contract with a place that can 3D print them. Or contract someone in Italy or Germany to make them. They did it once, they can do it again. It would also be an easy thing to CNC them out of billet steel. And probably more economical for a short run.



Its not like rocket surgery or anything. Im still not convinced someone couldnt figure out how to rebuild them, just like someone figured out how to rebuild vintage Koni shocks.



https://exclusive.multibriefs.com/images...parts1.jpg

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[Waylander]

All come down to cost, why pay possibly $1000 for a part that does not fail, just because a mechanic says so



There is nothing in the tech or manual that says replace them

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[ds968]

I don’t look at anything on RL,  but for those who do , has anyone ever heard / read about a tensioner failure ..either on that forum , or on our forum ?    I don’t recall anything posted here, but my memory “ ain’t what it used to be “     

 

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[Waylander]

Search is your friend

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[94SilverCab]

So, it is possible for a tensioner to break, but still pretty unlikely...

 

http://www.968forums.com/topic/4583-timi...%2Bfailure

 

Jay

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[dlearl476]

I sold my 968 to a friend who left it parked outside all winter. (in NY) When I had to repo it, I took it in for a belt job and my tensioner had seized.



I think the most detrimental thing for them is sitting. So Id be skeptical about buying a clean, lo-mile example (<50,000)

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[J.Elenbaas]

So, it is possible for a tensioner to break, but still pretty unlikely...

 

http://www.968forums.com/topic/4583-timi...%2Bfailure

 

Jay

The failure here is 944 105 074 06, and still easy to get new for a few hundred euro's.

 

Still no proof that the actual tensioner 944 105 172 03 has failed.

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[dlearl476]

According to Wallanders communications with Aisin, the initial run was 20,000. There were ~12,700 968s produced. Lets say Porsche built 1,000 spare engines for warranty replacement. That leaves 5000< as spares that have been replaced.

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[Jared_Anderson]

I'd join a letter writing campaign. I've summitted the part number on this website a few times.

 

https://www.porsche.com/usa/accessoriesa...ilability/

 

I wonder if we got enough of us to submit the part number daily if Porsche would notice.

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[dlearl476]

I'd join a letter writing campaign. I've summitted the part number on this website a few times.

 

https://www.porsche.com/usa/accessoriesa...ilability/

 

I wonder if we got enough of us to submit the part number daily if Porsche would notice.

I would hope so.



Based on your feedback, we have included the following parts amongst others, in our product range again. We will continue to evaluate any information that you send us. In addition, you will find an overview here of all new parts editions from recent years.



Im going to start submitting them weekly.

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[Waylander]

The new PET system now asks the dealers if out of production parts would sell



They have to answer or cant move on



The only thing we can all do is just keep on, but I still dont think they will make any more

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[ds968]

Doubtful that Porsche would consider producing a part which has almost no history of failure.  The two cases Jay highlighted are not necessarily indicative of an absolute defect of the tensioner itself without contributing factors ( improper tensioning or subsequent adjustment of the balance belt after replacement, neglect in checking the proper function and lubrication of the rollers and other components, etc etc …at least that’s what Porsche would argue ) . Heck, they didn’t even want to take responsibility for the pinion bearing failure which was a very well documented factory tolerance setting error and affecting numerous cars, so I do t see them being too worried about overall brand reputation if a few 968s here and there disappear off the roadways because of NLA parts .   If they were 911s , that’d be a different story .  But hey, I do hope that I’m wrong and Porsche will be convinced to remake this, and any other critical parts for which there are no alternatives and can render the cars useless, although I doubt they’re worried about their reputation if that happens to a few 968s..  

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[dlearl476]

That why god created social media.

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[Waylander]

the pivot pin of the tensioner arm is known to sieze and snap, but that is rare, but still not fault of the actual tensioner,

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[MCL968]

Does anyone out there have a decommissioned or failed tensioner they would like to donate to the cause? 

 

The recent Panorama has in the tech area a comment that the 968 tensioner used the same internals as an Audi/VW tensioner.

 

I would like to try to rebuild one with the new internals and the original 968 housing. If anyone out there has an old one that could be rebuilt, let me know. It might be folly, but it sounds like an interesting solution.

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