sneakyness with timing chain tensioner

[tdafforn]

Was just cleaning away a load of parts I had replaced on my twink and while tidying the old timing chain tensioner plunger, a small ball bearing fell out from inside.
the only reason I can think it was there was to give more adjustment to the tensioner on a really tired chain..
anyone any other ideas?
tim

[Elanintheforest]

Sounds like it. One of THE things to look for when buying a twink is to make sure there's no cam chain rattle AND there's plenty of adjustment left....so it could have been an end-of-life engine that someone was fobbing off as a good one?
Mark

[tdafforn]

This is what I thought!
engine was certainly shot,
Stretched chain, teeth missing on both cam sprockets, worn bores, big crankcase pressure and very worn main bearing jounals!
However even with all this it had good oil pressure, good compression and was only a bit down on power (113 BHP)
Tim

[types26/36]

teeth missing on both cam sprockets,
Tim

picture please