SuzukiSavage.com - Cam chain tensioner and mod information!

Benjiiboy

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Cam chain tensioner and mod information!
03/15/23 at 15:42:53

I was on a FB page for these awesome little bikes! and got chewed out for asking a basic question about the cam chain issues. And another member told me about this forum! So I signed up!

So I have an 03! 37444 miles, and not sure if it's all the original in there as I'm the 4th known owner.

But I inspect it fully before every riding season, for this common known issue about the tensioner and I'm about 4-6 clicks away and feel as if it's time to address the issue.
I was wondering since before I caught the tensioner issue before it's starts to separate, I'd the mod will get me another season or 2 so I can tackle replacing all of that next winter.

Thank you!!!
Ben!

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Benjiiboy YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 6	Re: Cam chain tensioner and mod information! Reply #1 - 03/15/23 at 15:52:04 Here's a picture
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28787 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Cam chain tensioner and mod information! Reply #2 - 03/15/23 at 16:06:08 sorry you got a bad response, I don't know why anyone would feel that's appropriate since you can't really search FB that well. what would you like to know?
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Benjiiboy

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Re: Cam chain tensioner and mod information!
Reply #3 - 03/15/23 at 16:11:27

Well I feel as I caught the issue of the plunger falling out well before it will. I'm just wondering if the mod to the tensioner would allow me to tackle the issue next winter when I put the bikes to bed.

I see very little wear on the guides, there's still paint on the chain sides.
And if so, how many more miles/kilometers would it let me get by.

And fyi my parts guy at the dealership told me about the extension mod on the plunger.

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28787 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Cam chain tensioner and mod information! Reply #4 - 03/15/23 at 17:54:20 it's recommended to do something before the plston has extended 18mm, if you let it go until 22mm then it's ready to go any second. a conservative rule of thumb 1000 miles per mm so adding 15mm would add 15,ooo to your riding.
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Benjiiboy YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 6	Re: Cam chain tensioner and mod information! Reply #5 - 03/15/23 at 18:01:51 Oh wow! So that would put the chain at about 50k miles a more reasonable maintenance schedule. I heard horror stories about it going between 3k miles and 10k, those are belt numbers not chain. I'll have to measure it later! And what's the measuring points for the 17mm? And thank you!
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verslagen1

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Re: Cam chain tensioner and mod information!
Reply #6 - 03/15/23 at 18:40:22

Benjiiboy wrote on 03/15/23 at 18:01:51:

Oh wow! So that would put the chain at about 50k miles

I'm pretty sure your chain has been changed at least once.
Quote:

a more reasonable maintenance schedule. I heard horror stories about it going between 3k miles and 10k, those are belt numbers not chain.

if you don't mod the tensioner, then yes, it can go that early but it depends on your riding style... a lot of short trips shorten the chain life vs long rides equals long chain life
Quote:

I'll have to measure it later! And what's the measuring points for the 17mm?

measure along the smooth portion of the plunger starting at the housing.

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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2697 WTF is JOG?	Re: Cam chain tensioner and mod information! Reply #7 - 03/15/23 at 19:48:56 I would get a modded tensioner in there asap: http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1338489898
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Ruttly Serious Thumper Offline Thumpers Rule Posts: 5008 Manteca , CA Gender:	Re: Cam chain tensioner and mod information! Reply #8 - 03/15/23 at 20:35:35 Good advice : Fix it NOW !
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Cam chain tensioner and mod information! Reply #9 - 03/16/23 at 01:37:00 I've been here since 2005. I've seen quite a few engines killed. The oil filter Can be installed backwards. By the time it blows up the cover,usually the engine is ruined.. Letting the tensioner go has killed several. I remember one that ran afterwards. Not sure how long.
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Benjiiboy

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Re: Cam chain tensioner and mod information!
Reply #10 - 03/16/23 at 04:11:07

:'(justin_o_guy2 wrote on 03/16/23 at 01:37:00:

I've been here since 2005. I've seen quite a few engines killed. The oil filter Can be installed backwards. By the time it blows up the cover,usually the engine is ruined..
Letting the tensioner go has killed several. I remember one that ran afterwards. Not sure how long.

I'm addressing the tensioner now! And thankfully I've yet to install the oil filter backwards! And I replace that filter about 2 times in a season. And I noticed a long while ago that it gets oil starved when idling on the kick stand so by accident I discovered that a 2 inch block helps that out a lot when warming up.

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Moarpower Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 331	Re: Cam chain tensioner and mod information! Reply #11 - 03/16/23 at 17:33:11 Hey bro. Yeah I was that facebook discussion too. Insanity. I would also suggest checking your chain guides. I put a new chain on mine and it was still too close for comfort. Pulled the guides and they were covered in cracks and way too flexible.
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Benjiiboy

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Re: Cam chain tensioner and mod information!
Reply #12 - 03/16/23 at 17:40:28

The guides seem fine. They still have the paint on them chain side. I've pretty much decided to just fab something up for the season and get by. I'll just take a few more measurements and post them tomorrow. And see what everyone says, I prices all the parts out yesterday at the dealership and it was near 500$ U.S. and that's just too much money to spend when these things seems ready to explode from the gate.

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