SuzukiSavage.com - the dreaded tensioner

JRLeathercraft Full Member Offline I'm not a biker, I just own one. Posts: 153	the dreaded tensioner 06/02/14 at 20:01:33 Yes, the time had come. Pull off the cam cover and it's crooked. I'll have to order one as I can't seem to find one in town. What is a recommended site to order parts? Jay
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pg Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 5273 In Transit	Re: the dreaded tensioner Reply #1 - 06/02/14 at 20:06:13 pm verslagen for one if his tensioners. Regarding other parts I go to partsfish.com. Good luck.
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S-P Serious Thumper Offline Back in the saddle again Posts: 816 Phoenix, AZ Gender:	Re: the dreaded tensioner Reply #2 - 06/02/14 at 20:27:56 If you just replace the stock tensioner it won't really do much good because the chain is stretched. That's why it is falling out. The Verslagen mod takes up the extra slack in the chain. If you go with just replacing the stock tensioner you'll need to replace the cam chain too.
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JRLeathercraft Full Member Offline I'm not a biker, I just own one. Posts: 153	Re: the dreaded tensioner Reply #3 - 06/02/14 at 20:58:29 verslagen doesn't have one. What is a can chain? how do I change it? Jay
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YoungSavage Junior Member Offline everyone knows I'm home by the KA-POW! Posts: 89 Monterey, California Gender:	Re: the dreaded tensioner Reply #4 - 06/02/14 at 21:12:59 He may be able to mod yours if you take it off and send it to him. This was is also cheaper if I remember correctly.
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S-P

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Re: the dreaded tensioner
Reply #5 - 06/02/14 at 21:38:32

JRLeathercraft wrote on 06/02/14 at 20:58:29:

verslagen doesn't have one.

What is a can chain? how do I change it?

Jay

It's the chain that connects your crankshaft to your camshaft and makes sure everything fires in proper order. If you have the side cover off it is the chain that your tensioner is bumping up against. The tensioner makes sure it stays on the sprockets and doesn't jump and throw off your firing sequence and blow up your motor. It is a job to change it, you have to pull the head. There are links in the tech section on how to do it.

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JRLeathercraft

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I'm not a biker, I
just own one.

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Re: the dreaded tensioner
Reply #6 - 06/02/14 at 22:00:58

Oh man, so it seems I'm stuck:

A new tensioner won't work, correct?

I have to wait until Versagen can make one or do the cam chain change which is a big job.

I think the option 3, cross you fingers option, is going to have to be it for now. I damaged the gasket, so I have to get a new one. I guess I'll put it back together and wait to see if I can get a mod one.

At least I'm learning a few things here.

Jay

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YoungSavage

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Re: the dreaded tensioner
Reply #7 - 06/02/14 at 23:16:44

If you live in a decently sized city you can always go to a machine shop and have them weld on an extra piece of metal the same size piece of metal rounded the same as the original with I believe a 12mm hole, or measure the original hole and make it the same as that. Without the drilled portion with the pin of a versy modded tensioner means you'll just have to check the tensioner every few oil changes.
http://www.savageriders.com/verslagen/CamChainClub/fixed.jpg

Heck you could even take a picture of this to a machine shop and they might be able to replicate this.... This is all in case verslagen cannot fit you in at the moment.

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1988 Stock, mixture screw out 2 turns, seat lift mod, elevation= sea level, main jet=155 pilot jet=55

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S-P

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Re: the dreaded tensioner
Reply #8 - 06/03/14 at 05:35:06

JRLeathercraft wrote on 06/02/14 at 22:00:58:

Oh man, so it seems I'm stuck:

A new tensioner won't work, correct?

I have to wait until Versagen can make one or do the cam chain change which is a big job.

I think the option 3, cross you fingers option, is going to have to be it for now. I damaged the gasket, so I have to get a new one. I guess I'll put it back together and wait to see if I can get a mod one.

At least I'm learning a few things here.

Jay

I wouldn't put it back together and try to ride it. If the tensioner plunger falls out completely you'll trash your engine. I had a machine shop do my modification from the picture because I needed it right away. Be sure to take them all the parts (little spring and all).

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shorty Serious Thumper Offline be careful out there gentlemen Posts: 547 southern NM Gender:	Re: the dreaded tensioner Reply #9 - 06/03/14 at 05:54:07 a local machine shop will easily weld an extension on your piston if Versy can't do one, you need the flattened end (with the hole) extended about 3/8-1/2" and a new hole drilled (further out in the newly welded portion) the shop will probably charge (1) hour labor, parts are going to be scrap
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ToesNose Serious Thumper Offline Pardon me, do you have Hot Sauce? Posts: 1993 Mooresville, NC Gender:	Re: the dreaded tensioner Reply #10 - 06/03/14 at 06:09:48 Print out all the pics of the Versey you can find and bring it to them for reference, that way there will be less of a chance of missunderstanding too
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justin_o_guy2

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What happened?

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Re: the dreaded tensioner
Reply #11 - 06/03/14 at 07:13:19

You dont even need a machine shop to just weld the extension hole on,,
Any 1/2 way competent welder can do that,, The load is nothing, its under pressure. It could be brazed & last forever, tho Id want to fish plate it if I was brazen enough to go that way,,
You put an extension on it & then it Cant spit its guts into the engine, because the tensioner spring cant shove its guts out far enough.
BUT, A slot & a pressed in roll pin make for some fine insurance on the day a new cam chain does go in..

Check the local community college welding shop.. Take some Versy pics & that thing ( cleaned up, dry) & see what kinda deal you can make,, a 6 pack may do it,,

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runwyrlph Serious Thumper Offline Semper ubi sub ubi Posts: 846 pa Gender:	Re: the dreaded tensioner Reply #12 - 06/03/14 at 09:22:43 justin_o_guy2 wrote on 06/03/14 at 07:13:19: . It could be brazed & last forever, tho Id want to fish plate it if I was brazen enough to go that way,, I love a good (or bad) pun!
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