Is my timing belt hydraulic tensioner faulty?

[Galanttuner10]

those are the only pages on the rocker arms. it is really weird. it does say to clean the lashers in clean diesel fuel and all that stuff but nothing on the order. i figure since its on a rod it may not but IDK

[eksz]

Can't say why one manual would list a sequence for removing the rocker arms and another does not but I recall on my mercedes 190sl it was important not to release one set of the camshaft fastners completely while others were still torqued down. I recall it had to do with the risk of bending something out of spec or damaging the bearing it floated on. Sort like when torquing down a cylinder head , you want to do it gradually and evenly across all head bolts.

[allrice4g64]

When you press the hydraulic tensioner in you need to put it in a vise or C clamp and press it slowly or you can damage the seal and it will start to leak.

[Galanttuner10]

eksz, it does say what parts have to be removed at what point and it seems like a specific order of process but not of unbolting the rockers as they sit on a shaft and arent individual. the Haynes manual doesnt work orderwise as the 8g head is different and we have more bolts. if the tech book doesnt list a certain order and i looked through my 94 book and 96 and searcked for like an hr and thats all there was.

[mygalantwasfree]

I finally got the whole thing done.
Maintenance done on the valve train: I removed the rocker bolts 1/4 of a turn at a time, working my way from the outside to the inside. I got the lifters out, soaked them in PB blaster all night, then soaked them in oil again and reinstalled them. No more lifter tick!!!

Maintenance done on the timing system: I compressed the tensioner slowly using a 6" C-clamp. When the tensioner was depressed all the way, I put a cotter pin through the holes to keep it there. Then I reinstalled it, put the belt on, and removed the pin.
I also inspected all bearings, and I found that the idler pulley bearing (not the tensioner pulley, the other one) was completely shot! I replaced it. The old timing belt looked great - only had ~20k on it and it was only 2 years old so I didn't replace it.
Had I not inspected the timing system, that pulley would've most certainly failed within a few months and the motor would've been toast.

All is well and the car's back and running again