It's like 95 degrees out! I think I'll have a beer and a cigar on the veranda...

 

Has anyone ever tried adding a 2nd shim behind the secondary tensioner to take some of the load off the ratchet on the primary tensioner?

 

Could you explain your theory in more detail here please. I know what you're referring to on the 2nd tensioning mechanism, but how do you see this aiding the main ratcheting tensioner? I can speculate, but I'd rather hear your angle.

 

Well, the cigar and beer were quite good and refreshing... Maybe do the same this weekend up at a friend's place after running around the back roads of east Ohio Saturday...

The problem with shimming the spring is that it is only there to provide a bit of forward pressure on the slider to allow less shock under decel and probably to help push forward gently to help the auto tensioner to index up. If the springs were the solution the auto tensioner wouldn't need the ratchet to lock in and hold adjustment.

Still, mechanically the best method is to have a fixed manual adjustment. Most racers use manual tensioners. The key point is to make sure the locking nut is good and tight against the body once adjusted. Run the OEM until it fails then replace it with a manual unit and just listen every now and again when the engine is fully warmed up to hear if there is light ticking. If so, then the tensioner needs slight adjustment, usually a fraction of a turn. Once the cam drive is seated in the adjustments are few and far between.