busted cam chain tentioner...

[UncleSpot]

...is this still available from the dealer? Last night I put in new spark plugs after I adjusted the cam chain tentioner - the bike ran fantastic! This morning the bike started better than it EVER did... about 1 mile from the house a clatter came from the engine and it sounded like a bag of marbles in a washing machine...
...the bike didn't loose any power but I babied it home. 'took the truck to work.

Tonight I took the left side cover off, rotated the engine several times and aligned the 'C' and undid the cam chain tentioner locknut and backed the stopper bolt a few mm.s ...this was the 1st time I didn't hear the 'clank', to tell me the cam chain tentioner had moved... I then started moving the stopper bolt in... and in... and in... it did NOT stop. while I was looking at it with a drop light a big chunk of the surrounding metal where the locking nut seats FELL ON THE FLOOR... 'sure killed my supper appetite...

...anyone else ever go through THIS? My main question is "is this part still available from the dealer, or should I start calling 'salvage yards'?"

...I miss riding ALREADY!

[ratbyk]

Cam Chain Tensioner

With the number of parts bikes/engines in this group it should not take long before you get an offer for help. OK, word is out. Uncle needs a tensioner!
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"
92 ZX11 Temptress

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Uncle Spot,

For 80SG.
OEM parts section:

Check out Bike Bandit, bike bandit # Price
Cam chain fiche section
Part # 8: CASE,CHAIN TENSNR 22911-001 $22.87
This is just the case, not all the parts in it, I figure you've still go them and can swap them into this new case!?
HTH. T.C.

[skids]

Re: busted cam chain tentioner...

Don't roll the bike in gear, don't turn the crank to align the C mark, don't do anything until you can install a tensioner! You might want to check the alignment of the cams. If you are already on the C Mark, Install a good tensioner before you turn the crank with a wrench and if you feel a valve making contact, STOP and check/adjust the timing marks on the cams...

[ratbyk]

Tensioner Problems

Excellent advise Skids. Some times when we get a bit frantic with a problem we start trying things without thinking out the consequences.
Uncle, as Skids says, don't turn that crank without the tensioner in place. The cam chain could skip a tooth or two and you will be taking the head off and replacing some valves.
Ken/Sooke

[Pat Kelly]

Hey Ron,
I don't have a tensioner but if you want any help working on it let me know.
I can even hold the camera for the "How-To" video.

[uk1.1s]

Happened to me too

You are not alone.....

Yep - I had a tensioner body go ping about 7 years ago (how time flies). Had a replacement from a friendly breakers (bone yard) who gave it to me for free from a partially stripped engine (lucky me).

Mine sheared around one of the bolt holes allowing the spring to push the body away from the engine... so no other damage thank goodness. I just took off and refitted the new one.

My first repair attempt involved trying to JB Weld it together and curing in an oven (as I was due at a bike rally that day)..... but this doesn't work, so bite the bullet and grab a replacement from somewhere.

Cheers - Graham

[UncleSpot]

T.C. thanks for the part # for the case.
I went to Bike Bandit (I tried posting the URL but it did not work...) and not only ordered the case, but the asociated bolts, nuts, and gasket.

Thanks to skids and ratbyk for the advice.

Pat, I put these parts on 'express delivery' - so as soon as they come in, I'm closing my shop, going home and gonna go directly to the garage to install the new parts. This SG will NOT be down long if I can help it...

To "the curious"; if these parts 'do the trick' I plan on buying several - so if the same thing happens to someone else I can 'overnight' the case to someone else unfortunate enough to have this happen to them.

[Bubba1954]

Good luck Uncle. Sorry to hear of this problem. These old classics sure need their share of love and attention don't they..

Bubba

[UncleSpot]

'checked the FedEx tracking this morning (Thur) and the Cam Chain Tensioner parts will be tomorrow (Fri)!!!!!!!!
As soon as they're here I'm closing my shop, going home, installing the parts, sync the carbs and going for a L*O*N*G ride
...I may not come back 'till Christmas...


...to add icing on top of the cake I'm going to look at THREE XS11s in a couple of hours - I've never been a 'collector' of *anything* in my life (coins, stamps, etc) but THAT may change TODAY

1- 79, 2x 80s, 1 running, 1 questionable, 1 organ doner

Life doesn't get much better than THIS IMHO!

[UncleSpot]

'got the cam chain tensioner body, and a few other *VERY* important parts ('glad I ordered them...)

Learned something:
1) always use a NEW gasket on the c.c.t.body - fortunately I ordered 3...
2) always order a new o-ring to go on the other side of the washer under the adjuster tighten-down-nut
3) make *SURE* everything is tight before you go on a 'test ride' - timing cover on the left side was not as tight as it should have been...

'was gonna go for a L-O-N-G ride but the fog is so thick I can't see the 'hood ornament' on the fairing (...and I don't even HAVE one - it's "London Pea-soup thick") so I'll test it out on the way to the shop Saturday morning...

Bike Bandit has everything you need, I got it in less than 3 days - I've had nothing but great dealings with them. I will *NEVER* go back into the local Yamaha dealership - 'been over there about a dozen times and have NEVER been helped, or gotten the part I wanted (or needed).

'can't wait to start in on my next XS11 project

[ratbyk]

Addiction

Uncle, you are now a true XS 'er. You have been hooked, afflicted with the bug. Not as bad as dope but close. Welcome to the clan! Don't go so far overboard that you get swamped. One good running XS11 is all you need. (they are tough and go a long way) You can only ride 1 at a time. But a couple of spares for parts or back up is wise.
"Have XS. will travel". Hope to meet you over the coming summer at any one of several XS meets that will likely take place.
Take care and have fun.
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"
92 ZX11 Temptress

[nashville_bill]

UncleSpot,

Did the plans for shirts go away, or did I just miss the posting on that?

[UncleSpot]

Bill,
"XS shirts" are still on my 'to do list'.
I had one (L) polo shirt done (Macho Marron, without pocket, with 'XS Eleven' embroidered on it) just to see what they would look like. The shirt is fantastic but with the embroidery it's $22 - I was hoping to have them *shipped* for less than that... so that would make them $27(shipped) - and that's cost.

I'm shifting towards T-shirts instead... with Winter here, I think this would be more of a Spring/Summer thang... I have to have more of my 'business Ts' made up sometime in January or February so I'll focus my efforts at that time.

...I'll keep you posted.
XSive regards,
Ron (UncleSpot)