Billet cam tensioner roller - Necessary?

Hey guys, I just wanted to run something past you all. I've been debating the need of putting a liska cam chain tensioner roller in my engine. They're pretty costly, but if they're the best option by a long shot I'll probably put one in. So, opinions?

Heres a link to the think on Z1E, just in case I wasn't clear on the part I'm talking about.

www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=3991

The stock 1 is made of rubber. Over time the rubber gets hard from the heat. these will not have that problem, and i believe they are cheaper than the OEM's.
If u used all Listka parts, u would no longer have any rubber damping in the system. Is It necessary? Cant say for sure.Kawi thought so.I would tend to agree.

Just my 2 cents,

I have never done this but... sounds to me that if the existing OEM sprocket is still good, it is worth keeping... not being metal I would think it is quieter, noticeably quieter? Don't know.

I'm sure others who have done this will be by to comment.

Best of success,
Bill

Yeah my OEM one is in great shape. It's not a sprocket though, just a rubber roller with a raised center that rides in the chain.

From your description... sounds like a keeper to me.

Best of success,
Bill

T_Dub wrote:

Hey guys, I just wanted to run something past you all. I've been debating the need of putting a liska cam chain tensioner roller in my engine. They're pretty costly, but if they're the best option by a long shot I'll probably put one in. So, opinions?

Heres a link to the think on Z1E, just in case I wasn't clear on the part I'm talking about.

www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=3991

I've put all the liska parts in my machine. I had it apart anyway and the oem stuff was a little chewed up, so I went for it. The cam chain noise isn't much louder if any. But the top idler wheel is taller than oem so you can't slide the valve cover out sideways. It has to slide down the back of the block - after the carbs are off! A nuisance to be sure when it comes time to shim the valves!

liska parts are much better quality the origanal and actually cheaper then o.e but the really nice thing about them is that they wont harden and break up like the stockers do. so you wont get floaties cruising around your oil system. as far as the noise goes most of you guy's are using aftermarket pipes anyway so whats the big issue with a bit more noise.

Samwell wrote:

T_Dub wrote:

I've put all the liska parts in my machine. I had it apart anyway and the oem stuff was a little chewed up, so I went for it. The cam chain noise isn't much louder if any. But the top idler wheel is taller than oem so you can't slide the valve cover out sideways. It has to slide down the back of the block - after the carbs are off! A nuisance to be sure when it comes time to shim the valves!

I did not even know that Liska made an Idler tower for the KZ650. I have not been able to find one.

We have them. Not on the website yet.

Jay

I just replaced all mine with liska. Not cheap but billet. My stuff was worn so bad there was play in it. I would say if you are doing bigger cams it might just be a safe bet to use them as there is much more tension placed on the timing chain and its components. If not then stick with OEM.
Think about precision. I would imagine that when you rap the throttle that the timing will stay accurate as opposed to parts that give and take, especially if worn.
I will let you know later when I get it back together how it sounds and runs. I am pretty sure that it will function much better than the OEM did for my application. Every time you get in to it you open a can of worms. Improve this then you have to reinforce that and this that and the other thing and oh by the way this should be done too.
Stock may not be such a bad idea if you want to get some real miles out of your bike without too much trouble. Well, I don't know anything much except that when you open that can be ready for what happens next. You could have a stock bike and buy a new stock bike that really is fast and reliable in comparison to a built engine that overheats and is maintenance intensive. I would go back and leave it stock with maybe a little hotter cam, good carbs, pods and exhaust and call it a day. After all is said and done my bike with all the engine work will make me happy but still will be slower than a 600, or 750 from today. The amount of money I have in the engine I could have easily aquired a zx14 that would absolutely smoke the kz as if it were a little 250.