cam chain tensioner plug gone

[crashman]

Would anybody happen to have one of those cam chain tensioner plugs laying around for a 78? Or, where one could be bought? No local Yama-dealer close but if they're still available I guess I could make the 40+ mile ride to get one. I noticed a little oil the other day and saw mine was gone. Have one on the parts bike but kinda hate to uncork the engine just for that, if you know what I mean.
Thanks.
David

[John]

Take the tensioner out and take it to an auto parts store and see if they have small diameter freeze (expansion) plugs. I think 1/2-9/16 inch is what I used. You will have to make the outside diameter a little smaller, and it will be a snug fit. Make sure you clean the area real well with carb spray, or brake clean. Tap it in with hammer and punch. Once in place, fill the cavity with black silicone, smooth it over, and let it cure over night. It will work fine and look great. If you don't want to do that, I've got the one that I recently repaired for sale to a customer, who decided he didn't need it after all.

[buffalo]

I use a rubber vacuum plug from a parts store in mine. The plug is cup shaped and meant to cap an unused port, just turn it cup out and stuff it in the hole, no sealer needed. It is easily removed for adjustment and has not fallen out in a year and a half. Any auto parts store should have a selection of them.

[MartyA]

You modern guys are so cool. I just glopped some JB Weld in there 5 years ago.

[Ken Talbot]

Then again, you can simply fabricate a new plug from cork and glue it in with some RTV silicone. Of course, you can't just use a cork from a bottle of wine, it has to come from a bottle of champagne. With proper execution, this might even get you some brownie points from SWMBO...

[randy]

Obviously, Ken, you finished the champagne before you hatched that one! Cheers.

Randy

[nashville_bill]

David,

I bought a new one from Sloan's about a year ago and it was about $4. Give them a call and they will order one for you and we can pick it up on Monday or they will mail it to you. Oh, get a gasket too.

I looked for my old one, but I must have thrown it away.

[rneal55555]

Went to Adjust the Tensioiner last night after I changed the oil in the xs650 and lo and behold the cork fairy must have replaced my tensioner plug with a cork too. But it's leaking some probably a low grade wine cork. One more thing to do.
Russ

[Ken Talbot]

Yup, that's what you would expect using something that was pulled from a bottle with a corkscrew...