SuzukiSavage.com - Cam chain tensioner question

Savage 1987

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Cam chain tensioner question
08/01/11 at 11:24:15

Should I be worried about the following?

I opened up the clutch cover this weekend to inspect the tensioner and found that it was just a hair over 0.71". So it is time for me to do something.

However, I also found that the tensioner housing had some decent scuffs and scratches...see below pictures with screw driver pointing to area in question.

I didn't find any loose items in the case that may have caused this.

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28651 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Cam chain tensioner question Reply #1 - 08/01/11 at 11:27:37 Yup... ...
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Savage 1987 Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 56	Re: Cam chain tensioner question Reply #2 - 08/01/11 at 11:37:56 A very basic visual inspection of the gears and moving parts showed no other damage. I am fairly sure that the previous owner dropped/laid the bike down. I saw evidence on other exterior parts that made me think that. I it possible for the tensioner to knock against the clutch cover if the bike fell over?
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Cam chain tensioner question Reply #3 - 08/01/11 at 11:40:22 scuffing usually occurs on the other side, caused by the spurrs of the gremlin. But I wonder if it was installed upside down for awhile? As the only thing in there to scuff it so is the rear guide. .71" = 18mm Yep, time to do something.
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swardlow YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 12	Re: Cam chain tensioner question Reply #4 - 08/01/11 at 11:43:37 so should he replace the timing chain?
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Savage 1987 Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 56	Re: Cam chain tensioner question Reply #5 - 08/01/11 at 11:57:18 please don't say replace the chain.... please don't say replace the chain.... I don't know that I can handle that project on my own.
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Oldfeller--FSO Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline Hobby is now "concentrated neuropany" Posts: 12671 Fayetteville, NC Gender:	Re: Cam chain tensioner question Reply #6 - 08/01/11 at 12:00:57 verslaggy
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spacepirates Serious Thumper Offline Igni Ferroque Posts: 515 Pittsburgh, PA Gender:	Re: Cam chain tensioner question Reply #7 - 08/01/11 at 12:12:23 There is a mod called a verslavy (verslaggy whatever). Check this thread: http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1191167029 the verslavy you can do yourself. not bad at all. how many miles does the bike have and what year is it? miles are important to know for cam chain wear/stretch.
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Savage 1987

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Re: Cam chain tensioner question
Reply #8 - 08/01/11 at 12:42:31

spacepirates wrote on 08/01/11 at 12:12:23:

There is a mod called a verslavy (verslaggy whatever).

Check this thread:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1191167029

the verslavy you can do yourself. not bad at all.

how many miles does the bike have and what year is it? miles are important to know for cam chain wear/stretch.

I have already read up on verslagen's mod. So I am all set on what I need to do with the tensioner.

My concern is how the scratches got there.

The bike is a 1987 with about 13,000 miles. I have only put maybe 5 miles on it since I have owned it. I have been working on my RYCA project since I bought it.

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28651 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Cam chain tensioner question Reply #9 - 08/01/11 at 12:46:33 looks clean enough otherwise... maybe they installed it that way at the factory?... ...if something in there did it,.. it must be scratched up too... see anything?... ...the adjuster bolt hole looks a little boogery too... or is that just me?...
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drums1

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Re: Cam chain tensioner question
Reply #10 - 08/01/11 at 12:48:59

I have 20,000k on my '87. I just did the Verslavvy this past winter. When installed, the plunger was almost all the way back, and there was still a good 2" of space before chain touches itself. In your case I would do the Verslavvy and ride. My old one had some similar scratching on it--Possibly a factory grind to properly fit it in there? Not sure, but no problems from it so far.

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verslagen1

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Re: Cam chain tensioner question
Reply #11 - 08/01/11 at 12:54:24

Serowbot wrote on 08/01/11 at 12:46:33:

looks clean enough otherwise... maybe they installed it that way at the factory?...
...if something in there did it,.. it must be scratched up too... see anything?...

...the adjuster bolt hole looks a little boogery too... or is that just me?...

All the old ones look that way, just a little wear from the head of the bolt.

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Serowbot

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Re: Cam chain tensioner question
Reply #12 - 08/01/11 at 12:55:37

verslagen1 wrote on 08/01/11 at 12:54:24:

Serowbot wrote on 08/01/11 at 12:46:33:

looks clean enough otherwise... maybe they installed it that way at the factory?...
...if something in there did it,.. it must be scratched up too... see anything?...

...the adjuster bolt hole looks a little boogery too... or is that just me?...

All the old ones look that way, just a little wear from the head of the bolt.

mine musta' been special... Grin

...

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Savage 1987

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Re: Cam chain tensioner question
Reply #13 - 08/01/11 at 13:02:29

Serowbot wrote on 08/01/11 at 12:46:33:

looks clean enough otherwise... maybe they installed it that way at the factory?...
...if something in there did it,.. it must be scratched up too... see anything?...

...the adjuster bolt hole looks a little boogery too... or is that just me?...

Serowbot, the hole is a little out of shape, your right.

Nothing else inside appears to be damaged.

I have a theory that the previous owner replaced the tensioner with a factory replacement (for some reason). And he dropped the tensioner assembly on the ground, hence the scratches seen in the pictures.

Its a very complex theory!

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drums1 Serious Thumper Offline '87 Savage Bashed--Down for the count Posts: 664 Racine, Wisconsin Gender:	Re: Cam chain tensioner question Reply #14 - 08/01/11 at 13:07:39 That would have to be one helluva drop....like from the 10th story. If you don't hear it hitting, I wouldn't worry about it.
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