Cost of a new Cam chain?

[HazzaBui]

So a Tuesday evening spent pushing my bike 4 miles home, rather than enjoying a blast down some nice twisties, and it's looking like a new cam chain is on the menu for me.
Anyone had to have this done recently that might be able to offer a guide towards the pricing?  It's certainly not something I was hoping to have to pay for, after getting a ton of other stuff done last month, only to have to get the engine opened up again for this job.


Any info much appreciated!
Hazza

[Thorn]

So a Tuesday evening spent pushing my bike 4 miles home, rather than enjoying a blast down some nice twisties, and it's looking like a new cam chain is on the menu for me.
Anyone had to have this done recently that might be able to offer a guide towards the pricing?  It's certainly not something I was hoping to have to pay for, after getting a ton of other stuff done last month, only to have to get the engine opened up again for this job.


Any info much appreciated!
Hazza

What makes you think it was the camchain?

Camchains are £40-60 on wemoto ( http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/yamaha/fzs_600_fazer/98-99/picture/cam_timing_chain_tourmax/ )

Replacing the cam chain is a very involved job if you intend to do it yourself. As for paying a garage to do it... well you better order some lube with those price quotes, it's not a quick job due to the cam chain being in the middle of the engine rather than side-routed.

[darrsi]

Yeah, not sure why you're saying cam chain either?
They rattle a bit when very worn, but the bike is certainly still rideable!

[Punkstig]

If its defo cam chain speak to these guys-


http://www.galeacamchainservices.co.uk/


Ride in/out service (although obviously you have to get there early in order to let stuff cool down)
Lovely guy and if you show enough interest you can basically work on the bike together, and be tea boy for him if that floats your boat!


Tony is basically one of the few 'trusted mechanics' if he says it needs something then he's not trying to get money out of you, it genuinely will need it!

[kebab19]

What exactly happened to the engine? Does it still rotate?

How about changing the camchain tensioner first?

I would have thought if the camchain went the whole top-end would be fairly trashed unless you're very lucky

[Dead Eye]

That's exactly what I immediately thought - if the cam chain went whilst the engine is running you have probably destroyed most, if not all, of the valves

[red98]

oh yes...a broken cam chain can cause all sorts of damage....bent valves,damaged head,holed pistons and with a loose chain rattling around in the crank cases a damaged crank 

[Skippernick]

Way to cheer him up guys.
Look he's not replied, he's probably read your posts and just gone out and shot himself.

[HazzaBui]

Way to cheer him up guys.
Look he's not replied, he's probably read your posts and just gone out and shot himself.

*Throws myself out the window*


But seriously, the reason I'm going with cam chain is because when I got work done before, it was mentioned that it didn't seem to be siting on the cams properly.  It had been ok up until then, but with the new tensioner (and potentially the bike being knocked over the other day), I think it may have slipped a few teeth. 
Spoke to Mr RAC and he suggested the same thing, based on the symptoms/noise from trying to start it.  Certainly sounds like it hasn't slipped far enough to have the valves hitting the piston's though, so hopefully a new chain, re lined up, and will be good to go.


Feel free to poke holes in my theory, however... :p

[Dead Eye]

Probably worth while whipping the head off to check to see if there are any signs of damage or any marks. Its peace of mind at the end of the day and I'd rather the £20~ for a new head gasket than the ridiculous prices they want for valves

[red98]

cam chain can slip a couple of teeth before doing any damage  .take the rocker cover off put the engine at TDC.ie align the mark on the flywheel and check the timing marks,adjust if needed and then do a compression test to see if theres any other damage,saves taking the head off and £30 for a new gasket  ...good luck

[red98]

just had another thought...( yes i know...dangerous    ) did a garage fit the new tensioners for you ? if yes i would take it back to them and let them check it foc 

[HazzaBui]

Just an update for anyone interested - bike is still off the road, and I have been too busy to have much of a chance to look at it yet.
Got a couple of quotes from garages for the cost of a cam chain change, just to get an understanding of the price...
8 hours labor + parts, which worked out at a little over £500 - not too far short of what I paid for the bike!


Looks like I've got a decision to make about whether to repair, or just cut my losses on the bike and move on

[His Dudeness]

Was that for an endless chain or a rivet link chain because they're two totally different jobs in terms of time and the work involved

[darrsi]

Get another quote, 8hrs ain't right just to change the chain.
2 to 3hrs more like.

The rivet link method works just fine.

[red98]

iam happy using linked cam chains....its not really that hard to do,get yourself a haynes book of lies and have a good read,you might be able to do it yourself  ...loads of help on here   

[Deefer666]

err 8 hours is about right for an endless chain, I know as I have done a few and I wont fit rivetted chains. Its an engine out and split job. If you wanna use a split chain you take yer chances..... Actually I have just looked at the reciept books for the last one I did and the total bill was just over £300

[darrsi]

err 8 hours is about right for an endless chain, I know as I have done a few and I wont fit rivetted chains. Its an engine out and split job. If you wanna use a split chain you take yer chances..... Actually I have just looked at the reciept books for the last one I did and the total bill was just over £300

£60 an hour round my way!! 

[Deefer666]

£60 an hour round my way!!

I guess thats why I have so many London bikers bring work to me up the A1. Just recentley I have rebuilt a ZX6-R from Borehamwood, Crash repair on a FZS600 from Hendon, & a selector fork and drum change on a FZS600 from Wimbledon.

[darrsi]

£60 an hour round my way!!

I guess thats why I have so many London bikers bring work to me up the A1. Just recentley I have rebuilt a ZX6-R from Borehamwood, Crash repair on a FZS600 from Hendon, & a selector fork and drum change on a FZS600 from Wimbledon.

More than likely! 

[Dead Eye]

Hell its still £50 an hour around my area and I'm outside the M25

The place I used in Bristol was around £30 an hour - much better!

[Deefer666]

My normal rate is £30 p/hr but on certain jobs I do a fixed rate rather than an hourly one as it seems to bring customers back time and time again if they know exactly what the job is gonna cost before I even pick up a spanner. 

[darrsi]

My normal rate is £30 p/hr but on certain jobs I do a fixed rate rather than an hourly one as it seems to bring customers back time and time again if they know exactly what the job is gonna cost before I even pick up a spanner.

How far up the A1 are you, 'cos i'm only in Harrow?

[Deefer666]

I am just outside Huntingdon.... About 50 miles from South Mimms

[darrsi]

I am just outside Huntingdon.... About 50 miles from South Mimms

Okay cheers, i'll bear that in mind for the future, thanks