cam chain

[roSSco]

My cam chain is a little bit on the noisy side so I took into the shop. The mechanic tells me that the automatic cam chain tensioner is fully extended and I need a new cam chain...... $1200-$1400 to replace it because the crankshaft needs to be pulled to put a new one on!!!!
My question would be have any of you put a manual tensioner on? would it go further than the manual one? The bike only has 27000kms seems a little premature for a new cam chain.
     

[txbanditrydr]

Whoa.... that's a chunk of change right there.  I know the cases have to be split but for that kind of money you might as well go ahead with a 1216 kit or similar.

On the other hand your automatic tensioner might just be at the far end of travel where the "auto" part doesn't want to work.  You can usually get a little more life out of it by removing it and reset the ratchet action.  Rotate the crankshaft (at sig gen cover) clockwise to tighten things across the cam gears.  Put the tensioner back on without the spring and use an Allen wrench to stick in the hole and apply pressure for force the tensioner to the furthest click.  Put the spring and cover on and go ride it.

Note: I may not have all the terminology right but the procedure is right.  It quieted mine.

Now then... a manual (APE) tensioner has more travel and will work as well - that will be my next step if necessary because I don't want to spend the money or downtime splitting the cases.

Either way I think you have options before writing the check.  Good luck.

[roSSco]

 Thanks for the tips... Any ideas on where to purchase an APE manual tensioner?

[txbanditrydr]

Try clicking H E R E

[mademiriam]

I got a 'noise' which was anything but nice from my chain, and just went ahead and installed the ape... easy to do and have another couple thousand kms on it without hearing anything unusual.

[Red01]

Try clicking H E R E

Or straight from APE Racing, R I G H T  H E R E . 

One other thing... you can get cam chains with rivet style master links to avoid splitting cases and save a bundle on labor.
If you do decide to go with an endless chain, APE sells a HD racing cam chain that they say is cheaper than the OEM one.

[Big Jay]

If you are talking about a Bandit 1200, there is no HD chain available. However, our tensioner will do the job.

Jay

http://gsxrzone.com/sprockets.html