When doing a cam upgrade and cam support plate is removed, is there an a actual "mechanical" reason to pinning the shoe inside its housing? If it's for easy reinstallation, then couldn't you just remove one of the screws holding it to the support plate and when the chain is on just swing it up and reinstall screw? Also is it worth changing any of the support shoe internals while I have it apart?

 

I assume you are referring to that later model hydraulic tensioners??

The reason to pin the tensioner to the housing is to keep the internal spring from popping the tensioner out and leaving you with the spring and the little "piston" so you can figure out how to reassemble...... You can do as you say, remove a screw so the tensioner can be put back in place; just don't let the bugger come apart but if it does, pay attention to how the internals go back together; it is counter intuitive IMHO. No need to replace the tensioner internals.

 

Sorry....it's for a 2102.
Until you mentioned "counter intuitive" I didn't think that it might be an out of the norm assembly as the thing did slide out (a few times) and If you hadn't of mentioned it I wouldn't have looked in the manual. Counter intuitive for sure. I never would have thought it went back that way. Thanks Man.