Timing chain replacement

[xsivebiker]

At what mileage have you replaced your timing chain?
A} Before 50,000 miles
B} Between 50,000 miles and 75,000 miles
C} Between 75,000 miles and 100,000 miles
D} 100,000 miles or greater
E} Never, it takes a beating and keeps on ticking

Greg
1980 XS1100-G

[sixtysix]

I changed mine at 85K, I noticed the adjuster had almost reached the end of it's adjustment when I had it apart, only way I knew it was time.

[strom]

Since I had the engine apart and a new camchain, I changed it, alltho the old one didn't appear stretched. The bike has 66kkm. Or is it 166... dunno.

Changed it on kawa at 58kkm.

LP

[kenkrieger]

Gary, when you replaced you cam chain was it necessary to replace the guides as well ?? I am slowly buying parts ahead of these types of eventual maintenance, this is one that I might not need to buy if they didn't show an Xssesive amount of material loss. Also how hard were you on that XS...??

[sixtysix]

I never replaced the guides, never even thought about it, to be honest. As for asking if I was 'hard' on it (that's kind of personal ain't it Ken!! ) I certainly did not beat the crap out of it, not babied, but not thrashed either. I would consider it to be normal riding.

[kenkrieger]

Hehe,yea maybe to personnal,,,,but hey inquiring minds want to know,ya know. So if you never though of it ,must not have been an issue,,cool. I'm only in mid 32k so I have a while to go yet I hope,,,we shall see,,,thanks for the info. Do you ever ride that bike anymore ???

[sixtysix]

Originally posted by kenkrieger
Do you ever ride that bike anymore ???

Not as much as I would like to, there is nothing wrong with it, just have two other bikes that want to be ridden as well. Maybe only 1500 or so miles on the XS this year......5+K on the Triumph, and 3K on the Bandit. Pretty slow year considering I put around 20K tatal on all 3 last year!

[xsivebiker]

Gary,
Are there any tricks or special attention needed to take the cam chain adjuster apart? Is this in the Tech Tips?
My XS has nearly 59,000 miles and I'm wondering how to determine the condition [amount of adjustment left] of the cam chain.
Thanks to everyone for the input.
Greg
1980 XS1100-G
1979 XL250-S

[sixtysix]

I you want to take the cam chain adjuster apart, then you need to set the bike up like you are doing the adjustment. Here are some tips.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=63

But basically I would do one of three things to determine the amount of adjustment you have left. Go ahead and adjust it normally, then when you are done, just remove it. The plunger will be locked in the place where it adjusted to. Then either loosen the lock bolt and make sure it springs out some or completely disassemble it (if you had a leak or something) and see where the lock bolt had marked in the groove and make sure it is not all the way back. Then of course you have to put it back on and reset it, and tighten the lock bolt. Another way is to just loosen the lock bolt and then pull the adjuster off, when you push it in you should feel the plunger hit and then the spring start to compress, if you do not feel the spring compress you are out of adjustment. The 4th way to know is if you adjust it and there is no difference in a noisy cam chain.

MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT ROTATE THE ENGINE WITH THE ADJUSTER OUT, OR WITH THE LOCK BOLT LOOSE. MAKE SURE YOU ARE AT THE PROPER TIMING MARK PER THE MANUAL, BEFORE LOOSENING OR REMOVING ADJUSTER.

If you look at the timing chain plunger (look at the flat part of shaft) you will see where the bolt locked on (little circles) each time it was adjusted, see how it is very close to the end? Of course if you are on your second chain this won't work cause the old marks will still be there!!

[John]

I just did mine, but the engine was scattered while I was doing the Big Bore Project, so that made it real easy to do. It was an endless chain (no master link) so the engine had to be split.

[chevy45412001]

chains

Mines got roughly 42 or 48,000,i beat the living poo out of it every time i ride it.I got the chain (w/master) and the gasket,for valve cover and adjuster.I want to change heads though,so i have to get head gasket yet.The other head has about 8,000 miles on it.Figure it wount need to be gone through i hope.Oh ya my adjustment is maxed the reason for new chain.