How to Check the Cam Chain Tensioner

[deano]

Hi all,

Just thought I would give something back to this site as I have found so much helpful information on here over time.  I hope the following information will be useful.

I have hopefully come up with a method of checking the cam chain tensioner without having to remove it, as I normally would.  It is such a confined area under the carb's to undo the two retaining screws in order to be able to remove the tensioner for checking its function.  This is normally followed by the fiddly job of re-attaching the CCT and hoping that it does not leak oil from where the gasket has been disturbed.

All I did was make a quick tool for this purpose.  All you need is a small hard rubber/plastic ball (or simular) approx 3-3.5cm in diameter and a flat headed hex piece.  Make sure the flat head hex piece will fit in the flat heat screw of the CCT.  Cut the ball in half and then drill a small hole in the centre of the half ball (less than the size of the hex shank).  Once drilled force most of the hex piece shank into the hole so that it is gripped firmly.  Trim the edges of the half ball into four semi-circles so as to provide some grip when in use.


Above are the components of the tool.


Above is the completed tool.



Looking down.


Above is a view of the tool in use.


1) To check the tension. Remove the rubber dust cover(gromet) from the CCT.  locate the flat head of the hex piece in the head of the Cam Chain Tensioner screw.  Turn clockwise a few times to wind the spring. Release the pressure and see if the spring unwinds anti-clockwise with some degree of force.

2) I would imagine that this could also be used while the engine is running to temporarily apply some additional pressure (slightly anti-clockwise) to the tensioner for the purpose of testing if the cam chain noise (if present) reduces. Remember to remove the extra tension after by turning anti-clockwise and then releasing to allow the spring to revert back to its original state.  Naturally part would have to be carried out while the engine is cool otherwise the end result will be BURNT HANDS AND FINGERS.

DISCLAIMER

TRY THE ABOVE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

[The Buddha]

You can check the tensioner's effectiveness by turning the motor over by hand with the valve cover off and looking for even an instant of slack in the chain between the cam sprokets.
A tool like this will meddle with the spring needlessly, and you have a plunger rod with a one way clip at the other end. You can mess up that. This is prolly great for reinstalling it.
Cool.
Srinath.

[deano]

.

[deano]

You can check the tensioner's effectiveness by turning the motor over by hand with the valve cover off and looking for even an instant of slack in the chain between the cam sprokets.
A tool like this will meddle with the spring needlessly, and you have a plunger rod with a one way clip at the other end. You can mess up that. This is prolly great for reinstalling it.
Cool.
Srinath.

The above method does not require the cam cover to be removed.  I understand your concern but a couple of clockwise turns is not an issue as it will spring back if the tensioner is functioning correctly. Plus checking the chain with the cam cover off  is not going to checking to see if the CCT has seized up, or the spring has broken..  This method has worked fine for me.