Plastic used on timing chain guides

[Paulbarrett]

Anyone have any knowledge of chain guide materials for petrol engines?

The engine project in embarking on is obsolete for chain guides, well they are available aftermarket from a tuner in Germany but at crazy prices. Looking at possibly making some. But I’m unsure on the correct material to use. A brief google throws up Carian types of nylon etc or graphite impregnated composite.

 

[Johnnybravo]

Nylatron 4.6 / Stanyl

 

[graffian]

Lad that hung about with us made a chain guide from Nylatron, seemed to work well.

 

[Paulbarrett]

Cheers guys

 

[RWD3M]

The guides in my Jaguar Ingenium engine are made from cheese and chocolate if that helps?

 

[Blobber]

C30SE? What's that going in?

 

[Paulbarrett]

Yes indeed my friend. Undecided yet. Manta or commodore.

 

[reb78]

What about one made in aluminium as a replacement?

 

[PhillipM]

What about one made in aluminium as a replacement?

Be very noisy, worse damping, more friction, more wear. Better using the right plastic really.
But yes usually a nylon with moly or similar solid lubricants embedded.

 

[reb78]

Be very noisy, worse damping, more friction, more wear. Better using the right plastic really.
But yes usually a nylon with moly or similar solid lubricants embedded.

Thanks. Thats interesting. I just wondered if a soft metal would work.

 

[Paulbarrett]

Metal for the holder and plastic for lining against chain.

 

[Johnnybravo]

Ertalon 4.6 is the same as Nylatron 4.6. Make sure it is 4.6 though, as that’s the higher temp version of Nylatron. It’s the same yellowy brown colour that most guides are. It is available in the U.K. too…

 

[Paulbarrett]

Thanks guys really helpful so quickly

 

[Screwdriver]

HDPE is another potentially suitable plastic. Depending on your design, you might find either plastic type supplied in profile form which you could fit to a machined holder.

 

[Johnnybravo]

HDPE is another potentially suitable plastic. Depending on your design, you might find either plastic type supplied in profile form which you could fit to a machined holder.

No it’s not. It’s not recommended for oil based products. Even though petrol containers are made out of Hdpe , it is noted that petrol is slowly breaking down its chemical bonds.

I had a lot of discussions with material suppliers a couple of years back, having to make some chain tensioners for a Second World War military vehicle. Hdpe was ruled out fairly early on.

 

[Screwdriver]

Yes it is. Google HDPE camchain guide.

 

[Johnnybravo]

Yes it is. Google HDPE camchain guide.

Must be so much better than Nylatron 4.6…. So much better that zero car manufacturers use it.

 

[Paulbarrett]

Yeah hdpe I know is no good, with the high temps too

 

[Screwdriver]

Must be so much better than Nylatron 4.6…. So much better that zero car manufacturers use it.

That is not what I am saying. I said HDPE is a potential choice for use as a camchain guide. I am familiar with it because I restore old motorcycles and also happen to recycle HDPE bottles.

No it’s not. It’s not recommended for oil based products. Even though petrol containers are made out of Hdpe , it is noted that petrol is slowly breaking down its chemical bonds.

I had a lot of discussions with material suppliers a couple of years back, having to make some chain tensioners for a Second World War military vehicle. Hdpe was ruled out fairly early on.

You said it is not and yet many manufacturers if fact do make HDPE camchain tensioners.

One of us is wrong and it's not me...

<edit> alright, I might be wrong. Good job I stuck "potentially" in there.

 

[Johnnybravo]

That is not what I am saying. I said HDPE is a potential choice for use as a camchain guide. I am familiar with it because I restore old motorcycles and also happen to recycle HDPE bottles.



You said it is not and yet many manufacturers if fact do make HDPE camchain tensioners.

One of us is wrong and it's not me...

Never is….
Having had real world experience of making chain guides, I’m pretty confident my choice of material will way out perform your melted down milk bottle caps.

Anyway, I’ve given real world experience, not the gospel truth according to Google. This is my last response …