cam chain tensioner inspection

[Ed Mackessy]

Hello all,
I am a newbie at this forum stuff so please bear with me. I have a 2003 Magna with 20,000 miles on it. I don't abuse the machine, but, I have been known to run it up close to red line while humiliating a Buel or embaressing a H-Davidson. I suspect that I have a broken cam chain tensioner in the front of the motor. My question is, what is involved in removing the tensioner to take a look? Can I just remove the two 8mm bolts and pull the thing out? I know enough to be dangerous with a wrench in my hands and I don't want to screw up my baby.
A little advice from the "Magna Wizards" would be greatly appreciated.
As an afterthought, of all the motorcycles I have owned,(at this moment I have this one is the best ever. The only way they will get it is when they prye it from my cold dead fingers!!

[Greg Cothern]

Ed welcome to the MOOT forum.

The cam chain tensioners usually break a spring or it weakens to the point of making a rattle sounding clatter.

We have our own resident expert whom I am sure will speak up in a bit hehehe (sorry couldnt resist)...  

I will be ducking over ----------->>> Here!

[Gloveberg]

Hello Ed,

Unfortunately I am too intimate with the cam chain tensioners.  If you start the bike up and hear a rather loud sound coming from the front it may very be the tensioner.  It may sound dumb but to me the best way to describe it is that it sounds like a piece of metal stuck in a fan but it's not at a steady lope.  What that is is the cam chain hitting the engine case.  If that's what it sounds like to you checking the tensioner is not hard.  Remove the two 8mm bolts and the tensioner comes right out.  Remove the small bolt on top and inside that hole you will see a cross cut.  Insert a small screwdiver in the cross cut and turn it clockwise to pull the plunger up into the tensioner housing.  If you don't feel any spring pressure and the plunger does not instantly extend back out when you remove the screwdriver then yes, you need a new tensioner (about $53 from Service Honda).  If it does have pressure and springs back out then you need to look elsewhere.

Installing the tensioner will require you to make a small " T " shaped tool because you have to retract the plunger fully before installing it.  You can either make the tool to fit into the notches in the top and hold it up or you can retract it and hold it retracted until the bolts are installed.  If you order a new tensioner Honda supplies you with the tool.  According to a buddy the engine needs to be hand turned to TDC (Top Dead Center) before installing the tensioner.

 Hope this helps and please don't hesitate to ask if you still have a question.

Now excuse me while I go smack Greg.........

[Greg Cothern]

I am busy running around ducking behind whatever I can find so Jimmy cant find me hehehehehehe.
Thanks Jimmy for spreading your knowledge!

[Gloveberg]

I just wish it was more along the lines of "Hey, I've heard of that" rather, "Yeah I've done it.....a few times"

[Charles S Otwell]

Be sure and ask for the right part, the part we call a tensioner is refered to as a lifter assembly  http://www.hondaparts-direct.com/fiche_section_detail.asp  ,shows a break down of all the parts and parts numbers. Like Jimmey said the part is $53.19 . Hondaparts-direct is in Texarkana ,so if I can be any help let me know.

PS I'm getting a lot of experience from Jimmey's tensioner problem,too!

[Ed Mackessy]

Thanks Guys for the info.
After inspection, cam tensioners look fine.
I went to synthetic oil to try and quiet it down.