Cam chain tensioner

[longfiredragon]

Hey all.

My manual cam chain tensioner leaks frickin oil. There is nothing wrong with the tensioner, the chain adjustment or any of that. The issue is I lost the instructions and my old fart bran can't remember.

So the question is, can I just remove the tensioner where it sits, seal it up to stop it leaking and just put it back in? Or do I have to loosen it first and go through the hole adjustment process again. Thanks.

[ptremb]

I would say do it where it sits, but when putting it back on use a wrench on the crank rotating ever so slightly to ensure all the slack is at the rear of the engine. IE roll the engine on the generator side counterclockwise while tightening the tensioner bolts by hand till the tensioner is seated to the cylender housing than torque the bolts (or nip them down, however you do it). if you don't roll the engine there is the possibility that the chain may have some rear side tension and strip the tiny bolt holes in the cylinder housing.

[longfiredragon]

Thanks for the reply. The base manual states to put 1&4 or 2&3 TDC and then install.

I ended up not removing it because I am pretty sure the gasket is going to be fricken trash, so decided to wait until I have a new gasket on hand.

Thanks again.

[Kawadoodle]

Just serviced my bike following run in from restoration. Checked the valve clearances and noticed the cam chain was really slack to the point that the chain was clicking and was partially riding up on the sprockets. It was still in time but for how much longer before trashing the engine...found the tensioner had stuck and needed freeing up. All good now but just as well I checked! Funny because I never heard any noise from the chain when running it in.

[capt42104]

Whoa that was a close call. Mine had only 1400 miles since new on it when it did the exact same thing. I put a manual one in and never looked back. Up to 2300 miles now and it is still whisper quiet.