Do I need a chain tensioner on my motorcycle?
A chain tensioner is not REQUIRED to make the bike go vroom, but it will keep your chain quieter and I suspect let it last longer too. Remember, motorcycle companies are in be business of MAKING MONEY, they just do so by manufacturing motorcycles.
What do you need to know about cam chain tensioners?
Notice the ninth tooth up has been chipped, the pawl does not seat square to it so the chip is off to the side. Then there is the wear pattern showing the constant push back over five teeth, the fifth just starting, and clicking forward again over and over. Another view of that same wear pattern.
Why is there no tension control on my Chainsaw?
The spring isn’t strong enough to resist kickback in the chain under crank deceleration, so it isn’t of any value in tension control in that area. What it does is put enough pressure on the rack to push it forward and the pawl clicks in as the chain seats in and cam drive wear occurs… but not always completely.
When to replace HyVo chain tensioners in a car?
One guy on the KLX site thinks it’s okay to replace HyVo chains at 12,000 miles. Those chains are the same design used in some automobiles that run for about a lifetime and on the primary drives of many in-line fours. Other guys think it’s okay to back out the mount bolts to effectively override the automatic system and over-tighten the chain..
Can a Honda VTR1000 cam chain tensioner fail?
If the indexing falls in place properly for the mechanical requirements they will work. If it doesn’t they will fail. There is one exception. The Honda VTR1000 can have catastrophic failure of the front cylinder tensioner, which can take out the head and piston – the thing doesn’t just quit working, IT BREAKS!
Notice the ninth tooth up has been chipped, the pawl does not seat square to it so the chip is off to the side. Then there is the wear pattern showing the constant push back over five teeth, the fifth just starting, and clicking forward again over and over. Another view of that same wear pattern.
The spring isn’t strong enough to resist kickback in the chain under crank deceleration, so it isn’t of any value in tension control in that area. What it does is put enough pressure on the rack to push it forward and the pawl clicks in as the chain seats in and cam drive wear occurs… but not always completely.
If the indexing falls in place properly for the mechanical requirements they will work. If it doesn’t they will fail. There is one exception. The Honda VTR1000 can have catastrophic failure of the front cylinder tensioner, which can take out the head and piston – the thing doesn’t just quit working, IT BREAKS!
What’s the movement of a cam chain adjuster?
Less than one full turn of the adjuster bolt, .050″ movement per turn, in four adjustments over 30,000 miles. It is so small a movement if you look at the OEM rack you’ll understand why it is possible to have one go bad and another one go without issue. It’s just not worth the $70 for the automatic one if it fails again.