Hybrid Racing Timing Chain Tensioner for K20A/K20Z/K24A

Hybrid Racing Timing Chain Tensioner - Honda/Acura K Series

Running aftermarket cams in your K series and worried about the timing chain tensioner failing? The factory K series timing chain tensioner wears out fast when you're running aftermarket cams with aggressive ramp rates. The factory tensioner's ratchet teeth are soft and they wear down, which lets the timing chain go slack. When the chain goes slack, it skips timing and your valves hit your pistons. We designed our timing chain tensioner from scratch with hardened tool steel ratchet teeth and a heat-treated chromoly piston. It's built to handle the fast ramp rates of aftermarket cams without wearing out. If you're running aggressive cams or you're revving past 8,500 RPM regularly, you need our tensioner.

Why the Factory Tensioner Fails with Aftermarket Cams

The factory K series timing chain tensioner uses a ratchet mechanism to keep tension on the timing chain. When you install aftermarket cams with fast ramp rates, the valvetrain loads increase and the timing chain whips harder. That extra load wears down the soft factory ratchet teeth. Once the teeth wear, the ratchet slips and the tensioner can't maintain tension on the chain. The chain goes slack, skips a tooth on the cam gear, and your valves crash into your pistons. That's a destroyed motor. Some companies sell "upgraded" tensioners that are just factory tensioners with stiffer springs, but that doesn't fix the root problem. The teeth still wear out, and the stiffer spring actually makes your timing chain stretch faster. We designed our tensioner to solve the actual problem instead of just slapping a Band-Aid on it.

Hardened Tool Steel Ratchet Teeth

We make our ratchet teeth from hardened tool steel—the same material used in high-end impact wrench ratchets. Tool steel's way harder than the factory tensioner's teeth, so it resists wear even when you're running aggressive cams. Our dual-ratchet design meshes with a heat-treated chromoly piston, which is also way harder than the factory piston. The hardened teeth and piston don't wear down like the factory parts do, so our tensioner maintains proper chain tension even after years of hard use.

Tighter Piston Fit Prevents Misalignment

Our tensioner's piston fits tighter into the timing chain guide than the factory piston does. That tighter fit keeps the ratchet mechanism aligned properly, which prevents premature wear. The factory tensioner's piston has more slop, which lets the ratchet mechanism misalign slightly. That misalignment causes uneven wear on the ratchet teeth, which makes the tensioner fail faster. Our tighter tolerances eliminate that problem.

Optimized Oil Passages for High RPM

The internal oil passages in our tensioner are optimized to respond to oil pressure changes faster than the factory tensioner. When you rev the motor quickly, oil pressure spikes and the tensioner needs to adjust instantly. The factory tensioner's oil passages are restrictive, so it responds slowly. Our oil passages are designed to flow more oil faster, which means our tensioner responds quicker when you're revving the motor hard or shifting at high RPM.

Built from Scratch by Us

We manufacture this tensioner from scratch. It's not a rebuilt factory tensioner with upgraded parts slapped in. Every component's designed and machined specifically for this application. We've tested this tensioner for years in race motors that get abused constantly, and it's proven to last where factory tensioners fail. We run these tensioners in our own race cars and customer builds because we know they work.

What You Get

• Hybrid Racing timing chain tensioner
• Hardened tool steel dual-ratchet teeth
• Heat-treated chromoly piston
• Tighter piston fit for proper alignment
• Optimized internal oil passages
• All mounting hardware included

Compatible Engines

• K20A2, K20A3 (RSX, Civic Si)
• K20Z1, K20Z3 (RSX, Civic Si)
• K24A1, K24A2, K24A4, K24A8 (CR-V, TSX, Accord, Element)

Fits Your Car

• 2002-2006 Acura RSX (K20A2, K20A3, K20Z1)
• 2004-2008 Acura TSX (K24A2)
• 2003-2007 Honda Accord (K24A4, K24A8)
• 2002-2011 Honda Civic Si (K20A3, K20Z3)
• 2002-2006 Honda CR-V (K24A1)
• 2003-2011 Honda Element (K24A4, K24A8)

Note: If you're running aftermarket cams, you need our tensioner. Don't wait until your factory tensioner fails. By the time you hear timing chain noise, the tensioner's already worn and you're risking a bent valve or worse. Install our tensioner before you install your cams. If you're running stock cams but you're revving past 8,500 RPM regularly, you should upgrade your tensioner too. The factory tensioner's fine for stock power and stock RPM, but it's not designed for high-RPM abuse or aggressive cam profiles.