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Excessive cam chain guide wear?

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  • Excessive cam chain guide wear?

    In the middle of "exploritory surgery"; setting the timing back as I think I jumped a tooth on the crank after doing the CCT swap. I got the cams out and noticed it looks like the chain guides are worn excessively. Not sure if anyone has experienced this or not but, it looks like the chain grooved the front and rear guide by about 0.100-0.150" deep. Any thoughts about this, any ill effects?

    Always though about replacing the chain if I ever got this far into the motor and here I am unexpectedly...

    Rear guide..



    Front guide...

    '79 XS11 F
    Stock except K&N

    '79 XS11 SF
    Stock, no title.

    '84 Chevy K-10 "Big Blue"
    GM 350, Muncie SM465, NP208, GM 10 Bolt with 3.42gears turnin 31x10.5 Baja Claws

    "What they do have is an implacable, unrelenting presence and movement that bespeaks massive power lurking behind paint and chrome. They don't wail like a screeching ninja, the don't rumble like a harley. They just growl like a spactic, stressed out badger waiting to rip your face off and eat your soul." Trainzz~RIP~

  • #2
    Cct

    Do you think the wear was caused by the CCT? How many miles do you have on your CCT swap? I'm asking because I have been hearing some strange noises in my top end. I can't tell if it's knocking from the cheap ethanol flavored gas or if it's a timing problem.
    1979XS1100SF
    K&N's and drilled airbox
    Jardine 4in1
    Dunlop Elite 3's
    JBM slide diaphragms
    142.5 main jets
    45 pilot jets
    T.C.'s fusebox & SOFA
    750/850 FD mod.
    XV 920 Needle Mod.
    Mike's XS plastic floats set at 26mm
    Venture Cam Chain Tensioner

    Comment


    • #3
      I haven't put any miles on the auto CCT. Was in the act of installing one when I think I jumped a tooth. I installed it then turned the engine clockwise a few full revs and didn't hear the CCT adjust... for some reason I decided to try turning it counter clockwise and heard two loud clicks, then I tried to turn clockwise again and felt resistance so I figured it jumped two teeth on the crank. So... removed the cams and took a look down and noticed the guide are a bit worn. The bike has 45K on the clock and I haven't done a cam chain adjustment in the 13K miles I've owned it... I can't say I've ever noticed a chain slap sound from the engine but then again I don't know exactly what I would be looking for anyways...
      '79 XS11 F
      Stock except K&N

      '79 XS11 SF
      Stock, no title.

      '84 Chevy K-10 "Big Blue"
      GM 350, Muncie SM465, NP208, GM 10 Bolt with 3.42gears turnin 31x10.5 Baja Claws

      "What they do have is an implacable, unrelenting presence and movement that bespeaks massive power lurking behind paint and chrome. They don't wail like a screeching ninja, the don't rumble like a harley. They just growl like a spactic, stressed out badger waiting to rip your face off and eat your soul." Trainzz~RIP~

      Comment


      • #4
        I've dismantled 3 engines and the blades all looked in the pic. I wouldn't worry about it!
        XS1100F 1980 European model. Standard. Dyna coils. Iridium plugs. XS750 final drive (sometimes). Micron fork brace. Progressive front springs. Geezer regulator/rectifier. Stainless 4 into 2 exhaust. Auto CCT (Venturer 1300) SOLD. New project now on the go. 1980 European model.

        Comment


        • #5
          I don't have the ones form Thunderstruck around, but I am almost certain they looked about like that. I know you could see where the chain was at. That engine had just under 30k on it. I tend to agree with James, nothing to worry about there.
          Life is what happens while your planning everything else!

          When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.

          81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
          80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection


          Previously owned
          93 GSX600F
          80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
          81 XS1100 Special
          81 CB750 C
          80 CB750 C
          78 XS750

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          • #6
            It is not that unusual, IMHO. The actual part of the guide you need to inspect is the center ridge. That is where the chain rides as the ridge contacts the rollers on the chain. As long as that ridge is OK and still high enough to make contact with the rollers and not let the links ride on the flats all the time then, the guide is still good.

            Still, I would keep an eye on it whenever you have the valve cover off.
            Mike Giroir
            79 XS-1100 Special

            Once you un-can a can of worms, the only way to re-can them is with a bigger can.

            Comment


            • #7
              The guides are made with that center ridge, that is how it is supposed to be.
              Nathan
              KD9ARL

              μολὼν λαβέ

              1978 XS1100E
              K&N Filter
              #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
              OEM Exhaust
              ATK Fork Brace
              LED Dash lights
              Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

              Green Monster Coils
              SS Brake Lines
              Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

              In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

              Theodore Roosevelt

              Comment


              • #8
                Marshy, your cam chain guides look pretty good. I did some work on Soccer4m's bike a little while ago and the upper cam chain guide was toasted. You can click on the pictures I added above yours to see a larger image.


                This is a badly worn upper cam chain guide. The center cam chain roller support ridge is almost gone and the guide fit in the cylinder head was so loose that it fell out of its mount when I bumped it with my hand.

                My pictures of Soccer4m's XJ1100 bad upper cam chain guide:










                This is a good, used, cam chain guide. The center cam chain roller support ridge is still in good shape.

                WMarshy's picture of his rear cam chain guide:



                Wmarshy's picture of his front cam chain guide:

                -- Scott
                _____

                2004 ST1300A: No name... yet
                1982 XJ1100J: "Baby" SS Brakes, '850 FD, ACCT
                1980 XS1100G: "Columbo" SS Brakes, '850 FD, ACCT
                1979 XS1100SF: "Bush" W.I.P.
                1979 XS1100F: parts
                2018 Heritage Softail Classic 117 FLHCS SE: "Nanuk" It's DEAD, it's not just resting. It is an EX cycle.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Ok, thanks for the reply everyone. I didn't realize they are supposed to be that way. I thought the links wore into the guide and the center ridge was the result... good to know. The upper support guide is in good shape too...
                  '79 XS11 F
                  Stock except K&N

                  '79 XS11 SF
                  Stock, no title.

                  '84 Chevy K-10 "Big Blue"
                  GM 350, Muncie SM465, NP208, GM 10 Bolt with 3.42gears turnin 31x10.5 Baja Claws

                  "What they do have is an implacable, unrelenting presence and movement that bespeaks massive power lurking behind paint and chrome. They don't wail like a screeching ninja, the don't rumble like a harley. They just growl like a spactic, stressed out badger waiting to rip your face off and eat your soul." Trainzz~RIP~

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I second 3Phase

                    I second 3Phase's assessment,,,he did the valve adjustment on my XJ,,{I gave up with the motion pro tool long ago},and lo and behold now I can see why I always had a top end rattling noise, that would get louder at idle and slightly less loud at higher rpm's. It was the center bridge. As Scott said it was toasted,,,,the center ridge was almost flat, the ends were worn down almost to the metal, overall the rubber was less than half the thickness it should be and no center ridge,,,and only 25000 miles on the bike, must of been the P.O. neglect or XJ oddity. I always change oil, adjust cam chain etc......just did the auto cct, and mucho quiet compared to before. The bike still ran great with the worn out bridge, but now quieter.............its time for DURANGO RALLY,,,,,,,,,,Mike in Sun DIego
                    mike
                    1982 xj1100 maxim
                    1981 venture bagger
                    1999 Kawi Nomad 1500 greenie
                    1959 wife

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