Manual Cam chain tensioner - Define "Resistance"

[stormi]

Hey All, we just installed one of Jay's manual cam chain tensioners, but I'm not sure it's gone well.  (At the same time, she got an oil change, water pump outlet hose, and a new battery - All that's left now is the clutch basket and some exhaust paint.)

The instructions say tighten the bolt til you feel resistance.  It would seem that my idea of resistance might be a little different than the next guys, so I suspect that there's a little margin for error?

How much resistance do they mean?  The "second" you feel it change?  A significant change?  

We read the instructions, followed the directions, but she has a decided "snap" sound to her when she's started/running.  Sort of like someone playing with a lot of bubble wrap.   ( I guess that would be a rattle noise? ) It sounds an awful lot like a plug wire arcing on the block, but we've checked all the plug wires.  

What I'm trying to figure out is if we've made the chain too tight, or too loose  .  We're going to put the auto tensioner back in and see if the noise goes away.    Then start again.  

If the noise doesn't go away, I guess it points to one of two things:

1.  It wasn't the can chain tension
2.  Could we have had it too loose and it skipped a tooth?

A friend of ours said that if she's jumped one tooth, it's not a -big- deal (i.e. it needs to be fixed, but a ride won't make her go boom), that we should just take her out for a quick ride and see how she does.  I'm not too comfy with that idea.

I personally don't want to run her period til I know what's wrong... but would really like for her to be running so she can take him to work tomorrow.

I was thinking that I might try to tighten it 1/4 of a turn, if that doesn't do it, perhaps loosen it 1/4 turn, etc etc.  Thoughts?

Edit: Ok,.. we followed all but one of the directions.  We did not remove the external oil hose. Does this make a difference at all?

[tomacGTi]

How I did the manual tensioner.

-Install tensioner, hand tighten till you feel the tensioner contact the chain
-Warm up motorcycle (this is the important part)

-When warm, carefully loosen the tensioner till you hear it dieseling at idle (loose cam chain). Slowly turn it in until the dieseling goes away. Give it 1/8 more and tighten the locknut. Done.

An alternative is to just warm the motorcycle up with the old tensioner in place and remove it once you hear the fans cycle. Of course, it will be hot as hell in there and the 5mm bolts will roast you trying to get them out.

Now, when cold, you will hear the cam chain knocking around a bit until oil circulates and tolerances tighten up. This usually takes about 3 minutes or so. It's better to have it slightly loose than too tight and a must to adjust it when the bike is warm as things expand.

-Randy

[gsxr400 racer]

here is the thing i do and have done a ton of time if you have already started it coolant in it and all. start it let it idle loosen the lock nut turn as you say a 1/4 at a time till you hear the noise go away, then back that off a tich, shut the bike off and tighten the lock nut all the while holding the tensioner so it don't turn till the bike is off. If it gets to tight the rpm's will go down cause its straining to turn the motor over and will eventually stall. If your really worried take the valve cover off and check the timing.
cheers
jay

[gsxr400 racer]

you got it girl?    

[stormi]

Hey Jay!

Yes,.. she's all quiet now. (Well, except the clutch basket) It was about a ½ turn looser than it should have been.  She runs really well.  Starts a little harder, takes two tries instead of one, but that's likely not relevant to the tensioner, just one of Dita's little tricks.

Thanks for the help,.. I know I shouldn't have been so concerned, I just -really- don't want her to go BOOOOM!!  

It sounds like I would have snuck up on it regardless with the ¼ turn trick.  

Now if Mother Nature would let me take her headers off and paint them, I'd be a pretty happy girl.   As soon as I said I was going to paint, the storm clouds rolled in.  They're still here, and still dropping stuff.  

[gsxr400 racer]

cool i aim to please!

[del la sol]

Are you still selling the manual tensioners?  I'd like to install one in my bike.

[gsxr400 racer]

yes sir they are in my store follow the link in my sig if you cant find them let me know
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=130079523112&rd=1&rd=1

[gsxr400 racer]

saved you the search

[GooseMan]

Hmmm...I'm wondering now if my 5000rpm vibration is due to the cam tensioner....

Does anyone have an OEM one in good condition? I dont know if I need a race one, since I'm not really sure if the cam tensioner IS the source of my vibration. But if I can get a cheap OEM one in good condition, maybe I'll try it.

Is it ieast to replace? I dont have to take the carbs off or anything do I? I can pretty much see it on the bike...looks easy to get out....

[tomacGTi]

I've got two good ones if Jay doesn't have any for you.

Shipping to Canukistan could be the deal breaker though.

-Randy

[GooseMan]

where are you located? If youre in the US, USPS shipping to here is like $10-20 or so.....not that bad

[gsxr400 racer]

post should be under 5$ to canada from US send in bubble wrap envelope go for it tomac

[PitterB4]

Canukistan

   

[tomacGTi]

$20 shipped sound fine? PM me if you're interested.

-Randy