I took my time, thought about every move before I acted...read and re-read the service manual.
The biggest thing to watch out for was dropping the little cotter type pin (?) when separating the chain guide from the chain tensioner. I put shop towels completely around the tensioner and guide...there was nowhere for a dropped pin to go...I thought.
The ONE place I didn't cover was the little gap between the chain and the guide. I carefully removed the first pin and boom...it flipped up and disappeared between the chain and guide. I stared in disbelief. My stomach sank. I thought crap, I just ruined this motor.
Luckily I had been squeezing the chain and guide together below where I was removing the pin from, just to keep a solid hold on it. I looked down there with a flashlight and could barely see the top of the pin..held there tenuously between chain and guide. Had I let go of the pliers the pin would have dropped down into the engine. I tried to grab it with a magnetic pickup tool but it is not magnetic!
I yelled for my daughter for help but she couldn't hear me...my phone was just out of reach. (note to self, always keep phone within reach when working in garage). I finally was able to finally pull my phone close, called my daughter and she came to lend a hand.
She held the light and I was able to squeeze lower on where I was squeezing the chain and guide together..exposing the top of the pin. I used a scratch awl to stab at it and pull it out after about 10 tries.
I was much more careful removing the 2nd, lower pin. This let me remove the tensioner to replace with the new spring. That's as far as I got. Gotta know when to walk away. I will start reassembly tomorrow. I experienced both full on panic and complete relief today.
pics of the cams, etc., the chain and guide (between these is where I dropped the pin) and finally, the offending damn, little pin. Can't think of the correct name for the stupid little aluminum cotter or holder pin.
