$#@&! rear timing cassette busted, what's my best course of action?

[Billy Cranston]

So I was changing my passenger valve cover gasket and discovered my rear timing cassette (tension side?) Is wholly busted. I was having some rap at startup but that's it! I changed the secondary timing chain tensioner on Friday and it was still only rapping at startup (only sometimes even).

How effed am I? How much longer do you think I can run this? Should I try to see if I can fish out the guide or leave it there? I am dismayed.

I guess I'll be selling some assets to get the guides replaced ASAP. I really wanted to have Ford throw a crate engine in there but not sure I'll be able to swing an $8k(?) bill this year.

 

[superj]

I don't even know what to look for. It looks ok to me, ha ha ha

 

[Billy Cranston]

that orange plastic is a guide that's part of the timing assembly. It's supposed to be attached to that bolt that is being ground down by the timing chain. Once the bolt goes my timing chain will rattle like crazy (and damage my engine?).

it's supposed to look like picture 2.

 

[RonD]

Engine needs to come out to do the repair
Worst case is cam timing slips and valves get bent, usually doesn't hurt pistons(just a mark) and won't bend rods

Parts are not that expensive
Just the labor to pull and put back in the engine, which should be about 8-10 hours labor with basic tools


It(damage) was caused by broken spring in the tensioner for that chain, newer design tensioners, 2004 and up, had better springs but they should still be changed every 100k miles, not hard to do, there are two long chain tensioners, front drivers side and rear passenger side

The tensioners are hydraulic, but...............the spring inside holds them tight for start up, low oil pressure
If the spring is broken then each time you start the engine the timing chain beats on the guide
Eventually the guide breaks and damage done, and you hear the rattle
So there is no "warning sound", rattle means guide is broken

 

[Billy Cranston]

Thank you for the clarification & information Ron. I tried calling Ford service departments around me but they won't touch it with a 10 foot (~3 meter) pole . The engine itself is strong but she leaky, I can understand why they wouldn't want to bother with the head ache.

Now that my emotions have calmed, I'm glad I took off the valve cover and realized the extent of the damage. Now I get to address it .

 

[RonD]

Yes, Ford shops usually won't work on any Ford vehicle if its over 10 years old, sometimes 15
Too many hassles
Trying to explain to an unhappy customer that replacing the transmission didn't cause the flat tire 2 months later, lol
"Well I NEVER had a flat tire until YOU worked on it!!!"

 

[Billy Cranston]

Update: Independent shop wants $2300 in labor (16 hrs) to replace all timing chain assemblies. Parts appear to be about $500 from Ford.

I can't wait to argue about the flat tire I get after they button her up

P.S. For posterity; My original 'diagnosis' was incorrect. The half of the cassette that is held by the bolt totally dissappeared into the pan. The bit I circled was the other half of the cassette..

 

[don4331]

Just as a note: The 4.0 SOHC isn't an "interference" engine. So, valves would never hit the pistons. Failure of the passenger's side would just turn engine into a very anemic 3 cylinder.

I've got 3 to do: B4000, Explorer Sport and Mustang. I'll probably be good at it by time I'm done..

 

[Shran]

You guys are skeering me... I hope to never own a SOHC 4.0.

 

[RonD]

4.0l OHV is non-interference, 9.0: 1 CR(compression Ratio)
4.0l SOHC is interference, 9.7:1 CR

Images here of valve strikes on pistons: https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachments/3dings-jpg.77924/

And here: https://www.ranger-forums.com/4-0l-ohv-sohc-v6-tech-33/valve-hitting-piston-161319/

If an engine has CR over 9.4:1 its interference most likely

The 4.0l SOHC is "barely" interference, lol, but will bend valves, 11:1 CR will break pistons/bend rods as well

 

[Billy Cranston]

I've got 3 to do: B4000, Explorer Sport and Mustang. I'll probably be good at it by time I'm done..

Sounds like a few weekends with the brews, I mean boys, is ahead for you! It's not too expensive for the DIYer..

You guys are skeering me... I hope to never own a SOHC 4.0.

yeaaahh.. 4L SOHC's design is pretty unanimously hated I think. The moment I told the tech I had a ranger with a bad rear cassette guide he chuckled and said "ah it's a 4.0 v6 isn't it?".