Cam Chain Boo Boo

[tony7914]

Hi guys!
It was a beautiful day today so I decided to do some of the work I have been wanting to do on my 79 special, I don't have a garage so I do all my work outdoors. Part of the work was replacing the cam chain as the old one was starting to slap a bit.

Things were going fine, disassembly went without a hitch, hooked the new chain to the old one and fed it through, got both ends of the new one on top and was in the process of securing the loose end of the new on when it slipped through my fingers and down into the case

My question is what now? do I have to split the case to get the chain to feed around the crank now or can it be done by just pulling the jugs and feeding it around like that?

I'm looking for the lowest cost solution so any help or ideas would be very welcome!

[DiverRay]

Toney, just as a quick and dirty first try, stick one of those magnets on a cable down, and see if you can pull up the cam chain end with it. The little bit of time may save a LOT more, if you get lucky.
Ray

[tony7914]

I had already removed the chain before I thought of that idea.

[xssiveone]

Before I split the cases, I think I would try and feed it from underneath. Not sure if you have enough room, but try removing the oil pan and see if you can feed it under the crank. Then try and hook it with the magnet. Once you have it up on one side, try the other. It's a long shot, but it beats taking the motor down if you don't have to.

If you DO have to take the motor down to get it back in, you DO NOT have to touch the head or cylinders. Follow the bolt removal sequence in the manual, and then remove the bottom half. Saves you a lot of work and the price of the head and barrel gaskets. Upper and lower case halves don't use a gasket.

[tony7914]

Thanks for the replies!! You folks are great!

I'm doing all my work outside, no concrete to work on except the little pad I made for my bike.

I did some searching and I noticed someone else tried to feed their chain through the bottom, not sure if I want to go that route.

If possible I wanted to do this without pulling the motor from the frame, I have limited space and a landlord who would get miffed easy.

From what the book says I can pull the head and the jugs while the motor is in the frame (less parts to store in my truck) If I go that route can the chain be fished around the crank easier?

Aside from the gasket for the top cover and the head gasket what other gaskets would I need to buy?

[Ken Talbot]

With the oil pan off, you might be able to find the dripped chain from the bottom. I was able to find a bolt this way one time when I dropped one of the bolts that attaches the drive gear to the camchain.

[JWSanders]

I have a coupla gadgets that might could work?

One's a strong magnet on a teloscoping rod, like an old-style antenna. The head with the magnet on it is sorta long, and flexible.

I also have a 3' long plastic-coated fully flexible rod (1/8" or so) with a magnet on the end of it. It's called a Wet Noodle. They're made for fishing wire through walls for alarm systems and/or access control.

I would think something like that could snake its way under the sprocket and grab hold of the chain. An alarm supply company would have them for sure. Like ADI or Anicom, if you have them in your area. I think I've even seen something like it at home depot.

Gotta be worth trying before cracking the cases. That's a big undertaking for just getting a chain back on.

[trbig]

I dropped my cam chain when I was changing it also. I think that if you get the chain down one side of the crank and bunched at the bottom (I tied the other end to my frame with some string) I attached one of those telescoping magnets to the tip of a long screw driver and held them together as I slid the magnet down to where I wanted it. I had to have the screwdriver because the magnet kept trying to grab the crank and everything else... screwdriver helped guid it. The head of the magnet pivots... so using it and the screwdriver, you may be able to grab that chain from the other side... just get those chain guides out of the way and play with it a while. Those telescoping magnets are at most auto stores for just a few bucks. Good Luck.

Tod

[trbig]

Also... you might even try a small nut tied to a thin string... drop it down in there.. try to get it fished around and grab that nut with the magnet... then when you do, tie the chain to that string and pull it around.

Tod

[tony7914]

Thank you for the replies!
I'll stop at the parts store tomorrow and grab a telescoping magnet and a really long screw driver to try before I go pulling the head.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[excess11]

It can be done

Gotta be worth trying before cracking the cases. That's a big undertaking for just getting a chain back on.

I was able to make a gizmo out of some thin Stainless Steel tie wire. It worked to retrive my chain so it is possible but not easy. I almost lost my mind and all patience before I finally got it to work. I would not even think of opening the motor until all other options have been attempted and failed !!!!!!!!!! JUST REMEMBER DO NOT ROTATE THE CRANK OR YOU WILL BEND YOUR VALVES!!!! This is important to remember until you reset the valve timing!!

[mro]

fish or cut cases

When I pulled the head off the 80LG I dropped the cam chain (back side of motor)

I have a "grabber" tool. Don't remember where or when I got it.

As flexible as a lawn mower throttle cable (looks like one).
One end has a button to push, when you do three hard wires come out the other end like opposing "claws".

Just fished around back side of motor and was able to snag it out.

Depending on the contour of the bottom of the engine (never had one apart) it might be flexible enough to reach other side to pull a chain around.

Since it's not magnetic, for some fishing expeditions it works much better.

Should be able to get from auto parts store.



mro

[skids]

Re: It can be done

At that stage with the cams out, I am pretty sure that you can rotate the crank, but with the chain in a heap down there, it might not be the best idea. Get a good strong telescoping magnet and perhaps a piece of plastic to help guide it to the chain because the magnet will prefer a number of different objects in there. I used a wire about like a coat hanger with a hook to grab the chain once it was lifted. Have help in case the crank needs to be rotated (there is that sprocket down there) but do not force it. The tough thing is getting the chain around the crank sprocket again. This is impossible if the bike is on the side stand. Use your center stand.

Originally posted by excess11
JUST REMEMBER DO NOT ROTATE THE CRANK OR YOU WILL BEND YOUR VALVES!!!![/COLOR] This is important to remember until you reset the valve timing!!

[excess11]

OK

JUST REMEMBER DO NOT ROTATE THE CRANK OR YOU WILL BEND YOUR VALVES!!!! This is important to remember until you reset the valve timing!!

I was assuming that the cams were still in the head. It sounded like he cut the old chain and was pulling the new chain in with the old one. The cams would not have to be removed to do this. I might be wrong!!!

[Ken Talbot]

When you go looking for a magnetic pick-up tool, look for one like the bottom one in this photo:


It has a collar that slips over the magnet that seems to focus or amplify the pulling power. At the same time, it eliminates any attraction to the side of the pick-up head.




I'm not sure how this works, but with the tool that has a collar, you can fish it way down inside a tight spot, and it will not grab at the sidewalls or anything else while you try to get hold of your original target.