Hey guys, I did a head gasket on me KA24E and just tied the chain off so that it wouldnt come off the lower timing gear. Now, when I go to put it back on the cam gear, there is not enough slack in the chain to reach the center of the cam with the center of the gear! I tried turning the lower gear to see if the chain was bunched or something, but nothing helped. Is there a possibility that the tensioner slid out, and now there isnt enough slack? This is driving me crazy! Any help would be appreciated.

Also, my tensioner looks like a plastic banana resting against a metal (what looks like a small cylinder). I can not get the cylinder to move back and forth at all. Is it supposed to be "springy" against the tensioner?

 

Here is what I am talking about.

 

Ok, I figured it all out, but it took me all day. The cylinder is supposed to be springy....It was jamned in a little crooked because it came too far out....so after having it fall into the bottom of the timing chain cover, pulling it out took a good 3 hours. Its all back in now, so let's hope this head gasket solves my problem.

 

Man I have the exact same problem lol, I did a complete rebuild though. Thanks for the help of solving the problem for me.