Might be serious.. .

[GrahamB]

My Fazer has just broke down on me today. Accelerating hard in 2nd gear, just about to select 3rd when there was a loss of power followed by a tinkling -rattly sound from down below. There seems to be compression still but the starter motor is just spinning over very quickly now as if it's not meshing with the starter cog. Is the small engine cover on the right a window to my cam chain? I am just about to go fetch the bike in my van when I've stopped crying.
 Somebody wish me luck please, I'm having a bad day/week. 

[Bracechenko]

Good luck mate! Sounds expensive but hopefully someone with some knowledge can gauge what it might be 

[Falcon 269]

Doesn't sound good, Graham, no pun intended.

My guess from your description is that the cam chain has jumped a couple of teeth.  The tinkle-rattle noises were probably a few valves playing 'kiss the piston'.  Your starter motor is spinning easier because you don't have full compression on all cylinders as a result.  I would be delighted to be wrong. 

You can see the cam chain drive sprocket by removing the right-side engine cover.  To check the cam timing you'll need to remove the cam cover, of course.  If the chain has moved you could try refitting it correctly and do a compression check on all cylinders, offering up prayers to whatever higher power you might rely on in time of crisis.

Good luck from me, too.   

[GrahamB]

Just got back with it. Not had chance to look at it properly but I'm also guessing cam chain jumped or broke. Think I might just cut my losses with this one. Off to view another in a few minutes. At the risk of repeating myself, wish me luck! lol 

[1967fazer]

Saw an engine for sale on ebay, think it was buy it now for £275, not sure of the condition etc. But could be worth a look

[GrahamB]

It "was" in Telford less than 50 miles from me. I had my eye on it for a mate but it's ended now at £275.00! Another one in Essex for 400 notes but it's a lot of effort fetching & fitting it only to find out it's no better than mine.
 Chain still intact but can't turn engine over with back wheel & 6th gear selected so it must have moved. Not going to get chance to look further until Sunday now. Ho hum. 

[1967fazer]

Bugger!

[Fazerider]

Not familiar with the thou, but I'd expect louder noises than a rattly/tinkly one if the valves had started to punch holes through the pistons. I wonder if it was the clutch disintegrating rather than a cam chain failure?

[bikerboys]

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,2187.msg16502/topicseen.html#new

  looks like there's one might be for sale

[pilgrim]

I had a cam chain tensioner spring fail the year before last. I can assure you that the sound of nine inlet valves being mashed to buggery
is a bit more than a tinkling rattly sound
So you might have been lucky, but I'm dont quote me on that
See here:
 http://fazerowners.yuku.com/topic/29818/Oh-tits

[kebab19]

What does it need? I have a cylinder head in the garage

[GrahamB]

cheers kebab. it only needs a head to put right but I've stripped it now so selling for spares. Picked up another earlier, tidier, history, same price. All exhaust valves bent. Been offered an R1 head but just can't be bothered with it now. I spent last 2 months working on it in preparation for this summer so well peed off with it. How much would you want for the head?

[Falcon 269]

R1 head won't fit, Graham, so good job you didn't accept that offer.

Depending on how much you paid originally, you should stand a fair chance of recovering most of your outlay over time as you dispose of the bits.  Alternatively, take your time in sourcing a replacement head and rebuild ... however, from some of the other issues you've listed here over the past few months, probably best to let it go as spares.

I look forward to seeing the new one in a few weeks ...

[GrahamB]

My thoughts exactly Mike. I know when I'm beat.