Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring

Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - Printable Version

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Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - sirgalahad3 - 31-08-13

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Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - solorider - 06-09-13

I have decided to go down the manual tensioner route, I bought this one off eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281160023278?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 and it certainly looks good and looks better than the other one I saw on eBay

Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - Simon.Pieman - 07-09-13

I phoned Yamaha Technical Dept yesterday and asked them about camchain tensioners. They didn't really enlighten me on anything and what the technician had to say doesn't really further this thread. But here is a summary of their views on CCT failure.
The technician said that they do keep data on engine components that give problems, but failure of the CCT on the Fazer engine is so rare they don't have any record of such, he was aware that such things happen and you should consider your self very unlucky if it does happen, but it's not something to worry about he said. Apparently, in France some years ago there was a number of tensioners being replaced by dealers as a matter of course at 30,000 miles but it wasn't a directive by Yamaha. This rash of replacing the CCT might have been a result of rumour on forums he said and that it's always best to have engine problems discussed and investigated by a Yamaha mechanic.
I told him that my own engine at 57,000 miles sounds mechanically noisier than it did say 10,000 miles ago and he said that it could be a number of things but with regards to the camchain and tensioner it might be that the chain is worn rather than the tensioner not working.
I said that I basically can't be arsed to take the engine down to have a look at the chain so would it be worth replacing the tensioner? He replied that in my case 'it wouldn't hurt' and that if the chain quietened down then all well and good, 'but I'm not saying that your tensioner is probably worn out'. So, non commital to admitting any endemic problems with the CCT.
He went on to say that 57,000 miles is considered a high mileage for a motorcycle engine and that if you took such a motor apart for some reason then you should certainly replace the camchain on reassembly, not because it's totally worn out, but because it's probably more than halfway to significant wear.
As for manual tensioners, he said he wouldn't comment and couldn't reccomend a part that isn't a Yamaha item.

In conclusion, I got the impression that Yamaha certainly don't think their tensioners should be singled out as prone to fault. But, probably the most significant part of the conversation was that a noisy camchain might well be a worn chain rather than a faulty tensioner, I guess if the chain is beyond wear limits then perhaps it gets to a point where it is asking too much of the tensioner to keep it tensioned. It's possible that a manual tensioner could be used to unwittingly tension a knackered camchain so perhaps caution is required in using one and in an ideal world you should measure the wear on the chain before using one.
Anyway, I bought a standard tensioner for £95 and I'll fit it and and forget about it.

Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - devilsyam - 07-09-13

£95 fookin quid I have 3 here you can have for nowt more money than sense me thinks lol

Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - Simon.Pieman - 07-09-13

(07-09-13, 10:16 AM)devilsyam link Wrote: £95 fookin quid I have 3 here you can have for nowt more money than sense me thinks lol

Makes sense to me and Yamaha too, mate.

Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - VNA - 07-09-13

Interesting post Simon. Googling aboot, it seems to be the later hydraulic tensioners that seem to have given em more of a headache. And of course the Yamaha tech has to be very careful what he says to Joe Blogs over the phone as he knows it can end up on a bike forum! Still interesting to read what he has to say though.

Amazing isn't it, decades after the Japanese gave us the over head cam UJM, they are still trying to sort out the cam chain tensioner. Come on gives us the gear driven cams we want! Bring back 2 strokes! Anything without a cam chain!

The thought in my mind is that with the bikes getting older and older now (as is this owner :lol ) will we start to see more cam chain tensioner failures. And of course if it fails is it fatal or not?

I dunno. Can see why folks are fitting manual tensioners, but I'd be worried I might be inviting other problems, ie not getting the right tension applied. And why do all the manufactures avoid manual tensioners?

Anyway as my bike is now garaged, and my ancient garage is slowly moving towards becoming a half decent workshop,so rather than the material condition of my thou slipping year by year, it might just start improving from now on. When I do start pulling bits off to restore em I might also pop a new auto tensioner on.

Ooooo and what other bike to purchase to keep the thou and the C90 company?

But naw I'm just not gonna worry about it too much.

Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - sirgalahad3 - 08-09-13

Hmm I tend to think Simons idea is good....
Because I think the standard tensioner is the best way to go and also that most second hand ones have been apart and no one knows what pre tension Yamaha put on the spring. I foolishly took mine apart to see how it works, see above posts, and wished I hadnt as I feel sure the spring was pre tensioned I cannot now be sure its back together properly. The only way I would now feel safe would to go pay 90 quid for a new genuine tensioner, thats why I have a manual one fitted....Bugger!
As said before though,purely my own opinion and everyone to there own

Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - Borderraider - 09-09-13

My Gen 1 has done 39K and developed cam chain noise, the tensioner was fine the cam chain had stretched & worn.
I fitted both anyway, £99 for chain, £33 for tensioner. Can't see the point in fitting none standard parts when genuine parts aren't that expensive.

Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - solorider - 15-09-13

I have now fitted my manual tensioner, and the original tensioner could not be pushed in in anyway, but a worrying thing did happen though, I wound in the tensioner with the supplied tool, anyway the tool fell out but the tensioner did not spring out as it should have done !! but after turning it with the tool the tensioner started springing out as it should and did not stick again.
here is a picture of the tensioner I fitted to my bike

which I found was a better engineered one than another one I saw on eBay

Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - sirgalahad3 - 16-09-13

Hi Solo,yes thats the one I have fitted. Quality isnt it.
I cannot make up my mind, plastic cap on or off?

Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - snapper - 16-09-13

the cap on mine is black ! but I have a black engine

Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - Simon.Pieman - 21-09-13

(09-09-13, 06:21 PM)Borderraider link Wrote: My Gen 1 has done 39K and developed cam chain noise, the tensioner was fine the cam chain had stretched & worn.
I fitted both anyway, £99 for chain, £33 for tensioner. Can't see the point in fitting none standard parts when genuine parts aren't that expensive.

How long did it take to change the chain? I think I will do the same in the near future. I just replaced my tensioner but before I put it in I measured from the top shoulder of the tensioner body to the 'screw' inside ( top of plunger) with the plunger fully wound out -this came to 11.2mm. After installing and releasing the new plunger then winding the crank I measured it again and guess what, it came to 11.2mm. In other words my tensioner is at full extent already. Obviously if the chain wears any more it will start slapping the tensioner -and it will inevitably fail.
Has anyone else changed a camchain?

Edit:- Ah, after dismantling the old tensioner I've discovered that the 'screw' stays in the same place in the tensioner body, it's not really a screw but a drive to turn the worm thread and move the plunger forward. Sorry if I worried a few people.oops

Re: Not again!! Cam Chain Tensioner Spring - solorider - 22-09-13

I don't know if the cam chain on mine is the original or not but my bike has 72k miles on it and I had loads of travel on the tensioner and I have no cam chain noise at all, only some transmission backlash noise