SuzukiSavage.com - cam chain tension

ed daugherty

Junior Member

Offline

"Leave the gun.
Take the
cannoli."

Posts: 61
Dallas, TX
Gender: male

cam chain tension
08/17/12 at 16:04:59

I noticed a ticking loudly behind my oil filter and so i took the side cover off and i had to replace the cam chain tensioner. When i installed it it went all the way out to put some tension on the chain. it was nice and quiet for about 50 miles and then it steadily began again getting louder and louder. now it's back to how it was before and i don't know if i need to replace the chain or just the plastic pieces on the sides of the chain. any suggestions

Back to top

IP Logged

rfw2003 Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1108 Yantis, TX	Re: cam chain tension Reply #1 - 08/17/12 at 16:07:46 Buy a versy modded tensioner. it's got a 2nd hole to allow you to get full factory specs outta that timing chain. R.F.
Back to top	1996 Savage, Corbin Seat, K&N filter, Slip Streamer Enterprise II windshield, LED bullet signals, Cat's eye LED tail light Ryca reverse cone long muffler IP Logged

bill67

Serious Thumper

Offline

old tired

Posts: 8517
genoa city wisconsin
Gender: male

Re: cam chain tension
Reply #2 - 08/17/12 at 16:13:59

ed daugherty wrote on 08/17/12 at 16:04:59:

I noticed a ticking loudly behind my oil filter and so i took the side cover off and i had to replace the cam chain tensioner. When i installed it it went all the way out to put some tension on the chain. it was nice and quiet for about 50 miles and then it steadily began again getting louder and louder. now it's back to how it was before and i don't know if i need to replace the chain or just the plastic pieces on the sides of the chain. any suggestions

What weight oil are you using?That could be your problem.

Back to top

william h krumpen

IP Logged

ed daugherty

Junior Member

Offline

"Leave the gun.
Take the
cannoli."

Posts: 61
Dallas, TX
Gender: male

Re: cam chain tension
Reply #3 - 08/17/12 at 16:21:01

i use castor motorcycle oil 10w-30 it's not the oil. i know that for sure.

it's definitely the chain...i did notice some of the plastic guide had broken off...tiney pieces...when i replaced the tensioner.

i have less than 100 miles on the new tensioner. it's oem part and i don't want to buy another since that is not the problem now. i just don't know how long chains last. it's a 2003 and has 56k miles on her.

Back to top

IP Logged

verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28890 L.A. California Gender:	Re: cam chain tension Reply #4 - 08/17/12 at 16:23:34 replace your chain and rear guide if you're in a hurry. those broken bits of plastic are gonna clog up your oil pump. and 30 wt oil is too thin for everywhere except northern canada. for shame. don't know when I'm gonna have time for more Verslavys.
Back to top	Versey's Place Tech Section Index IP Logged

Cavi Mike Serious Thumper Offline Thumper n00b Posts: 1005 Rochester, NY Gender:	Re: cam chain tension Reply #5 - 08/18/12 at 04:53:59 No more Verslavy's? Say it ain't so! Maybe I can take up the reins. Let me know.
Back to top	IP Logged

drums1 Serious Thumper Offline '87 Savage Bashed--Down for the count Posts: 664 Racine, Wisconsin Gender:	Re: cam chain tension Reply #6 - 08/18/12 at 07:01:17 I might have a Verslavy for sale as soon as my motor blows..... and that could be any day now.....
Back to top	IP Logged

ralfyguy Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 932	Re: cam chain tension Reply #7 - 08/18/12 at 12:42:35 I still wonder if it mostly has to do with the guides, that the tensioner pops out early. Has anybody ever seen how it looks like underneath the cover on a brand new bike?
Back to top	IP Logged

Dave

YaBB Moderator
ModSquad

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 18105
Camp Springs, Kentucky
Gender: male

Re: cam chain tension
Reply #8 - 08/19/12 at 04:12:52

ralfyguy wrote on 08/18/12 at 12:42:35:

I still wonder if it mostly has to do with the guides, that the tensioner pops out early. Has anybody ever seen how it looks like underneath the cover on a brand new bike?

I had the cover off my bike when it had 400 miles on it. The tensioner was out 13mm at that point. The core belief on this site is that the tensioner ratchets out when the engine is cold, and has no ability to let up when the engine is hot.....that causes the chain to become overly tight and causes unnecessary stretch and wear. It is also the consensus that wear occurs based mostly on the number of heat cycles and not mileage....so people who take short trips will have problems with less mileage than those who ride long distances on each trip.

Back to top

Someday I will be old......But not today!

IP Logged

justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: cam chain tension Reply #9 - 08/19/12 at 08:05:00 Thats a pretty concise report on the cam chain wear theory,,
Back to top	The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke. IP Logged

ralfyguy

Serious Thumper

Offline

Posts: 932

Re: cam chain tension
Reply #10 - 08/19/12 at 18:39:29

Makes sense, and I still wouldn't be surprised if the guides getting less of a curve over time, flattening out a little. A little goes a long way there. I saw a picture on here where somebody took his guides and they looked all flat and gave it a little more of a curve, and that already took out quiet some slack. Problem is the plastic in the guides getting brittle over time and might flake off when one tries to bend them. When I got the modded plunger I did a little bending on the left guide as well. My original plunger was out 21mm. With the modded plunger and the modified guide, the plunger stuck out only about 1mm. Now I don't remember how far the holes in the modded plunger are apart. It's possible that only the plunger took out all the slack.

Back to top

IP Logged

verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28890 L.A. California Gender:	Re: cam chain tension Reply #11 - 08/19/12 at 18:49:39 those guides are spring steel covered with plastic, they don't flatten out.
Back to top	Versey's Place Tech Section Index IP Logged

Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28682 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: cam chain tension Reply #12 - 08/19/12 at 18:55:39 drums1 wrote on 08/18/12 at 07:01:17: I might have a Verslavy for sale as soon as my motor blows..... and that could be any day now..... That's just sad,.. ... Sorry, Drums... Hope it ain't too soon...... .
Back to top	Ludicrous Speed !... ... ... IP Logged