Another great trip ends in the back of a moving truck (cam chain tensioner #2)

[hop along]

Replacing the tensioner itself on the road is simple:
I found the 8mm wrench in the stock toolkit to be insufficient to replace the tensioners; a ratcheting 8mm box end wrench is the easiest way to go by far, and are cheap, and easy to put in the stock toolkit.  I do not suggest a socket and ratchet, it will be more difficult to use.
I'm a little unclear about whether or not one needs to check timing after changing that; the service manual only discusses a camshaft replacement procedure.  There, it discusses having the cylinder heads off to look at the cam chain sprocket positions.  I believe that also means gas tank off, airbox off.... etc.  It goes on to discuss inspection under the timing cover with cylinder 1 at TDC (IIRC, manual is not in front of me at the moment); and after that, double checking the cam chain sprockets, then re-installing the cylinder head.

I did not check timing after changing the first one; I will check the timing under the timing cover this time-but I will not be removing the cylinder head.

If anyone has more experienced input regarding whether or not checking cam timing is needed, I would welcome it.  I can turn a wrench as good as the next guy but I am not a true mechanic-I don't know all they hows and whys of things working.

Hop Along

[TLRam1]

You should not need to check timing unless the chain is loose enough to skip a tooth on one of the sprockets, so far I have not heard of that happening. On bikes I have dealt with, when timing is off by a tooth you will notice a obvious performance difference.

[hop along]

No, no performance difference has been discernible, given I also installed a Dunlop E3 rear tire based on suggestions MagnaMike has made (and I am a fan of this).
Though it has seemed like I've felt more engine heat, but I attribute that more to the move from Ohio to Oklahoma where it's, um... hotter.   
Hop Along

[hop along]

Scott- ordered a new front tire and steel 90 degree valve stems today.  Also, when we change the tire, need to change fork oil. 
Brad

Brad, I can't believe it but the tensioners I ordered from Bike Bandit arrived today!  Last time it was @ 2weeks IIRC, and the shipping address was from Japan....
Let me know or give me a call when your items come in and we can have a mini Magna shop party... hopefully the weather stays good
Hop Along

[Brad Badgett]

Ordered tire and valve stems Mon. pm,  tire was here Tues. pm, and valve stems came in today.  Moving Beth into her new apt. today and tommorrow.

Brad

[hootmon]

I don't think the constant speed has anything to do with it, Hoots 82k, you don't get there without a lot of constant speed a one time or another, but good to post it anyway.

When I went to MootMag from Florida to Arkansas a couple of years back.. I rode about an hour at at time (about all the fuel tank and hind end would allow) in many areas doing about a constant 85 MPH (more than 5K RPM). This was on a Magna with 70K+ miles on it..
BTW - I always don't state the actual mileage because the speedo cable was broke when I bought it and had been broken for some time, so I'm unsure about how many miles went by while it was broke..

[Smoked U]

I don't think the constant speed has anything to do with it, Hoots 82k, you don't get there without a lot of constant speed a one time or another, but good to post it anyway.

When I went to MootMag from Florida to Arkansas a couple of years back.. I rode about an hour at at time (about all the fuel tank and hind end would allow) in many areas doing about a constant 85 MPH (more than 5K RPM). This was on a Magna with 70K+ miles on it..
BTW - I always don't state the actual mileage because the speedo cable was broke when I bought it and had been broken for some time, so I'm unsure about how many miles went by while it was broke..

I was polishing something on the Valk when you drove up.

[Smoked U]

So, this feature length film is coming out at what, Christmas?


No lack of adventures when you own a motorcycle.

[Smoked U]

Wish I could sleep out in the heat but I need cold weather at night and something comfortable to sleep on, that limits me to the cooler months only and I don't think the curvature of the hammock would work for me....my loss.

Terry, the real risk is you could get out there and run out of those frozen squeeze out of a bag Daiquiris that you travel with. Months later all we would find is a skeleton with an outstretched hand on the ground.

[TLRam1]

Yes, but I would go Happy!!

[Smoked U]

Yes, but I would go Happy!!

that's the only way, baby!

[MagnaMikeD]

No, no performance difference has been discernible, given I also installed a Dunlop E3 rear tire based on suggestions MagnaMike has made (and I am a fan of this).
Though it has seemed like I've felt more engine heat, but I attribute that more to the move from Ohio to Oklahoma where it's, um... hotter.   
Hop Along

Sorry to hear of the tensioner issue. Great pics. I hope that Dunlop gives you many happy miles.

[hop along]

The Dunlop has been great... 16,000+ miles on it and still going strong.  Turn in is  alittle slower, but I found a few thousand miles ago that a new front tire brings the turn in back up to par
Hop Along

[Magnum Magna]

Sorry to hear about the tensioner I had one go bad at 70K or 80K don't remember. My tensioner did not sound scary just sounded like it was free running.  I replaced both. The talk in the past was only one of the two fails but I replaced them both.  Safe then sorry. But for the future that is one less thing to wary about.

[Sledge Hammer]

So now I am worried about cam chain tensioners, when I thought my only worry was regulator/rectifier!!  How big a deal is it to install one in the field?

According to a guy who owns a local shop that builds motorcycle engines for racing, the biggest reason for tensioner failure is allowing the bike to sit too long with dirty oil or allowing engines to run too hot, causing varnishing to form on the plunger, inhibiting free movement. While that may be true, I suspect Honda also had a heat treatment issue on the tensioners on some early Magnas because when I replaced my front tensioner a few years ago, I recall that the spring was broken. A chap over in V4Musclebike reported a similar failure. However, when I bought my bike, it had been sitting with only occasional engine operation for the better part of 10 years, so my experience does not fly in the face of the engine builder's statement.