Nope. I was talking about the cam chain tensioner, but they both work on the same princple, with very different configurations. They are both spring loaded with addition force applied by oil pressure, and both have mechanical mechanisms (that I and others can a "ratchet") that limit their ability to back off once the advance, due presumably to chain stretch or other component wear. After significant chain stretch, if the "ratchet" fails.the tensioner spring can be overome and fully retracted, especially in absence of oil pressure as at startup, and the chain can then jump time.

I did have a balance tensioner with worn, failed teeth that no longer worked. I suspect that was due to either out of spec or poorly chosen material. Steels vary wildly in strength and wear resistance, depending on chemistry and heat treatment.