Set and forget tensioner (For XJs too)

[GARTHXS]

thanks Ivan!

now if I can just get the parts, What did you use for a gasket , can I just use some permatex?

[Ivan]

I use anerobic gasket maker from loctite (518?) which works really well on a place where two machined surfaces meet. It won't fill gaps like silicone will, but makes a better seal than silicone would in the same instance. Its fairly expensive.

All that being said, a nice smear of silicone around the flange should work just fine, as long as the surfaces are nice and clean, absolutely oil free. It takes some sopping up with a rag, since about a tablespoon of oil collects in the galley behind the tensioner.

[randy]

Garth, check your PM's. I mailed the tensioner saturday.

[GARTHXS]

Randy

Hey Randy , I got the pm

[bikerphil]

Just put one on my SF few days back. Used Permatex ultra grey. Question, what if the ratchet mechanism were to somehow fail? Would the spring be strong enough to hold the chain from jumping?

[Elevener]

Our friends across the ocean have a pretty good discussion about this.The consensus there is "let the yanks run it for awhile first" lol.

They seem to think the plunger may need reshaped. Im going to wait also just because demand is up and what I got aint broke.

[Ivan]

No reshaping needed. The plunger has nice rounded edges, and it works fine. I am guessing its mostly because they drink tea instead of coffee, so they aren't thinking clearly. Its pretty obvious, just look at stonehenge. Who the heck would haul perfectly good rocks 500 miles and put up a monument to something they forgot and not have one single huge foam hand souvenier to show for it.

[79XS11F]

I got my 2 units today so that's one for each bike. Question. During the switch out are you doing it with the valve cover off so you can confirm that the cam chains position does not change when the full amount of slack in the chain is not under any tension? If the cam chain is overly loose what are the chances that all the slack could allow the cam chain to hang too far off the bottom and back side of the cranks sprocket and change the timing?
Rob

[bikerphil]

I switched mine out without removing the valve cover and with the bike on the centerstand. With the spark plugs out, I slowly rotated the crankshaft by hand a few times after installing the tensioner just to make sure it was ok.

[79XS11F]

Some of the lads at the UK site are concerned about excessive tension and hastened cam chain guide wear. It would be interesting to know how much load the two units deliver.
Rob

[DGXSER]

Seams to me that if the springs are similar spring rates, then the pressure would be the same, just more consistant. As in, the pressure applied when you do a fresh adjustment on the original style would be similar if not the same as on the self adjuster, but the self adjuster keeps that pressure the same as where the manual adjuster loses the pressure over time until you adjust it again.

[Ivan]

Some of the lads at the UK site are concerned about excessive tension and hastened cam chain guide wear. It would be interesting to know how much load the two units deliver.
Rob

Wow, they worry a lot...

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Two units?

[DiverRay]

Two units?

Some of us have more than one bike...

[GARTHXS]

stock and modded

Two units?

hes talking about the difference between the 2 units