I do get concerned with the numbers that are some time quoted for the chain stretch.

The SSM says the limit is 128.9mm (5.07") from center to center.  

Now every machinist knows how to measure c2c without guessing where the center of the pin (or hole) maybe.  And it's easy for them as they usually (at least now of days) have a digital caliper.  With these wonderful measuring sticks to measure c2c place the jaws over one pin and reset it to zero.  Then every measurement made will subtract one diameter.  So if you measure from the outside of one pin to the outside of another, you automatically get the c2c measurement.

For those of you that don't have a digital, add the diameter of one pin to the requirement.

128.9mm(5.07") + 2.95mm(.116") = 131.85mm(5.191")

BTW no need to count the number of pins, just start with 5" and go to the next longer pin.  If that doesn't work then I sure do want to see your chain    as it's likely to be the most stretched chain ever seen.

And I think it's been said that a new chain is 5" long, so if you measure less than that, try again.  

With .07" chain stretch you'll get almost 7° cam timing retard.  

Is that the tensioner I sent you? You made a groove in it.

Looks nice and simple your mod. Congrats, hope you sell plenty of them.

That is one hella nice mod there Verslagen.

Me thinks you should contact Suzuki and sell it to them...


Better get a patent first !!!

I'm new here , but not to bikes, been riding for 35+ years, mostly sport bikes and dirt bikes. I bought a used 87 Savage for my sister to ride for $500 and have been using this site to rebuild it over the last month, scrounging various parts etc. It has been great fun because the Savage is so simple, did all normal maintenance stuff, valves, plug, air/oil filter, brakes etc and the bike is running real well. It has about 8000 miles on the odometer but not sure if that is correct. I've put about 300 miles on it debugging and adjusting the carb, bedding brakes etc and was about to let my sister have it for this weekend when I noticed a random metallic ticking/clicking coming from what appears to be the righthand cylinder/clutch cover.  I've adjusted the cam chain tension on old 4 stroke dirt bikes when they made that "loose"  noise but I never heard anything like this. Doesn't sound to me like a loose cam chain, only seems to happen at lower rpms with little or no load on the motor and is very random and discontinous. Is more prevelant when the bike is hot.  It almost sounds like someone left something in the clutch side cover and it gets picked up every now and then and whipped around. Could this be the infamous cam adjuster flipping back and forth, about to pop out? The guy before me said he did the clutch and had part receipts but who knows? It does look as if the gasket has been off before so maybe he was in there and left a "souvenir". I just ordered a clutch side gasket from RonAyers and plan on pulling it apart but my sister is chomping at the bit to ride it and the weather in Ohio is about to break. I just wondered if anyone could tell me if this could be the cam chain tensioner noise when it is almost ready to fall out. I'm a mechanical engineer myself and like the mod you guys have come up with and will probably go this route (ie. weld another piece on the adjuster and drill a new hole)  if it needs it. I just hate to have to tear it apart right before she gets to finally ride it (she had a Rebel before!) but if that tensioner drops out...well, I guess I would have a lot of good, non-engine Savage parts for sale on the Marketplace. I only have about $650 in the whole bike and it is a blast to ride, maybe even thinking of getting one for myself in my "old age"! Thanks for the help and this board is great... sorry for the long post, just got excited from the last ride, dragging the Savage pegs all over the neighborhood.
Rick C.
1998 VTR1000
1997 KTM300exc
1993 KLX650
1987 LS650F Savage (for the sister, maybe)

Yes, I was thinking the same, but wasn't sure if there was a unique sound to an "about to fail" cam tensioner. Like I said the chain sounds ok to me, not loose, but that doesn't mean the adjuster isn't  at  the end of its travel and about to fall out. I ordered the gasket as a precautionary measure since I am probably taking the cover off this weekend. Being a planner I am planning for the worse. The best could be a non-hardened piece of ? that was left in there, hopfully not a broken clutch spring. Had those on dirt bikes. Thanks.
Rick C.

New rear guide, plunger projection is now 4.5mm

There was a little wear on the radius part and it was apparent that the chain wasn't riding in the groove.

Back to the wrench I go