Set and forget tensioner (For XJs too)

[Ivan]

nope didn't file the bolt holes at all.

Also, if you have the valve cover off and for some reason have the cam sprockets loosened up,make sure you tighten those bolts back down. The sprockets make a hell of a noise when they are loose

[mason79]

all i can say is wow

[79XS11F]

Well this is a great discovery isn't it!!! WOW, why the heck would Yamaha not have updated their parts lists to do this by default on the xs11 engine. This change was likely made as a result of the problems owners were having with the tensioner on the 11s. Anyway there's no shortage of them on e-bay at various prices. I just picked up 2 at 10 a piece but shipping to good old Canada will drive the price for the pair to close to 40 bucks. I checked the part price at bike bandit and they are over 100 each new!!!
Rob

[petejw]

What a great little mod, cheap to.
Thanx for sharing Ivan.

[randy]

Rob, good point. In fact, my 80 xs400 had a ratcheting tensioner. It was located under the valve cover! Don't know about the other years' of 400 engines, but the idea was there at least as early as 80.

[acof911]

Set and forget tensioner (For XJs too)

Discoveries like these are why I check this site every day.
Good tip.
Thanks Ivan

[81xsproject]

Does anyone that ended up with more than one want to get ride of one? The eBay selection doesn't look so hot at the moment (new demand). If not I will keep waiting and watching for one to go under 20.

[Bigfoot]

Have one of these on my list but might have to wait until the new demand dies down.

[Flatlander]

X2 for me too. My tensioners plug left me this year. Would like to just replace the whole thing with one of these.

Does anyone that ended up with more than one want to get ride of one? The eBay selection doesn't look so hot at the moment (new demand). If not I will keep waiting and watching for one to go under 20.

[jrplumber1]

This is great

Just did this to mine today. WOW , it is way nicer looking and auto adjust. You cant go wrong. I love it!!

[tarzan]

I just won one of these on ebay.$8.95 plus $4.95 shipping.Nobody else bid on it.That is the last part I need to put the 78E back together.WOOHOOO

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Does anyone that ended up with more than one want to get ride of one? The eBay selection doesn't look so hot at the moment (new demand). If not I will keep waiting and watching for one to go under 20.

Check XS XJ parts for sale

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Have one of these on my list but might have to wait until the new demand dies down.

I got an extra one Bigfoot but mine wasn't as cheap as tarzan's

Listed in parts for sale.

Greg

[GARTHXS]

so how does it work?

I should be getting one this week and I am wondering how it works , correct me if I am wrong . so unscrew the big nut on the tensioner push the ratcheting shaft back in and tighten the nut , install then loosen said nut and then tighten again? please help me out here Ivan

[Ivan]

Its not a nut, its a plug, which retains the tensioning spring. With the spring out, the shaft can be retracted. the tensioner is installed just as if you had the original. Instead of loosening the setscrew and re torquing it, you just put the spring and plug back in the tensioner and it will take up the slack. The ratchet will keep the adjustment.