Sanjay asks: APE camchain tensioner

[TheGoodGuy]

Edit: this was sent to me as a PM. this is not my bike.

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Hey,

Thanks for the manual cam-chain tensioner article! I'm a bit confused about something though... Why use an automatic tensioner if a manual one works just as well? How do you install a manual tensioner to the correct tension? Does it need adjustment ever? Sorry for all the questions but I'm in dire need of a new one and am not sure whether to purchase one OEM for $40 or from APE for $40...

-Sanjay

[Michael]

Your bike is the same age as mine.  How is it you need a new cam chain tensioner?

[TheGoodGuy]

oops not me.. the user named sanjay.

[The Buddha]

Ape tensioner is great, but on a street GS its more work than needed ... The thing is in the middle under the carbs and rewinding the stock one will work for far longer than the stock one ever did ... If you had a Ninja or eliminator or a vulcan 750 ... APE is the way to go ... cos their original CCT's were total Crap, the CCT's are on the outside of the motor and rewinding makes no diff ...  The GS CCT is 1000 times better than the Kawi one ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Rema1000]

Should I rewind my tensioner?  I don't recall seeing it on the "regular maintenance items" in the Haynes.  It it a "once per year" sort-of thing?  Or maybe a "Do once at 30k miles" sort of thing?

[weaselnoze]

clymers page 115:

17. Remove the cap from the end of the camshaft drive chain tensioner.

18. install a new gasket onto the tensioner. Apply a light coat of grease to hold the gasket in place.

19. Insert a thin flat blade screwdriver into the tensioner and turn the tensioner clockwise to relax the tension on it. Hold the screwdriver in this position and install the tensioner and gasket onto the cylinder block. Push the tensioner all the way on until it bottoms out, then remove the screwdriver and install the mounting bolts. ...Install the cap onto the end of the tensioner and make sure its properly seated.

[The Buddha]

OK Rewinding it isn't a maintenance item ... and WeaselNoz ... that is just a re install tip ... not the rewinding procedure ... There is no documented rewinding procedure ... I cooked it up and Its worked well on a GS ... and lets just say ... far less well on the damn kawi's ... In anycase ... If anyone wants to rewind ... I'll post ... cos its a few months since I posted it ... so will have dropped off the site I think ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[weaselnoze]

haha my bad. i didnt really read the thread very well and i thought one of the questions asked was covered in my post.  oops

[sanjay]

My bike has 55k miles, and its engine (2nd one) has 35k on it.  The cct has been a problem far longer than I've owned the bike, and the previous owner always just rewound it to get the clacking noise to go away...

[The Buddha]

OK I wound mine at 22K, at 47K its still fine ... The problem might be different in your case ... as in the spring in it is shot ... mine just had a spring come loose from its anchor ... I put a piece of wire in there and anchored it ... OK you also may have that problem ... no wire then it may not anchor up too well ...
Cool.
Srinath.