gs500 cam chain chattering

[gs500dk1]

i have a gs500 from 91 that started "clicking" from the engine it started a few months after i bought it
i have done a little bit of research and im pretty sure its either from the cam chain or the camshaft being able to rock from side to side
if it is the chain do i also need to replace the tensioner if i also replace the chain

[herennow]

You have to separate the engine to change the cam chain. Try to listen with a large screw driver , put the  sharp end of the screwdriver on the engine where you want to listen, and the handle end pushed to your ear.  You can then try to identify exactly where the sound is coming from. There are videos of the cam walk "rattle", check them out to see if it is indeed that.

[chris900f]

If it is the camshaft, the noise will quiet down when you lean the bike to the left.

If that doesn't work,there is a keyway for a screwdriver in the tensioner (under the rubber plug) You could try winding it in all the way and then quickly pull out the driver, allowing the tensioner to snap back. This is the std procedure for installing the tensioner, but it might work to un-stick it as well.

The best course is to remove the valve cover, so you can inspect lateral play in the cams as well as the chain tension--if you are lucky you might just have a bad/stuck tensioner.