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Message started by lostcause on 01/17/12 at 12:49:45

Title: cam chain/tensioner
Post by lostcause on 01/17/12 at 12:49:45

OK here's the deal. I just bought a 1987 Savage for my girlfriend. Guess what? Cam chain making noise. I have seen several posts on this issue, and I know there is a tensioner upgrade available. I know I am not the first one to have this goin' on. So, what do you guys think? Assuming the chain is not stretched, do I buy the aftermarket upgrade, and from who, or do I buy the stock tensioner? If the chain is stretched, then do I buy the stock set up or aftermarket? Cost is an obvious issue, and somebody before me must have already checked this out. Any info would really help. Thanks guys. Peace

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by splash07 on 01/17/12 at 13:09:49

this may help

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1176999168

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by verslagen1 on 01/17/12 at 13:10:17

does it sound like this?

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1308708632

and whether it's stretched or not... one of these will do you...

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1180206459

and the check procedure is linked in there.

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by built2last66 on 01/17/12 at 13:11:36

Get this:

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1180206459

Send him your parts to refurb... don't know what to tell you about the chain...

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by lostcause on 01/17/12 at 13:35:55

WOW. Fast respones and good info. Thanks very much. I came to the right place.

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by lostcause on 01/18/12 at 18:57:59

OK- I can't email Verslavy because I don't have the default email client installed. I don't know what the default client is, so how can I install it?. I can't PM Verslavy because I don't have 100 posts. I am trying to get more info, and probably order a chain tensioner for the girlfriends bike. So how do I go about this when I can't reach him? GGRRR...

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by verslagen1 on 01/18/12 at 19:50:45

100 new problems and not 1 spammer ;D

Someone said 10 posts but lets see if you can receive.

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by RC on 01/18/12 at 20:53:16

I didn't have anywhere near 100 posts when I PMed verslagen1 he not only fixed my tensioner but did it quick and way too cheap. You better hurry up before he figures out what this fix is worth.

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by lostcause on 01/18/12 at 22:12:42

Verslagen, I got your message, and thank you for responding. I can't email you back because I don't have the correct client, and I don't know what it is, so I can't download it. I can't PM because I don't have 10 posts yet. I know there must be a reason for this, but Jeeez. So, I dunno what else to do. If we can't talk to each other, then I guess I can always post 9 more times. Not sure if I can come up with that many different things to say. But if that's the way the administrators have it set up, then OK. Just seems kinda...oh nevermind. Somebody tell me if I can post an email here in this column, and I will create a new one with yahoo to get this done.Thanks

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by verslagen1 on 01/18/12 at 22:28:57

well... you had to give an email address to get a user name... what program do you use?

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by lostcause on 01/18/12 at 22:39:59

I dunno what program I used, I just kinda filled in the blanks on the sign-up sheet. I have to sleep now, it's going on one am here in Wisconsin. I really don't know what else to do, and I am surprised this has not happened before to someone else. Maybe after work tommorow I will alert a moderator to my own post and see what happens. Gotta sleep now. Thanks

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by built2last66 on 01/19/12 at 01:29:18

Verslagen1 or anyone, how can you tell when your cam chain has stretched and is at its deadline, or when to use the second hole provided on the verslavy? (If there's a way without taking apart the crank case and ruining your gasket)

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 01/19/12 at 03:22:41

Built, it takes having a look inside. Sometimes, the gasket saves..

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by Bubba on 01/19/12 at 07:36:50

Built, I would say you need to move to the second hole when it becomes obviously noisy. The stop on the verslavy won't allow the plunger to drop out. I don't think I'd do it just because you think you're there but maybe I'm wrong

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by lostcause on 01/19/12 at 07:41:13

Verslagen, please contact me at joehonda2009@yahoo.com I am interested in a tensioner. If it is wrong for me to post an email here, then I'm sorry guys. I just don't know what else to do, and I need a tensioner. Thanks

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by verslagen1 on 01/19/12 at 08:27:52

Built (sigh) There is no way to check it w/out openning it up. According to the manual, head bolts are supposed to be retorqued every 4,000 miles. Of course no one does this. Hell, this would be every other month for me. Knowing that it's actually heat cycles and not miles that causes the stretching of the head bolts makes me think it should be done about 1 a year for someone like myself and every 2 years for the fellows up north that only ride half the year.

Several of us old timers recommend greasing/oiling one side of the gasket to facilitate future removal w/out damaging the gasket. And if you're very careful, even if you don't oil it, it can be pryed loose w/out damage with the aide of a knife. Of course can't always be done, long time installed gaskets will harden and become very fragile.

Now the alternate to openning it up is to get yourself a fiberoptic borescope with a right angle mirror. Stick it in the oil fill port and lay your eyeballs on it that way.

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by built2last66 on 01/19/12 at 15:11:45

How obviously noisy should it be before the second hole? I mean they all seem pretty crappity smacking noisy....

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by built2last66 on 01/19/12 at 15:24:44

Here's what she sounds like.. time for the second hole or am I good to go? Keep in mind my mic on my droid phone pics up high tones really well... check out the other video for second thoughts...

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghaTwmRb7DY&feature=plcp&context=C3d86e9dUDOEgsToPDskLBlbgETc3_Lf2OaNoihwQ5[/media]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW1NuteIJz4&feature=plcp&context=C30c4490UDOEgsToPDskLyuG6uO_Fc00Ab_K_7WYCR[/media]

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by arteacher on 01/20/12 at 07:09:47

You don't have a noisy cam. (your paranoia is showing again ;)). There is a sound bite in the tech section that does have a noisy chain. Check it out.
FWIW if you tape a piece of open cell foam over the mike on your camera it will reduce the wind noise somewhat.

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by youzguyz on 01/20/12 at 08:02:16

Just more thoughts from my experience.

I THINK I went to the 2nd hole at 20k on Thumper.

I went all the way past 79k before I opened it up again.
It wasn't noisy, but performance was down. The tensioner was a little past half way on it's travel.
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1312808033

I checked compression before going in. Got 140 lbs

Put it back together. All I really did to it was the chain and adjust the valves (first time I ever did that too).

It's a little peppier now. Not like new, but better than it was.

I THINK my performance issue was a because of the chain stretch throwing off the timing and causing low compression (maybe?)
I got 150 lbs of compression when I was done.

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by built2last66 on 01/21/12 at 08:30:38

555E5E575B54554F4E3A0 wrote:

(your paranoia is showing again ;)). There is a sound bite in the tech section that does have a noisy chain.

Paranoia is a good thing, nip the problem in the bud before it worsens... I've seen the cam chain vid in the tech section, I'm just worried now about the chain stretching since I ride 'er like a $2 hooker :D

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by arteacher on 01/21/12 at 12:36:02

46514D485016484557501212240 wrote:

How would you expect anyone to tell you anything about your chain from those two videos. The sound on the first one is not too bad, but why include the second one? You can hardly hear the exhaust, let alone the chain.
You have already listened to the bad chain video, so you know what a bad chain sounds like, and you know you don't have one, so why post this question? :-?

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by built2last66 on 01/21/12 at 12:56:39

You can hear it at the start up and end of the second video... but you already answered my question once so why make a new post about it??

Title: Re: cam chain/tensioner
Post by arteacher on 01/22/12 at 04:53:22

Didn't think to modify the first one. :-[