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Hi, I’m having trouble getting my camchain off my ZXR400 L2, I have loosened it by removing the tensioner, but I can’t pull the chain off the bottom sprocket as there is a section of the casting in the way. Is there a better way of doing this without taking the cams out?
Thanks

Hi there mate welcome to the forum. You cant take the cam chain out unless you split the block from the lump at the bottom. You can cheat by using a dremel to take away some of the casting which is what someone here did (obviously dont ley and metal filings drop down into the motor) and hasnt had any probleme with it so is one way to do it.

What way you do it now is upto you

thanks, i had read somewhere about cutting the lump away, just needed to hear it again before trying it.

Cool, u might want to check with that user to make sure they havent had any problems since.

i have cut me lump away and no probs here at all.

Hi, i had this trouble for a while but you can actually get it off without splittling or cutting.

Just get the chain on the crank sprocket teeth as normal (the bottom half of the sprocket as it is when installed), then whilst slightly pulling the chain towards you, turn the crank over, the teeth in contact will squeeze past the case and it will drop out - or it should do.

Thats how i managed to get mine off anyway!

And how do you get it on? If you do it the same way you took it off wont that damage it? Or is the chain not linked when you buy then new?

Genuine Kawasaki cam chains come complete and endless
NO rivet or split link

You can buy cheaper camchains that do have a split link............would I use one ? nope not a chance

aha! That answers it then. I wouldnt buy other than a genuine part either.

Hi rob,

yeah got it on in the same way, and it was a genuine kawasaki continuous chain. Just engage it over the top half of the crank sprocket and slowly turn the crank whilst guiding the rest of the chain round, seemed to go in easily enough, no damage etc.

One wonders if Kawasaki dealers have been fitting camchains this way while at the same time telling and charging owners for spliting the cases to do it.

Just the cynic in me I supose

Hopefully we are making the overcharging mechanic obsolete with the workshop section.

Yes your right Rob.

I really enjoy trying to impart what little knowledge I have to others.

In most cases all people need is the confidence to tackle a job and the forum is ideal for that.

Yeah confidence is a big thing, one of the reasons why im doing the write ups (slowly i know) for the workshop setion on the main site. Most people dont really know how to do some of the maintenance on a bike, if they just have a guide and see what to expect it can help so much.

Some people are fine with putting in at the bike shop for work, thats all well and good, but you never really know what your getting. Least if you do it yourself you know exactly whats been done, then theres the satisfaction of sorting a problem yourself and a thicker wallet for petrol to ride the thing

Jackson wrote:Hi rob,

yeah got it on in the same way, and it was a genuine kawasaki continuous chain. Just engage it over the top half of the crank sprocket and slowly turn the crank whilst guiding the rest of the chain round, seemed to go in easily enough, no damage etc.

surely this will put strain on that chain? then again i'm sure the tensioner will take it back out? (wont it?)