Nissan Altima KA24DE headgasket replacement -lower timing chain tensioner

[RobZ71LM7]

I'm working on my father in laws '00 Altima KA24DE which blew a headgasket. I have all the new parts, had the head milled and vacuum and pressure checked. Anyways The head is in place on the block with the new head bolts finger tight. I'm having difficulty getting the idler sprocket bolted to the cylinder head. The lower timing chain tensioner is extended all the way out and I can't seem to get it to retract. Is it possible to do without removing the lower timing chain cover? I really don't want to have to pull the head off again and remove all the accessories off the front of the block to get to the tensioner.

Thanks.

[navysnail]

did you replace the tensioner? they are tensioned by oil, so they can get kind of stuck sometimes and do not want to slide. you should be able to push it back, be careful though, especially if its one of the plastic ones.