Quick cam chain question.

[Mortman22]

I want to replace the gasket between the cam chain adjuster and the head. My question is, is there anything special I have to do before I take the adjuster off? Also I want to replace the rubber button at the end. Will the button just come out once the adjuster is off? Also I want to replace the small O-ring behind the adjusting screw. Will it be OK to take the whole thing apart once it's off the bike? Thanks for your help.

[TADracer]

It is Ok to take it off as a unit and then change out all the parts. When you install it, make sure you push the plunger in first. After you get it back in, rotate the engine clockwise until you get to the C mark. then loosent he locknut and you should hear a click when the plunger springs in. Tighten the locknut and that is it.

[trbig]

Be really careful about not overtightening the set screw, and when rotating your crank clockwise, when going to the "C" mark, if you go slightly past it, just keep going around again until you get back to the "C". If you try to back up some at all, it will put the slack in your chain to the wrong side of the motor and you will be defeating the purpose of it's job.

Tod

[HobbyMan]

I have replaced my outer plug on the tensioner, and I now need to replace the gaskett too. By plunger, do you me the rod that pushes on the cam chain itself? After that, after I put that rod(plunger) in, then do I put the tensioner housing on and rotate the engine. Am I right to be weary of rotating the crankshaft without the tensioner in place and tight?

[TopCatGr58]

Mort, Tab, and Hobby,

The rotation part is right, but do it BEFORE you take it off, that way it's already set for retensioning once you put the tensioner back on the bike!! You don't want to rotate the engine with the tensioner not pushing against the chain, can jump teeth that way!!

The plunger is the device in the tensioner that pushes against the rubber coated flats inside the engine that push on the chain! When you take it off, replace the O-rings, end plug, etc., then you compress the plunger and gently set the lock screw to hold the plunger compressed. Then after you secure the tensioner to the engine, you then release the lock, and you will hear the CLINK as the plunger slides in to position. Inspect the plunger shaft first for wear/burrs from the lock bolt, sand/file smooth before reassembly!
T.C.

[HobbyMan]

What does it mean when you don't hear a clink? I did not compress the plunger all the way in. Should I hear it any way?

[HobbyMan]

Well I started it and it runs fine. I Put some more oil in it and I must wait till tomorrow to check for leaks. On the tensioner, there is just a spring and plunger, no extras right? When I took it off, it shot out because the tensioner was stuck in there and it gave way all of a sudden. So I am hoping it that there is just the pluger, spring and tensioner housing. I really don't feel like taking it apart again for a while. Thanks for the info everyone. This has been long over due.

[trbig]

Now that you have it locked down, you can do the sequence again and take the tensioner out once more WITHOUT loosening the set screw. After you have it in your hand, loosen the set screw. If it pops out.. you still have adjustment left. If it was all the way out... new cam chain time.


Tod

[HobbyMan]

I will have to do that tomorrow. How long to chains normallly last?

[trbig]

I am not sure. A long time... but it is going to depend alot on your riding habits. Someone who babies their machine... will probably last longer than someone who rips it up to redline every chance they get. They aren't that tough to change, you just have to pay attention to what you're doing... (Better than I did anyway....lol) If you have a book for your bike, I think there is actually a measurement to tell if the adjuster is within spec or not... but don't quote me on that.

Tod

[HobbyMan]

I have several books, and I will check on that. I have come to the conclusion that the reason that I did not hear a click was because I only had the plunger set half way out and it was already contacting the chain gaurd. When I let it go, it jsut did its job and tensioned the chain.