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Cam Chain Tensioner swap - New parts source?

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  • Cam Chain Tensioner swap - New parts source?

    I recently rebuilt the engine of my 78 XS11 and it seems that everything else wants to break now that the engine is fixed. One of those things was the Cam Chain Tensioner. It leaked quite a bit no matter what I did. Recently, the bottom half of it cracked.The bike went from having a runny nose to a bloody one.


    That crack ended up getting some JB Weld that held (most) of the oil in.

    A while back I was reading about tensioner swapouts. Seems some of the guys were swapping CCTs from Ventures and Visions. Since my tensioner was jacked up, I took a gamble and ordered an automatic tensioner from a Yamaha Raptor 660


    Has the same offset as the XS11 tensioner


    It's a spring loaded ratchet. It looks almost identical to the Vision tensioner.

    I got this thing off of Ebay for $9. Free shipping too. I figured for that little money, it was worth trying. Turns out, it worked pretty much perfectly.

    Here's what I did:

    1. Removed timing cover
    2. Turned engine clockwise with a hex key (6mm) until the "C" mark lined up with the pointer
    3. Removed the 2 hex bolts (5mm) from the cam chain tensioner
    4. Removed the cam chain tensioner and paper gasket from the engine
    5. Loosened and removed large bolt (19mm I think) and underlying spring from front of Yamaha Raptor auto tensioner.
    6. Depressed the ratchet arm on the tensioner and pushed the plunger all the way back in.


    The ratcheting arm is on the bottom left of the picture. Note the copper washer on the bolt. No more runny nose.

    7. Put the gasket on the body of the auto tensioner and inserted into engine. Secured the body of the tensioner with the 2 hex bolts from the old tensioner.
    8. Inserted the spring and bolt and tightened down.


    I just painted that engine yet it's so dirty already.

    You'll kind of hear the plunger ratchet into place before you even get the bolt screwed in. The body bolted on to my engine with hardly any resistance. I did use a rattlegun though. Not much wins a fight against one of those.

    Everything seems to be working fine. Looking forward to not hearing that slapping cam chain noise. It'll be interesting to see how the auto adjust works out. The only thing I'm worried about is forgetting to check on it. The plunger on the old tensioner probably had about and 1/8" until it was fully extended. I'm guessing it's almost time for a new cam chain. This new tensioner will extend much farther than the original one and has the potential to let my chain stretch too far. Guess I'll have to keep an eye on it.

    Seriously though, $9 auto cct, Yamaha Raptor
    Last edited by CodyLane; 02-11-2012, 02:55 AM.
    80 XS11 "Bellatrix"- MAC 4-1, ZRX1200 carbs, Dynatek Coils, Raptor CCT

  • #2
    Cool!!! Another choice!
    Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

    '78E original owner - resto project
    '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
    '82 XJ rebuild project
    '80SG restified, red SOLD
    '79F parts...
    '81H more parts...

    Other current bikes:
    '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
    '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
    '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
    Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
    Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

    Comment


    • #3
      More choices are a good thing.
      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


      • #4
        The part about using the rattle gun to put the bolts in made me cringe though.
        Greg

        Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

        ― Albert Einstein

        80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

        The list changes.

        Comment


        • #5
          will these work on a 79special?
          81 XS1100H

          Comment


          • #6
            All these 1100 engines are the same as far as the tensioner. Yes it will.
            Greg

            Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

            ― Albert Einstein

            80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

            The list changes.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by BA80 View Post
              All these 1100 engines are the same as far as the tensioner. Yes it will.
              Thanks!!!!
              81 XS1100H

              Comment


              • #8
                Using a rattlegun is probably not the best idea. It makes taking off the covers so fast though! I think I'm just sick of hex keys.
                80 XS11 "Bellatrix"- MAC 4-1, ZRX1200 carbs, Dynatek Coils, Raptor CCT

                Comment


                • #9
                  Great tip, Cody. I just scored one too. thanks
                  1980 XS 11 Special: The King of Kong, 9th wonder of the world. Pacifico fairing, chopped shield, Yamaha hard bags, Diamond seat, T-Kat fork brace, XJ top end, YICS Eliminator, '80 carbs from Spyder Cycle Works, K&N Air filter, Fuse block, stainless steel valves & reg/rect from Oregon MC Parts. Raptor CCT, XJ air shocks, 850 FD, Sportster mufflers, Standard handle bar, Tusk Bar Risers, SS braided brake lines. Cat Eye speedometer. HID projector beam headlight, LED running lights.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Just ordered mine.... thanks for the heads up. I read this after I posted a question of what models to get one from. Should have searched the forums first...

                    Gonna assume you got yours from Muff's Motorsport's on Ebay as he has about a dozen of them listed on there
                    Don
                    1979 XS1100SF "Old Man" bought by my Dad brand new in 79, customized in 80 with Vetter, Standard tank, and touring seat. I inherited in 02 when Dad passed. Been riding it since 09. No resto, bike is a survivor...

                    2007 RoadStar 1700 Midnight Silverado "The Black Pearl" Cobra Slash-downs, K&N filter. More mods to come


                    old:
                    1989 kawi ex500
                    1996 yzf-r6
                    1999 yzf-r1
                    2001 kawi zx-6r
                    2000 Ducati 748
                    2002 YZF-R1
                    2005 V-Star 1100 Classic

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Totally got it from Muffs.
                      80 XS11 "Bellatrix"- MAC 4-1, ZRX1200 carbs, Dynatek Coils, Raptor CCT

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        My auto Raptor tensioner should be here by this weekend. if I got time with the rest of the stuff I have planned I'll get it installed
                        Don
                        1979 XS1100SF "Old Man" bought by my Dad brand new in 79, customized in 80 with Vetter, Standard tank, and touring seat. I inherited in 02 when Dad passed. Been riding it since 09. No resto, bike is a survivor...

                        2007 RoadStar 1700 Midnight Silverado "The Black Pearl" Cobra Slash-downs, K&N filter. More mods to come


                        old:
                        1989 kawi ex500
                        1996 yzf-r6
                        1999 yzf-r1
                        2001 kawi zx-6r
                        2000 Ducati 748
                        2002 YZF-R1
                        2005 V-Star 1100 Classic

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Got my Raptor tensioner and installed it yesterday. (Got it for $7.02 including shipping ) it was a tight fit as far as the mounting holes but I didn't have to ream them. It probably would have gone on easier if I had reamed the holes a little. The spring tension seemed to be about the same as the venture ACCT.
                          Ty

                          78 XS1100E - Now in Minnesota
                          80 XS1100LG - The Punisher
                          82 XJ1100 - Current project - The Twins
                          82 XJ1100 - Wife's Bike - The Twins
                          82 XJ1100 - Daughter's Bike
                          72 Suzuki TS125 - Daughter's Bike
                          72 Yamaha Mini JT2 - Youngest Daughter's bike (She wants a bigger one now)

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I've just had a bloke round here asking about his camchain tensioner on his Suzuki GSF600 Bandit, not sure if you lads get them over there, anyway he had it in his pocket for me to check out, its absolutely identical to the one in Cody Lanes pics below. That might open the possible parts cache.





                            Tom
                            1982 5K7 Sport, restored to original from a wreck
                            1978 2H9 (E), my original XS11, mostly original
                            1980 2H9 monoshocked (avatar pic)http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...psf30aa1c8.jpg
                            1982 XJ1100, waiting resto to original

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Got a Raptor tensioner from Muffs. Real fast shipping. Clean, slick part. Installed it yesterday with a home made rubber gasket. Glued it up with Honda HT gasket sealer. No road test yet, but it seems tight. Fit was perfect. Price was way right. Never did like the original. Cost me some intake valves when it failed.
                              1980 XS 11 Special: The King of Kong, 9th wonder of the world. Pacifico fairing, chopped shield, Yamaha hard bags, Diamond seat, T-Kat fork brace, XJ top end, YICS Eliminator, '80 carbs from Spyder Cycle Works, K&N Air filter, Fuse block, stainless steel valves & reg/rect from Oregon MC Parts. Raptor CCT, XJ air shocks, 850 FD, Sportster mufflers, Standard handle bar, Tusk Bar Risers, SS braided brake lines. Cat Eye speedometer. HID projector beam headlight, LED running lights.

                              Comment

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