Noisy cam chain

recently picked up an 83 kz750 4. Has a very noisy timing chain. Removed tensioner to reset etc... but noticed when I put my finger in the hole and put pressure on the guide it didn't appear to move much. Is this normal does it require quite a bit of pressure?

I've never done that check, but I'd guess yes, normal. With the valve cover installed, the upper guide is pushing down on the cam chain (plus there's the Fr guide), so the camshafts & cam chain are kind of secured in position. The pushrod spring seems sort of heavy duty to me, so it applies a good bit of force to the Rr guide, so I wouldn't expect much movement with the thing removed. Maybe someone else will chime in.

If it only does it at idle then it's out of sync carbs.
Steve

These are pretty noisy engines in general, and most of the i4 KZs will be noisy if the carbs aren't synced.

But it's important to know that it's probably not the cam chain, it's likely the primary chain making noise. These engines us an un-tensioned primary chain, and they will rattle at idle if the carbs are anything less than perfectly synced.

Irish Yobbo wrote: These are pretty noisy engines in general, and most of the i4 KZs will be noisy if the carbs aren't synced.

But it's important to know that it's probably not the cam chain, it's likely the primary chain making noise. These engines us an un-tensioned primary chain, and they will rattle at idle if the carbs are anything less than perfectly synced.

This.

its the primary chain from carbs being out of sync.

Cheers all, have pulled carbs for a clean and refit/balance etc...might invest in a manual tensioner also