KenGLong wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:What happens if the tensioner comes apart when you're doing 70 on the freeway? (I just got back from a ride in which about 40 miles was at 70 on the freeway and my Savage has about 22,000 on the odometer.)
Also, I just priced out all the parts to do a cam chain job on the Savage and it came to $225 at Ron Ayers. That was for the cam chain, the guides, the tensioner, the clutch cover gasket, three small gaskets and the 8mm circlip. Am I forgetting anything?
Ken
The tensioner will separate in 2 pieces, the spring will fall inbetween the primary gear and the clutch gear. As the camchain is no longer tight it will skip a few teeth, hence the valve timing is out of sequence, the valves will hit the piston causing consideral more damage than the $ 225 you have to spent now.
Required parts:
The front guide is not required. As reelting said: you have to remove the cylinder head. If the tensioner is not more than 18mm out and the housing is not damaged you can reset and reuse it. The 8 mm circlip can be reused.
Step 1 The tensioner separates:
Step 2 The timing has changed and the valve(s) have hit the piston
And so on: Now you need a complete head, piston, valves, etc.