pete944

Good job! I may be doing the same job in a few weeks. Any pointers?

Tom R.

who did you sell the bmw to? how much?

AndyK

Tom--Sold (well, selling) the BMW to a nice kid for what I paid for it (minus tires)! He should be paying and picking it up Monday night.

Pete. Aside from getting a torque wrench, and hex nut wrenches for a ratchet in 5mm and 6mm (to get the valve cover off, and the tensioner/J-tube), just follow that guide from the 944s2 website! It really says it all.

Key difference: leave the spark plugs in--no need to remove them. Also, taking the J-tube off is kinda tricky...I used a long nose pliers to catch the crush washer between the head and bolt, AND to place them back on when re-installing the tube.

Also, use a rag or paper towel (and not your hand) when compressing the old tensioner by pressing the chain down. And make sure you have an ultra-thin allen wrench or something to hold the tensioner in the compressed possition. very important, otherwise, you can't remove it!

Email me with any questions--I'm an expert now!

dualblade

does anyone change the chain itself when doing this job? i was just going to change the tensioner and install new gaskets. the part came in the mail for $268 from vertex auto

Luis de Prat

I changed the J-tube when replacing my 138K mile 944S2 camcover gasket because I had heard previously that at one point they were plastic and tended to crack and leak oil excessively.

The tube I got from the dealer cost around $15 and was brass. When I opened the camcover, it turned out that the tube already in the car was brass also and showed no sign of leaking, but I replaced it anyway. Tensioner was replaced at 124K together with a full blown belt/rollers and waterpump job, but the mech never mentioned a new J-Tube.

BTW, I could have sworn the part I got when I requested the J-Tube with the 944 PN actually had a 928 PN. Superseded, maybe?

944S2NUT

Yup discontinued. I had to order the whole thing. Cost me about $1000 installed from wiessach. Well worth it. Anything goes wrong they will cover it. Plus they are the only authorized ruf dealer around here.

AndyK

The chain looked fine to me. It's thick, and well-oiled. Should be OK, no? How do you change one...like a bike (pin remover tool)?

My J-Tube is also brass, and in mint condition. I guess plastic ones are at risk...but no need to change the brass ones unless they are crimped, etc.

$1000 installed, vs $275 + free Rennlist advice. Easy choice for me!!

Thanks Rennlist! Another $700 saved!?

rfuerst

The cam chain does not have a master,so to replace you have to pull the cams I believe.When I changed the nylon pad on my 87-944S I pulled the j-tube out to inspect,it was the brass type and I took it to work to inspect it under a microscope,everything looked fine so I re-used it.