cam chain where is the guide

[WelshD1K]

ok im getting top end rattle when startig and vibrations @ 6k+ im guessing cam chain tensioner. where is the how to guide on resetting it ???

[WelshD1K]

ok i searched i found scotties post and his looks like :





mine doesnt have that centre bolt ???? i can see like a pin . please tell me this is normal on a h model ???

[WelshD1K]

ok just taken the tensioner out.


its go a 8mm bolt at thr side. then a like a pin that gets locked up by a spring mechanism.


i cn hold the spring mechanism and push the advuster down but how do you lock it down to put back in engine? then lt it adjust ???


other question is how hard/ mechanicly minded do you need to be for a cam chain swap if the chain is worn ?

[masterofinsanity]

as far as i know there are 3 different adjusters on the zxr400, is there not a little hole to pop some wire in to hold it down when you put it back in? have you ,looked in the manual to see how its done?

[WelshD1K]

downloading them now and adobe to the laptop. i cant see a hole to put a pin in

[WelshD1K]

got it the wire i was using was too thick . . still seems rattly . think it might be cam chain time ><



gonan go for a spin now see how she rides.

cham chhain a big job?

[masterofinsanity]

aparently you can do it with the engine in situ, some shave the metal casing at the bottom to clear the chain, others say you can get the chain off by rocking the crank and wriggling the chain.

[cargo]

The cam chain tensioner is automatic there is absolutly no need to manually adjust it..........................................

If you cam chain is noisy then you either need a new cam chain or a new adjuster or possibley both. Also a cam chain noise can be caused by a broken tensioner blade.

And yes there are two types of cam chain tensioner they are interchangable so far as I'm aware the newer type is the one with a 12mm bolt on the bottom. The older type can still be bought and is cheaper.


Changing the cam chain is easy a one armed monkey with a monkey wrench could do it blindfold with a firecracker up his ar5e

[WelshD1K]

cargo is the cam chain a continuous chain when you buy it? or does it split or something?

can you explain how to do it?

this is my first 4 stroke ive maintained ive rebuilt many rd350's etc and ns125's.


is ir just take the side casing off or is it remove the head aswell ? (might need a new hedgasket ??? )

[rossd]

You can get split link cam chains and continuous. Ive got a split link cam chain in mine simply because it cost me alot less than having a continuous fitted.

[cargo]

Small warning don't use a cam cahain with a slpit link it is definately a cheap nasty pattern part not in a 100 years would I put one any where near my bike. And I'd be curious to know how it was cheaper to fit that a continious genuine one.......................................I suspect a dealer/mechinic rip off................

I seem to remember that a genuine Kawasaki cam chain is only £20 or something like it ?................


OK this is a very quick run through...................And yes for me in is an engine out job................ it gives greater access and lots of other little jobs can be done at the same time.

Engine out..................

Top cover off...............

Ignition pick up cover off...............

line up timing marks

Remove can chain tensioner

Remove cam shafts

Remove tensioner blade and front guide

Remove pick up rotor

Remove camchain....................this is the tricky bit some say it can be removed by gentle persuasion others say grind away a little of the crankcase also at this stage you could just cut the chain and out it will come.

Refit new camchain............see above but don't cut it

Refit front guide and tensioner blade

Refit cam shafts lining up with timing marks looping chain over sprockets

Double check alinement of marks

Refit tensioner body..................no spring yet. or as in case of old type keep the wire in for now

Refit ignition pick up rotor

Tension cam chain

Check alinement..................listen as tensioner clicks when you turn engine over by hand

Refit covers

Put engine back in

Other jobs to do while you are there..................valve clearances................replace worn rockers...................clean engine externally................. clean chassis............ check wiring for damage/wear

There is no need to remove cylinder head so NO head gasket needed but............if it was me I'd have the head off and lap the valves while I'm about it.

This is not a definitive guide just a very quick run through I could have forgotten something and clearly there is no detail for me on the bench with an already removed engine and nothing else to do this is about an hours work other tasks at the same time would add to that

[WelshD1K]

hmmz i rang up cradleys

£27 for a chain
£23 tensioner body
£13 for the tensioner blade.



i Really dont fancy playing with the topend (cams etc)

what kind of price would a mechanic charge?


might try get hold of zimm and ask him if he wants quick job

[Scott221]

I'd take a stab in the dark and say around the £200-300 mark for a mechanic to do it. TBH, if you get stuck, there are plenty of people on here that can help you out, plenty of resources on the site. You can do it.

[cargo]

hmmz i rang up cradleys

£27 for a chain
£23 tensioner body
£13 for the tensioner blade.



i Really dont fancy playing with the topend (cams etc)

what kind of price would a mechanic charge?


might try get hold of zimm and ask him if he wants quick job

Wish you were nearby for me

I reckon the £23 tensioner body is the older style one.......................the new style one is £50 something I don't know why both seem to work ok.

I have a broken new style one that I'd love to try converting to a manual adjustment..................one day maybe.

[WelshD1K]

haha only a ferry ride :D


liek i said im fairly mechanical minded (restored landrovers )played with many 2 strokes but there much more basic than cams etc and i REALLY dont want to kill my engine by having somethign slightly wrong