Cam Chain Life?

wazza300 · 27 Jul 2014 at 19:09

Anyone have a rough idea how long they last or when they should be replaced? :eek:

im on 56k miles now and just wondered if its fine or not? there is a bit of cam chain rattle but bike is fine/plenty power

I am a bit concerned though (ohh and I counted the teeth on tensioner it was 7 clicks out so not stretched much)

Dogbreath · 27 Jul 2014 at 19:22

Entirely dependant on the bike, e.g. the cam chain on my Benelli is supposed to be changed every 16k miles!

Numerous Jap sports bikes have managed 100k on the original chain though.

ZedPowered · 27 Jul 2014 at 20:15

Not sure if the older ZX6R's have the tick that mine does but from my research on the 05/06 ones they last quite a long time. Never heard of one failing on a ZX6R yet.

atpbx · 28 Jul 2014 at 07:22

It depends on the bike.

For instance in your example on a VFR 750 I wouldn't be too fussed, but on a VTR 1000 you would be taking the life of your engine into your own hands ever time you started it.

"andy" · 28 Jul 2014 at 07:46

atpbx said:
It depends on the bike.

For instance in your example on a VFR 750 I wouldn't be too fussed,.

id be massively worried if a vfr750 had a noisy chain in it

leigh_boy · 28 Jul 2014 at 07:52

most jap bikes the chain will out live the engine, and are not service plan items.

atpbx · 29 Jul 2014 at 18:57

"andy" said:
id be massively worried if a vfr750 had a noisy chain in it

Yes I wasn't thinking.

I had a VFR and a VTS as well.

VoG · 29 Jul 2014 at 20:48

Unless the bikes got a particular bad rep ( yes 80's Honda CB900 im looking at you ) I wouldn't be overly fussed.

Dogbreath · 29 Jul 2014 at 21:19

"andy" said:
id be massively worried if a vfr750 had a noisy chain in it

The oil pump is chain driven, so I'd worry if that was noisy!

wazza300 · 29 Jul 2014 at 23:00

mine does make a slight noise though,so does the clutch

but im sure it will be fine

.one. · 29 Jul 2014 at 23:24

wazza300 said:
mine does make a slight noise though,so does the clutch

but im sure it will be fine

Which bike you talking about ?

wazza300 · 29 Jul 2014 at 23:29

my zx6r,its like a tick tick tick tick and a rattle by the clutch/cam chain tensioner area

the tensioner is in a real stupid position aswell I have to take the tank off to get at it

I remember it being quieter than this

.one. · 29 Jul 2014 at 23:50

wazza300 said:
my zx6r,its like a tick tick tick tick and a rattle by the clutch/cam chain tensioner area

the tensioner is in a real stupid position aswell I have to take the tank off to get at it

I remember it being quieter than this

Well if it was much quieter before I would re adjust the tensioner if it's manual and go from there.

wazza300 · 29 Jul 2014 at 23:53

its automatic one,

didn't wanna use a manual one,might be fine but I don't trust them

.one. · 29 Jul 2014 at 23:55

wazza300 said:
its automatic one,

didn't wanna use a manual one,might be fine but I don't trust them

Then it may need reloading.

wazza300 · 29 Jul 2014 at 23:57

you mean resetting? ive doen that but can try it again

what exactly rattles in the clutch aswell? Idk

.one. · 30 Jul 2014 at 00:17

wazza300 said:
you mean resetting? ive doen that but can try it again

what exactly rattles in the clutch aswell? Idk

That can be a number of things but usually the friction plates in the basket, most older Kawasaki,s have noisy clutches until you pull the clutch in.

wazza300 · 30 Jul 2014 at 00:23

yeah,its not too loud but I would like it quieter

valves don't make a noise do they? as they wear they just get tighter with shims?

they aint been checked since 18k either

.one. · 30 Jul 2014 at 00:32

wazza300 said:
yeah,its not too loud but I would like it quieter

valves don't make a noise do they? as they wear they just get tighter with shims?

they aint been checked since 18k either

Shims are for adjusting the valve clearance if you have a ticking sound the shims need replacing with bigger sizes.

wazza300 · 30 Jul 2014 at 00:36

it could be those

but ive always been told they get tighter as the shims wear and don't make any noise

either way I reckon they all need replacing by now tbh

I really wanna do it myself but it is a bit daunting