It is, what it is.

[J_Walker]

okay, I'm about ready to give up on this GS...

so after my cam tensioner went bad on the highway. threw the engine out of timing, and bent the exhaust valves. I replaced the exhaust valves and got a new-er tensioner came off an 08 with 10k miles on it. okay cool fine, took it out for a test spin after everything was reinstalled. seemed fine.

BEFORE the cam tensioner went bad I noticed a weird "click" when the bike was shut off and was cooling down. not the typical metal moving click, like a valve shim bucket was coming back up click. when I replaced the two exhaust valves. I turned the engine over a few times by hand. noticed the same click coming from the front left, it was basically the cam going BACKWARDS and the cam lobe moving out of the way from the force of the valve spring/shim bucket.

I just went out to grab a bite to eat and when I get back. I notice this "click again" this is a new tensioner that I know that works. It cannot already have broken... I also inspected the gear teeth on both cams and the gear teeth on the gear down into the engine. nothing looked rounded or bent. 

So im worried that's what it is again. first time I suspect it was slightly out of time before it actually crapped out on me but I kinda ignored the click and figured it had something to do with the rebuilt engine the bike runs fine other wise it needs to be jetted a little but nothing too terrible.  so ill be pulling the head.. AGAIN. tomorrow to make sure everything is still in time. also inspecting the cam chain tensioner. but I can't figure it out. if this is it again, how? WHY? what could possibly be wrong causing this.

[Rallyfan]

okay, I'm about ready to give up on this GS...

so after my cam tensioner went bad on the highway. threw the engine out of timing, and bent the exhaust valves. I replaced the exhaust valves and got a new-er tensioner came off an 08 with 10k miles on it. okay cool fine, took it out for a test spin after everything was reinstalled. seemed fine.

BEFORE the cam tensioner went bad I noticed a weird "click" when the bike was shut off and was cooling down. not the typical metal moving click, like a valve shim bucket was coming back up click. when I replaced the two exhaust valves. I turned the engine over a few times by hand. noticed the same click coming from the front left, it was basically the cam going BACKWARDS and the cam lobe moving out of the way from the force of the valve spring/shim bucket.

I just went out to grab a bite to eat and when I get back. I notice this "click again" this is a new tensioner that I know that works. It cannot already have broken... I also inspected the gear teeth on both cams and the gear teeth on the gear down into the engine. nothing looked rounded or bent. 

So im worried that's what it is again. first time I suspect it was slightly out of time before it actually crapped out on me but I kinda ignored the click and figured it had something to do with the rebuilt engine the bike runs fine other wise it needs to be jetted a little but nothing too terrible.  so ill be pulling the head.. AGAIN. tomorrow to make sure everything is still in time. also inspecting the cam chain tensioner. but I can't figure it out. if this is it again, how? WHY? what could possibly be wrong causing this.

If you are not the first owner I wonder if it's possible the cam is 180' rotated?

[J_Walker]

no because I replaced a lot of stuff in the engine, I had it all apart and inspected everything. at least I thought I did...

[W201028]

Did you check the cam chain for stretch? This could explain why even a newer tensioner doesnt work. Your manual should have specs for it, measuring from one pin so many pins over must be a certain length. This should be checked several places along the chain, as it can stretch in one spot more than the rest, just like a drive chain.
If not, you could consider a manual timing chain tensioner. This was a common mod on older twins, and im sure someone on here knows where to purchase one that will fit, or how to modify the automatic tensioner into a manual type.