ka24 headgasket lower chain fell

[robbie2883]

ok...i did alot of searching...it's late and maybe i'm just tired and impatient but can't find the answer i'm looking for. so if it's out there i'm sorry for asking in advance

anyway....i'm helping a friend do a headgasket on a 97 dohc. everything was going smooth. got the head off...zip tied the lower chain to the idler pulley and left the it in the guides so the tension would pick up the slack. left ift for the night and told them to clean the surfaces so when i come back we can slap the head back on......well i come back and the knocked the lower chain out of the guides and the tensioner fully extended jamming the chain between the front cover and the guides.

now here's my Q. if i can get the thing unjammed does the lower timing gear have a stopper on the bottom to keep the chain from dropping off the teeth or do i need to just go ahead and pull the pan and front cover? also the tension seems stuck full extended...it's just a hydrolic spring correct? any tips on compressing it? thanks in advance...i absolutely hate asking stupid questions like this.