SuzukiSavage.com - Cam chain tensioner questions

Toroso

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Cam chain tensioner questions
07/08/13 at 09:32:48

I take it from what I have read here that the problem with the stock cam chain tensioner is that it's design can allow the plunger to come out of its housing? This leaves loose parts bouncing around moving parts making a bad situation? Cam chain could actually come off making another bad situation?

What is the purpose of the cam chain tensioner? To keep tension on the chain as it stretches? When the plunger piece is out the recommended 19mm, what is the course of action? Replace cam chain?

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Oldfeller--FSO Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline Hobby is now "concentrated neuropany" Posts: 12671 Fayetteville, NC Gender:	Re: Cam chain tensioner questions Reply #1 - 07/08/13 at 09:36:13 Read this, then refine your question based on what you know now. http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1176999168
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justin_o_guy2

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Re: Cam chain tensioner questions
Reply #2 - 07/08/13 at 11:45:33

Toroso wrote on 07/08/13 at 09:32:48:

I take it from what I have read here that the problem with the stock cam chain tensioner is that it's design can allow the plunger to come out of its housing? This leaves loose parts bouncing around moving parts making a bad situation? Cam chain could actually come off making another bad situation?

What is the purpose of the cam chain tensioner? To keep tension on the chain as it stretches? When the plunger piece is out the recommended 19mm, what is the course of action? Replace cam chain?

This leaves loose parts bouncing around moving parts making a bad situation?

catastrophic engine destruction is a closer definition to what could, & usually does, happen.
not to mention the hazard it creates for the rider should that happen in traffic in a good sweeping curve..

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Dane Allen

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Re: Cam chain tensioner questions
Reply #3 - 07/08/13 at 11:52:27

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 07/08/13 at 11:45:33:

Toroso wrote on 07/08/13 at 09:32:48:

I take it from what I have read here that the problem with the stock cam chain tensioner is that it's design can allow the plunger to come out of its housing? This leaves loose parts bouncing around moving parts making a bad situation? Cam chain could actually come off making another bad situation?

What is the purpose of the cam chain tensioner? To keep tension on the chain as it stretches? When the plunger piece is out the recommended 19mm, what is the course of action? Replace cam chain?

This leaves loose parts bouncing around moving parts making a bad situation?

catastrophic engine destruction is a closer definition to what could, & usually does, happen.
not to mention the hazard it creates for the rider should that happen in traffic in a good sweeping curve..

A keeper prevents the plunger from exiting the housing.

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clearush

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Re: Cam chain tensioner questions
Reply #4 - 07/08/13 at 12:15:40

Dane Allen wrote on 07/08/13 at 11:52:27:

A keeper prevents the plunger from exiting the housing.

Since when?? the major design flaw in the Savage/S40 cam chain tensioner is there is no "keeper" to keep it together once it exceeds the 21mm max extention. Which is why its so essential to check the tensioner at 10K miles and ever so often afterwards and either change the tensioner for a Verslavy tensioner or replace your cam chain and followers.

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strang

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Re: Cam chain tensioner questions
Reply #5 - 07/08/13 at 12:28:49

Versalagen1 (moderator on here) sells a "verslavy" which is an aftermarket part that he designed and builds. It has a stop/stopper that prevents the plunger being able to wiggle out of the housing and destroy your engine.
I don't know about you but I thought it was good insurance and took me 45mins to fit.

photo courtesy of mpescatori - hope that's cool. Cool

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verslagen1

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Re: Cam chain tensioner questions
Reply #6 - 07/08/13 at 12:58:57

clearush wrote on 07/08/13 at 12:15:40:

Dane Allen wrote on 07/08/13 at 11:52:27:

A keeper prevents the plunger from exiting the housing.

Since when?? the major design flaw in the Savage/S40 cam chain tensioner is there is no "keeper" to keep it together once it exceeds the 21mm max extention. Which is why its so essential to check the tensioner at 10K miles and ever so often afterwards and either change the tensioner for a Verslavy tensioner or replace your cam chain and followers.

Dane failed to say it, but he meant the verslavy has a keeper... and he has one Cool

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Toroso

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Re: Cam chain tensioner questions
Reply #7 - 07/08/13 at 13:21:12

strang wrote on 07/08/13 at 12:28:49:

Versalagen1 (moderator on here) sells a "verslavy" which is an aftermarket part that he designed and builds. It has a stop/stopper that prevents the plunger being able to wiggle out of the housing and destroy your engine.
I don't know about you but I thought it was good insurance and took me 45mins to fit.

It sounds like good insurance to me. I'll be getting one.

I'm going to do an oil change as soon as I can and want to check the current situation then. I was browsing around looking for a gasket and came up with a set for whole motor, which I don't want. And an OEM for like $26!!! Anyone have a clutch cover gasket part number?

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Dave

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Re: Cam chain tensioner questions
Reply #8 - 07/08/13 at 13:35:27

You can go to any online supplier and access the parts diagrams and get price and part numbers.

http://www.hondaofflorence.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=432114&catego...

Some of the cheaper gaskets on eBay or online are not factory ones and don't have the sealant applied to the gasket where the pressurized oil passages take oil up to the cylinder head.

NOTE: Don't ask me why there are 2 different part numbers listed for the cover gasket......I don't know the difference.

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Dane Allen

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Re: Cam chain tensioner questions
Reply #9 - 07/08/13 at 14:01:11

verslagen1 wrote on 07/08/13 at 12:58:57:

clearush wrote on 07/08/13 at 12:15:40:

Dane Allen wrote on 07/08/13 at 11:52:27:

A keeper prevents the plunger from exiting the housing.

Since when?? the major design flaw in the Savage/S40 cam chain tensioner is there is no "keeper" to keep it together once it exceeds the 21mm max extention. Which is why its so essential to check the tensioner at 10K miles and ever so often afterwards and either change the tensioner for a Verslavy tensioner or replace your cam chain and followers.

Dane failed to say it, but he meant the verslavy has a keeper... and he has one Cool

Yes and it is now spelled correctly in my tagline

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RIP!! 01/2012-09/2016 S40 Boulevard, Raptor Pet, Rotella T6 Synth, Verslavy CC Tensioner -- You left too soon.

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Toroso Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 120 Kingston, TN Gender:	Re: Cam chain tensioner questions Reply #10 - 07/08/13 at 14:53:49 Since my bike is approaching 20K miles. Would it be a good idea to replace the cam chain when I put the new tensioner on? Is that a job a noob could handle?
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Dane Allen

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Re: Cam chain tensioner questions
Reply #11 - 07/08/13 at 14:57:18

Toroso wrote on 07/08/13 at 14:53:49:

Since my bike is approaching 20K miles. Would it be a good idea to replace the cam chain when I put the new tensioner on? Is that a job a noob could handle?

As a fellow noob my vote is no Grin

I think you should measure the slack in the chain first and see how the tensioner fits, but that is just me. I swapped mine at 1,400 miles as a case of cheap insurance.

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verslagen1

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Re: Cam chain tensioner questions
Reply #12 - 07/08/13 at 15:00:23

Toroso wrote on 07/08/13 at 14:53:49:

Since my bike is approaching 20K miles. Would it be a good idea to replace the cam chain when I put the new tensioner on? Is that a job a noob could handle?

If you're replacing the stock tensioner (why?) you need a new chain instead.
If you're putting in a verslavy, then the chain will be ok for another 20k miles.

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Cam chain tensioner questions Reply #13 - 07/08/13 at 15:06:12 man, if you need a tensioner, get one from versy, dont be puttin a stock unit in there,, conjure up in your mind that sign posted , with the skull & bones, by some water in a desert, surrounded by bones,, the sign says youll be Sorry!
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WD Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Professional "scooter trash". Posts: 5207 Rosemark TN Gender:	Re: Cam chain tensioner questions Reply #14 - 07/08/13 at 15:27:54 Ah, c'mon JOG, we haven't had a catastrophic engine failure from a poorly designed factory engineered part in so long...
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