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Message started by diamond jim on 04/24/09 at 10:59:28

Title: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by diamond jim on 04/24/09 at 10:59:28

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh128/russ_diamond_jim/newcamchainexttensioner.jpg

Yahoo!!!!!!

Got it today. Unfortunately it's a no go on making more and selling them. He said to consider it a favor. I had asked him to make it first without the notches then add if needed cause I wanted to see how well it worked without them. He said to bring it back anytime and they'll do the notches. I'm pretty sure it needs the notches to account for chain stretch over time but I wanted to try it and know for sure before notching it and making another one. That spring is pretty darn strong. Mine is an '06. Maybe the notches plus the heavy spring induces chain stretch earlier. On the flip side, maybe it will be sloppier on harder acceleration without the notches to lock it in place. I think the notches also prevent wearing out of the extensioner sliding in and out of the housing in the absence of any continuous oil flow. Anyhow, nothing lost in trying it first for the heck of it. He left the longer section on the end in case I wanted to drill another hole or shape it to whatever length I wanted.

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by verslagen1 on 04/24/09 at 11:59:38

I'd put the standard hole in too so that you can use it with a new chain and guides.

And you don't need a hole further out cause when you get to end of travel the chain will be itchin' it's own belly.

Teeth are necessary, or you might need a stiffer spring. I would go with a wider spacing on the teeth. You're trying to prevent the chain from disengaging from the sprocket when a wave of chain travels around like whipping a hose to get it disengaged from something.

I don't think there's any issue with it being longer, but as I don't have any that long :o you'll find out.

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by Wolf on 04/24/09 at 13:21:06

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww! ;D

It looks purrrty! Don't worry dj.... I just ordered a 100% original verslavy! hehe

Wolf :D

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by diamond jim on 04/27/09 at 18:07:46

Got it in today. I went ahead and had them flatten the bottom and cut the grooves. I rounded off the end.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh128/russ_diamond_jim/1-29.jpg

I got everything all put back together and went for a ride. All seems back to normal. First time I rode in maybe two and a half weeks.

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by verslagen1 on 04/27/09 at 19:02:39

No grooves, did you take the sping out of the pawl too?

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by diamond jim on 04/28/09 at 05:30:20

I took it back yesterday morning and they cut the grooves. After the pic I turned the crank a few times to check it and it popped out to the first groove.

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/28/09 at 18:02:58

Do you know what the groove spacing is?

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by diamond jim on 04/28/09 at 18:17:55

I don't know the pitch, depth or spacing. The machinists do.

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/28/09 at 22:44:09

Well, do you remember if its more closely spaced than the original?

This certainly qualifies as a modification. I hope its set wider than OEM specs. & IF it is, I hope you cam chain lasts noticeably longer than what a few of us have seen.

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by diamond jim on 04/28/09 at 23:20:50

They cut it identical to the stocker. I could always take it out an file down every other or every third groove to space them out.

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/28/09 at 23:39:58

Yea, but I wouldnt just go in unless you have a reason. Next time Im in there I plan on cutting every other one out.

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by matt_savage on 04/29/09 at 12:11:24

DJ,

What are the steps for replacing the tensioner? I've got one coming and want to get it in for precautionary reasons when I open up the clutch cover to have a 'look-see'...(I've also got a new cam chain coming soon as well). Which gears on that side of the engine need to be removed and what size socket do they take? I like to have all the tools I need beforehand so I don't make unnecessary trips back and forth to the hardware store. Also does the clutch pack need to be removed? TIA

-Matt

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by verslagen1 on 04/29/09 at 12:51:24

should be all you need to know...

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1191167029

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by diamond jim on 04/29/09 at 12:56:53

Yep, listen to Verslagen. He's the undisputed guru when it comes to this stuff. I used those instructions as well.

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by diamond jim on 05/02/09 at 10:41:42

Installing the new extended tensioner took out some of the chain noise. I was a little concerned about how smooth the grooves and the spring-loaded catch were working when I put it in. The action seemed to be a little tight. So this morning I took it out and hit the grooves just a tad with a the 90 degree corner of a file. Before I put it back in I snugged a wire tie around the chain guides to take the slack out of the chain, reinstalled the new plunger,, which felt like it operated smoother. I then put the bike back together. The metallic chain sound is gone now. I guess it amazes me how quickly the sound developed over a two week period when I was running with the final Kamikaze intake design. I've been running with the K&N filter since then and I'm kind of hesitant to put the Kamikaze intake back on. It seems like the extra power/torque I was enjoying with the Kamikaze intake did something that quickly brought on the chain noise and pushed the stock plunger out 16mm. I just turned 1400 miles on this bike that I bought new 10 months ago. I'll keep an eye on Odvelasc and see if he develops any issues after he gained noticeable power with his carb swap.

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by Digger on 06/21/09 at 21:50:48

3F2026213C3B0A3A0A32202C67550 wrote:

I've been on the road for five weeks (on my Gold Wing....business trip) and must have missed something about the groove spacing.

I ordered a Verslavy a few months ago and have not installed it yet. Do I need to modify the groove spacing before I install it?

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by verslagen1 on 06/21/09 at 22:08:40

1C313F3F3D2A580 wrote:

I ordered a Verslavy a few months ago and have not installed it yet. Do I need to modify the groove spacing before I install it?

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by diamond jim on 06/21/09 at 22:19:34

Mike (mikestrikes) and I were talking about cam chain tensioners a couple of weeks ago. Two issues we thought about that may play a role in early failure of the LS650 tensioner, at least compared to other MC engines with auto-adjusting tensioners, is the high spring pressure and the fact that the tensioner exerts pressure not in the middle between the camshaft and OHC, but instead exerts pressure so close to the camshaft but so far away from the OHC. Mike noted how small some of the springs were in tensioners that he had seen in other bikes. It seems to me that if the LS650 tensioner was centered between the camshaft and OHC that a much lower spring rate would be sufficient.

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by Digger on 07/05/09 at 19:57:19

415245445B5650525906370 wrote:

[quote author=1C313F3F3D2A580 link=1240595968/15#15 date=1245646248]
I ordered a Verslavy a few months ago and have not installed it yet. Do I need to modify the groove spacing before I install it?

Not unless you are a genius with a file.

The issue in a nutshell...
The stock plunger has serations let's say every 1/32"
Every time the plunger moves a 1/32" it locks into a new groove.
The heat cycle sees the cylinder grow about 1/64" differential between aluminum and steel. When the plunger locks into the next tighter setting, there is some extra stress. So for 1" of plunger travel (17mm is about 3/4" but let's keep to round numbers) there will be 32 high stress points.
Now if you made a plunger with 1/8" spacing there would be only 8 points. Now certain things would have to be checked but I could see this would extend the life of the chain by a factor of 4.[/quote]

Ver,

I gotcha now.

However, if you made a plunger w/ 1/8" teeth spacing, the cam chain would spend a much larger portion of its life "slapping around." That characteristic might just negate the longer life postulated by reducing the number of "high stress points."

Bottom line....I'm leaving the spacing of the notches alone for now!

Title: Re: New machined cam chain adjuster extensioner
Post by verslagen1 on 07/05/09 at 21:31:55

6F424C4C4E592B0 wrote:

However, if you made a plunger w/ 1/8" teeth spacing, the cam chain would spend a much larger portion of its life "slapping around." That characteristic might just negate the longer life postulated by reducing the number of "high stress points."

Spring tension would certainly have to be reconsidered. And it maybe why the current spring is quite a bit stiffer than the old version.