Camchain / tensioner Help please

[Joolstacho]

New bike, bought cheap, and I'm glad it didn't turn over when I tested it! I found massive slack in the camchain, -turning it over by hand the camchain was jumping teeth on the drive sprockets.
Here's a pic of my camchain tensioner. Surely it's not supposed to be like this?
Looks like a PO has overwound it in the wrong direction. BUT it's the first one of these I've seen so I don't know how it should look, I presume the spring should be a normal coil, not with a reverse bend like mine. (Not a pretty site eh?... no wonder the seller couldn't look me straight in the eye as he told me it was a good goer!)
(I can just see you LOL-ing)
Questions:

Can you get replacement springs for these or do you have to replace the whole assembly?

Are the tensioners the same/interchangable on all GS500 models/years?
(I could possibly get a replacement assembly from a wreckers).

My camchain measures 156mm over 21 pins, the book says 158mm is the service limit.
I'm inclined to stick in a new camchain, but does anyone know what this measurement  is on a new camchain? (in other words, how worn is mine?)

I believe you can get camchains with links so you don't need to split the cases to change it, I assume the factory ones were endless so I'd need to split the existing camchain to pull a new one through, yes?.

I'm a bit worried about turning the motor over to check for a split link in the existing camchain in case a valve might hit a piston - (because the valve timing has shifted).
Tell me that's crap please. 

Jools.

[Janx101]

  ... I don't know about this at all... Reckon one of the lads will comment soon enough though...

But even me not knowing doesn't change that spring is FUBAR!!

.... When you get the bike running and purring sweetly .... Do all of us a favour here.... Ride back to where the guy that sold you the bike lives....

Walk up and politely knock on the door... When he opens up ... BITCHSLAP that MOFO upside the head!!.... Then ride off into the sunset !! 

[Joolstacho]

Har har Janx, I'll take your advice... but when I roll up to his door, I'm gonna leave it in gear ready for a quick getaway when he and his 2 suss Bulgarian mates with pointy things in their pockets come out!

[Janx101]

Oh ... Hang on a minute then.... Bulgarians with pointy pockets ain't cool..... This calls for the Janx Special !!

If they have a car they park in the street... you park around the corner or up the street somewhere ... Have 8 nails in your pocket... Decent size ones too... About 3-4" is good... Then ... Do the 'I'm out for a healthy walk in the fresh air' style thing... As you passing the car ... Kneel down and place the nails almost vertical and into the tread groove of the tyre from the ground ... Very hard to see... Pointy end up into tire obviously.... Hit all 4 tyres up with this..... Front and back of tire...

But don't be just like squat beside the car ... Hands and knees with head near ground ... "You are looking for your hand gripper thing you just dropped and it went straight under the damn car!!" ... Or whatever object you think of..... Now if the owner comes out then its not good cos he knows your face... But if its neighbours or passer by then it's perfect camouflage... You just looking for your thing you dropped.... You can be peering from all angles.... Right near the tires... And if you are disturbed in progress... You can have a hand gripper stashed in your sleeve or something , reach under and 'find it' ..

And continue on your merry way ... No matter whether they move car forward or backward when they go... 4 flats.... 

Or if you not game for that..... Just scoop some dog poo into a paper bag, place at door and light it... Knock and run!! ... Classic! Bahahahhahahah

[Badot]

Yep that spring is dead. They're sold as a full unit only I believe.

I also think you're right in that the cam chain is continuous. You should be able to wiggle it past the sprocket in the crankcase once you get the cams out to find a connecting link if there is one though. Be sure once you disconnect/cut the old cam chain to hold on to both ends so you can use it to pull the new chain around the sprocket in the bottom end or else you'll have a heck of a time with it.

[adidasguy]

Cam chains have no master link. You must crack the engine case open and remove the crank to replace a cam chain. They do not come so you can put one on and rivet the master link. They are a continuous chain.
Rarely do they ever need replacing unless something seriously damaged one.

Get a used cam chain tensioner and you will be OK.

[Joolstacho]

A mate has a camchain splitter, so if I fit a new camchain I can use that, and pull the new one through. I'm thinking D.I.D chain, will cost me about 60 bucks. (Any better ideas? This one's gotta come round the World from UK)
Any ideas on whether mine is still serviceable, it's 2mm within service limit, -but I should probably go for a new one anyway eh?.
I'm tossing up as to whether to get one of the manual tensioners or a good used stock one.
(Janx thanx for your nefarious plan  But I'll leave it to karma I think.

BTW anyone got recommendations re: good spares supply in Australia?

-Jools

[Janx101]

Oh hell... Didnt realise you Ozzie till just now.... Dunno why?! ...

Jings .. Next time I'm down Vic way I can hit them tyres up!! ... You bein "local" an all... That widens the range of options considerably ...

We can fencing wire their diff..... Squid the wheel covers..... Prawn bag the zorst .... Superglue their door locks ...... Caltrop their driveway .... Shitbag their doorway ........ And THEN knock and run!!