kz1100 camchain rattle! Can I cheat ???????

My bike has only done 35000 miles and run perfectly apart from a mild cam chain rattle.I replaced all the components in the cam chain tensioner but the old ones showed little wear and no improvement was had.I also noticed the manual said the small blade should protrude 7.5mm and it is flush,so the chain is slacker than it should be.

My next idea is to fit a manual APE tensioner and just tweak the rattle out as it has more adjustment???????Has anyone done this?

I also read this in another thread that tensioner blocks wear rather than the chain.Can the blocks be replaced without stripping the top end??

If I do have to replace the chain can you get a soft link Hyvo cam chain as it looks pretty heavy duty?

My mechanical ability stops at removing cams so it is a work shop job for cam chain or block replacment:(

I fine it hard to believe this cam chain has worn already as my Gsx1100 has done 115000 miles on it's original.

If not already done, a good carb synch and pilot screw adjustments (with stock components) often noticeably quietens camchain noise at idle rpm.

Good Luck!

highspeedjelly wrote:

My next idea is to fit a manual APE tensioner and just tweak the rattle out as it has more adjustment???????Has anyone done this?

You sound like a pretty sharp cookie to me:laugh: :laugh:

I will pipe in a word of caution to you. I had a stuborn rattle in my cam chain that wouldn't go a way, and I was quick to blame the chain itself, when infact I had a problem with a chain guide. Had I not fixed that I would have had a terrible mess. I only had 30k on the motor, or so I was told. So as long as you are shure everything is good, then your chain should be replaced if you can't get it tight. You should also check for play between the chain and the cam sprokets.

I had a bad sprocket and found the front guide in my oil pan when I took my 78 apart last year. I was racing it and think I got lucky. :laugh: Just get an open exhaust and you won't hear any noise at all. :laugh:

thanks for advice.I will only have a minor dabble with the APE tensioner and then bite the bullet and dig deeper if that is unsuccessful.The idea of stripping the top end of this motor to replace the cam guides is painfull.Not only am I lazy the motor has perfect compression and no leaks and I am scared of cam timing so would take it to my trusty mechanic to put back together.I can always trust him to charge me an arm and a leg by guilting me into replacing everything because it is already apart!