Cam chain repacement.

[Nightflier240]

I saw a post a few years back about how to replace the cam chain by getting a master link for it and threading it onto the old chain and turning the motor with the kick starter to thread the chain around the gears. My question is, what happened to that post, or was that a dream I had while I was unconscious? If it was not a dream where can I get a master link for this chain. The chain I just picked up does not have a master link, I would have to crack this thing open to put it on I think???? Any and all advice would be welcome on this subject.

Last time I was here asking questions I was rebuilding my 79 XS1100SF and y'all got me up and running to the pint that I put almost 12000 miles on before the snow got too deep. Now I am homeless and living in my camper and staying way far away from those frigid parts of the country so I will be able to ride ride ride all I want to, if I can get this beast back to running, has been sitting down here at my brothers in NC for the last 2 years in the weather, gotta redo the carbs the brakes and the exhaust and a generak clean up.

Any and all advice or help would be appreciated.

Thanks to any and all that read this,
Dave

[bikerphil]

There is a master link for the replacement chains, although it must be riveted on. I wouldn't trust the clip type master link on there. I think you may be right, I do remember of someone using the clip type link. Either way, no need to crack the cases.

[Nightflier240]

gaskets

Well now I have a complete gasket set for the motor that might come in handy if I decide to totally rebuild the motor

[TopCatGr58]

The chain I just picked up does not have a master link, I would have to crack this thing open to put it on I think???? Any and all advice would be welcome on this subject.

Any and all advice or help would be appreciated.

Thanks to any and all that read this,
Dave

Hey there Nightflier,

You're not dreaming, there was a thread, or more that would have described that process. The main thing is that you'll need to REMOVE the cams so that ALL of the valves are retracted into the head BEFORE you rotate the crank to fish the cam chain around it. Then once you have the new chain in positon, you then put the crank into proper timing position (T mark) and then put the cams and sprockets back in, and then run the cam chain and install and peen the master link.

SO.....what brand of CHAIN did you get? www.mikesxs.net has a few master links but depends on the brand of chain, different dimensions. I thought Partsnmore had them, but I just checked and they don't, just the chain itself.... D.I.D. brand, so it may be a solid complete chain also??

http://www.mikesxs.net/products-26.html#products

Rivet Link Yamaha cam chain D.I.D. 219FTss Rivet Link - D.I.D. 219FTss. Fits: #52-4008 Cam chain. Made in Japan



NOTE: May not fit to old original chains due to later chain dimension and
design improvements made to strengthen cam chain. Part #01-8802$4.50 USD Ea

T.C.

[DiverRay]

To install a new cam chain, you will need to do the following:

1. Put the bike on the center stand!
2. remove the valve cover
3. Turn the crank to TDC
4. pull the cam chain tensioner, and watch to make sure the cams do not move.
5. use a chain tool to break the cam chain at the top center. It will help
if you pull the center guide first.
6. attatch the new chain to the old with the master link, but do not peen the rivits.
7. SLOWLY feed the chain over the crank gear, slack on one side, pull on the other.
8. when the new chain is all the way through, put the master link in and peen.
9. re-install the tensioner, and SLOWLY turn the crank at least two times by hand.
Make SURE that the marks on the cam line up again after the two revs!!
10. Adjust valves, re-install cam cover.

This isn't the "perfect" way, but it works.

[Nightflier240]

Lost in mess.

T.C. thanks for getting me back on the site, appreciate it. I am currently getting my camper ready to leave my brothers front yard, it has been sitting here empty for the last two years but that is another story, got back down here three weeks ago and went straight to Corral Motorcycle and got all of the items I thought I might need to get this thing up and running again, last time I rode it the throttle got stuck full open about a hundred yards from the T intersection and I had to do some quick maneuvers to get it stopped, so while I was going to just pull and clean the carbs and put new cables on it then got to thinking the cam chain has been making that slapping sound since I bought it back in 91' so I figured that it is a good time to change it out, like I said I got all of the parts for the carbs a new set of engine gaskets and the chain, plugs, oil filter, and battery in this mess of a camper that I live in, the chain is some place just not sure where at the present time, tomorrow I am hoping to get the camper finished cleaning, should have brought my friend Crystal down she is ocb and would have had this place spotless in a week, it takes me a lot longer than that, bad back and all.

Any way I will find the new chain tomorrow, hopefully, and let ya know what brand it is, I got it from:
Corral Motorcycles 3608 West Hwy.74 Monroe, N.C. 28110

Had to give them a plug because they are a great bunch of guy's up there, if you need something for your "old" bike they will find what you need.
It is a solid chain, well no breaks in it with a master link. I will have to do some grinding to get it appart, just not sure of how deep into this motor I will have to get, have not been inside of this one yet I know hard to believe never even pulled the valve covers off. it has been the most reliable thing in my life for the past 26 or so years, love this bike, quick a **** off the line and a good top end, all of the HD guys all look at me like I am a pos until they are eating my exhaust or dust or a few times mud. OK I am starting to ramble now, meds kicking in for the night, time to watch a movie or just go to bed. I'll check on the brand of chain I got and let ya know tomorrow, thanks again for getting me back on here, my isp did snag the original email.

[Nightflier240]

Break chain

So it would be a good Idea to get this:
http://www.mikesxs.net/product/35-0111.html
from Mikesxs????????

[jetmechmarty]

So it would be a good Idea to get this:
http://www.mikesxs.net/product/35-0111.html
from Mikesxs????????

I borrowed a tool just like that to do the job. The breaker pin was broken, so I replaced that first. I broke it and bought another one before returning the tool. Having said that, the tool expedites the job.

[Diskman01]

I used a Chinese 5 dollar Dremel and cutoff wheel to bust my original chain. I just ground off a side link. I attached some bailing wire to both sides of where I was cutting so the chain cant fall in. Attached the new chain to the old chain with a link and gently pulled it up and through. I ordered 2 master links. Needed 2 as I lost the outside link for one of em when I was peening it. Heard it hit a wall. I did find it eventually.

[Nightflier240]

Cam Chain Brand

T.C. this chain has three names on the box "Camellia" "Tsubakimoto Chain Co. " and "Tsubaki" Made in Japan.

It is a solid chain, I am going to start searching for the master link for these brand as mikes does not carry this brand as far as I could tell. I noticed that Mikes is for the XS650 parts o they also work on the XS1100SF? When I got my bike back in '06 I purchased an XS850 and not many parts would work on the XS1100SF, just wondering.

[Nightflier240]

Found the master link

I found the master link at Z1 enterprises inc., in New York. The link was only $0.36 ea, so I got three of them, I know how I get when I get frustrated working on things. Now all I have to do is figure out how to peen the chain once I get it on the bike.

[skids]

Ain't saying this is the right way but it worked for me.
Have an assistant hold a heavy bar against the back side of the pin.
Use a center punch and a good size hammer (like 22 oz). The center punch makes that side flair a bit.
Finish it with a little more pounding. Not TOO MUCH. You still need it to pivot withing the chain, but enough that it will not work its way back out.

[Nightflier240]

Peening

I purchased a tool today to press preen the pins on the master link, I'll let ya know how it works out, just going to use the pencil grinder to take the link out of the chain, can't see $60.00 for the breaker, riveting set just to use it once, hopefully only once, don't want to jinx this project before it starts.