SuzukiSavage.com - Cam Chain Adjuster Life

verslagen1

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Cam Chain Adjuster Life
10/10/07 at 07:43:09

If we're going to complain about it we better get our facts straight. I'll tabulate and post here as the data comes in.

Let's reply here with:
year
mileage,
old or new adjuster
plunger extension
chain stretch
indications (why did you open her up)
repair action taken (what did you replace)
Type of Oil?
Rider type? agressive moderate newb etc?
where do you ride the most (freeways, highways, around town, etc.)
Number of Previous Owners?

How to tell if you have a New vs. old adjuster
big difference is in main spring.
old Ø .384, wire Ø .040, 2.80 length
new Ø .330, wire Ø .038, 2.66 length

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« Last Edit: 11/13/10 at 08:50:34 by verslagen1 »

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Yonuh Adisi FSO

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Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life
Reply #1 - 10/10/07 at 08:31:41

Year 2000
Approximately 13,500

Replaced tensioner guide
new tensioner/adjuster (depends on who and what you talk to)
New cam-chain
New guide
New rings (what the heck, had tore down anyway)
Old tensioner/adjuster completely separated and flopping around like a fresh caught fish.
Don't know about chain stretch, just replaced it anyway.

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Check out Flight of Destiny http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H9130XC

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youzguyz Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 2451 San Antonio, Texas Gender:	Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life Reply #2 - 10/10/07 at 08:38:58 I don't know this counts, but you can use it as a data point. Year: 2002 9,000 miles Why: incorrect diagnostic of ticking noise. Adjuster at 15mm. Replaced with VerSlavy and kept in original hole. I'll just run it that way until it starts getting noisy, then move it to the 2nd hole.
Back to top	2002 - Silver (Thumper) 2000 - Green (Mad Hamish) Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut between the seat and the handlebars. Make sure yours isn't too tight or too loose. IP Logged

verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28424 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life Reply #3 - 10/10/07 at 08:43:45 '96 with 20736 miles replaced tensioner guide. modified old style adjuster to verslavy. tensioner attached to second hole. Plunger was extended to 22mm, Cam chain stretch 127.5mm 5.02" Estimated life of chain 50k
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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life Reply #4 - 10/10/07 at 09:20:29 1998 Savage 9,750 miles when this was done original stock adjuster at 16mm replaced with VerSlavy mod on second hole will check again in 6k-8k miles or if it starts talking to me
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youzguyz Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 2451 San Antonio, Texas Gender:	Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life Reply #5 - 10/10/07 at 09:29:22 verslagen1 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10: Good points state year and type of adjuster, new or old. All data is good, thanks How would one know what type it is? I sent my old one to you, should have some marks on the cylinder every 5mm. Might also say YZGZ on the barrel.
Back to top	2002 - Silver (Thumper) 2000 - Green (Mad Hamish) Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut between the seat and the handlebars. Make sure yours isn't too tight or too loose. IP Logged

skrapiron -FSO Serious Thumper Offline Instant Human.... Just add coffee.. Posts: 1456 Pittsburgh, Pa Gender:	Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life Reply #6 - 10/10/07 at 09:38:38 2004 Savage 12,421 miles original adjuster original cam chain Plunger was just 11mm out at 11k service.
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SteveRocket1

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Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life
Reply #7 - 10/10/07 at 14:41:03

87
16500 Miles
Adjuster was close to falling apart
replaced with Verslavy
Guides seemed OK
Additional Info
12440 Miles when I got it and the bike was stock
Adjuster needed changing 4000 miles later of mixed driving but a lot of freeway approx 70 miles x 5 days per week
Rotella T dino car oil changed every 2-3000 miles
Filter changed every other

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'87 Savage but now with a Supertrapp muffler with 8 disks and competition end cap, TKat Fork brace, oldfeller airfilter, Z Bars, Turn Signal bleeper,Rather Loud Horn. and cousin Bonnie too..

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Yonuh Adisi FSO Serious Thumper Offline Savage Jedi (Knight) Posts: 3622 Pilot Valley NV, aka Tatooine Gender:	Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life Reply #8 - 10/10/07 at 20:43:05 Verslagen, I modified my original post to include my bike's year, it's a 2000. Just thought I'd mention it since your table doesn't have it. But this is a very good idea. Make a chart/table of everyone who's had to do the chain tensioner/adjuster and at what miles. It should give some very good data.
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steely Senior Member Offline Posts: 325 Tulsa, Oklahoma Gender:	Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life Reply #9 - 10/10/07 at 20:56:15 1999 model 17,800 miles Adjuster was disengaged (spring was below main drive gear) Replaced Chain and Tensioner (movable guide) This was the original adjuster, I assume it was the old style No other mods yet, but am contemplating a Verslavy mod for the next time
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azjay Serious Thumper Offline aridzona... its a dry heat Posts: 816 Gender:	Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life Reply #10 - 10/11/07 at 06:52:59 '96 model, 9600 miles, boom! ( mechanic failed to complete oil change) '97 replacement motor, 8000 miles, tensioner extended 20mm, new chain guide did not improve, verslavy mod installed and running. '86 model, mileage unknown, boom!
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Savage_Greg

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Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life
Reply #11 - 10/11/07 at 07:41:31

- Specs
2000 Savage
Single owner.
14,000 miles.
Chain at 127.4 MM or 5.015 inches.
Tensioner measure at about 18 MM.
Reinstalled stock tensioner.
Installed new stock chain.
Tensioner measure at about 10 MM.
Stock guides.

- Maintenance/Rider habits
Regular oil changes using motorcycle specific dino oil.
Moderate speeds
Low RPM cruising (occasional lugging) Tongue

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T Mack 1 - FSO

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Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life
Reply #12 - 10/11/07 at 07:53:58

2001
bought bike @ 10460 miles, engine in pieces due to metled piston. Sorry, the tensioner was apart too so don't have measurement.

Cam chain measured 127.25mm and guides show little wear. I replaced the chain anyway as preventive measure. Stock tensioner reinstalled with new chian.

The PO sounded like he did mainly highway/freeway driving. Sounded like sedate driver talking to him. He was not mechanically inclined.

He was original owner (me = 2nd).

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Engineers design things, Technicians make them work.
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Dr_Jim Ex Member	Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life Reply #13 - 10/11/07 at 08:04:29 -
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rokrover

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Re: Cam Chain Adjuster Life
Reply #14 - 10/11/07 at 08:12:42

Good to have data to determine MTBF (mean time before failure). So it seems Suzuki recognized some issue by modifying the tensioner spring to reduce force? I wonder if your data will show these later engines have improved cam drivetrain life. Maybe the difference will be lost in the noise caused by riding style, oil quality, change interval and so on. I don't intend to take a look at mine till around the 10K mark (unless noisy). Meanwhile, I look forward to some interesting conclusions.

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