Can somebody please tell me where this goes?
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gargarzxr
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:55 pm
- My Bike: 92 zxr400
Re: Can somebody please tell me where this goes?
I undid the two bolts. Not a good idea?
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cargo
- zxr400 oc member

- Posts: 3342
- Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2005 10:33 am
- My Bike: tomos moped
- Location: Carrickfergus Northern Ireland
Re: Can somebody please tell me where this goes?
The cam chain tensioner works on a ratchet and spring.
The spring presses up via a tensioner blade to apply tension to the cam chain.
By removing the bolts the spring pressure CAN move the tensioner and release the pressure on the cam chain..........................when the bolts are refitted it is possible that the cam chain will be over tensioned because the ratchet has clicked to take up the slack and because it is a ratchet that extra tension will be applied to the chain if the bolts are just refitted. Also it is possible that the fine teeth on the tensioner will break on refitting of the bolts rendering it useless.
So it is possible to have a broken tensioner or an over tensioned chain......................I've seen at least two like this....................broken tensioners in fact
It is also possible that the tensioner stays exactly in place dispite removal of the bolts and all will be well.
However the ratchet teeth are very small and there is no way to know if it did just move out by a click or two
So far as I am concerned if the tensioner bolts have been remove then the tensioner needs to be reset properly
Oh and there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to remove the tensioner bolts in the first place unless you wanted to remove the tensioner.
The clutch cable can be removed with the bracket still in place
The spring presses up via a tensioner blade to apply tension to the cam chain.
By removing the bolts the spring pressure CAN move the tensioner and release the pressure on the cam chain..........................when the bolts are refitted it is possible that the cam chain will be over tensioned because the ratchet has clicked to take up the slack and because it is a ratchet that extra tension will be applied to the chain if the bolts are just refitted. Also it is possible that the fine teeth on the tensioner will break on refitting of the bolts rendering it useless.
So it is possible to have a broken tensioner or an over tensioned chain......................I've seen at least two like this....................broken tensioners in fact
It is also possible that the tensioner stays exactly in place dispite removal of the bolts and all will be well.
However the ratchet teeth are very small and there is no way to know if it did just move out by a click or two
So far as I am concerned if the tensioner bolts have been remove then the tensioner needs to be reset properly
Oh and there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to remove the tensioner bolts in the first place unless you wanted to remove the tensioner.
The clutch cable can be removed with the bracket still in place
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gargarzxr
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:55 pm
- My Bike: 92 zxr400
Re: Can somebody please tell me where this goes?
Looks like im in way over my head now
1 more question how do i go about resetting the tensioner?
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gargarzxr
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:55 pm
- My Bike: 92 zxr400
Re: Can somebody please tell me where this goes?
All sorted now thanks for the help cargo
(and the laughing at my mistakes)
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guitarcarrot
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:02 pm
- My Bike: ZXR 400 L2
- Location: Bromley
Re: Can somebody please tell me where this goes?
When you remove the clutch cable bracket (it doubles as the cam chain tensioner). The spring loaded barrel releases all the way, even if you only loosen the bracket, you need to reset the barrel's spring. I find the easiest way to do this is to use a vice to keep it compressed, then use some steel wire to catch the spring whilst compressed, you may have to simultaneously push the wire in the hole and loosen the vice to get the wire to catch. The manual explains it pretty well, but if you don't reset the spring when you refit it, you will put unnecessary tension on the cam chain... And then all hell can break loose... 
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cargo
- zxr400 oc member

- Posts: 3342
- Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2005 10:33 am
- My Bike: tomos moped
- Location: Carrickfergus Northern Ireland
Re: Can somebody please tell me where this goes?
guitarcarrot wrote:When you remove the clutch cable bracket (it doubles as the cam chain tensioner). The spring loaded barrel releases all the way, even if you only loosen the bracket, you need to reset the barrel's spring. I find the easiest way to do this is to use a vice to keep it compressed, then use some steel wire to catch the spring whilst compressed, you may have to simultaneously push the wire in the hole and loosen the vice to get the wire to catch. The manual explains it pretty well, but if you don't reset the spring when you refit it, you will put unnecessary tension on the cam chain... And then all hell can break loose...
Ah but you have failed to look carefully at the picture were you will see the newer version of the cam chain tensioner and your instructions would be useless to our friend.
And I've never needed to resort to the brutality of a vice to reset the old stylee tensioner
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guitarcarrot
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:02 pm
- My Bike: ZXR 400 L2
- Location: Bromley
Re: Can somebody please tell me where this goes?
Oh I didn't really look at the picture,just the words, but I have to disagree with your comment about the vice, it only is as brutal as you make it, that's like saying that using your hand to tighten a delicate bolt, again its only as brutal as you make it...
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cargo
- zxr400 oc member

- Posts: 3342
- Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2005 10:33 am
- My Bike: tomos moped
- Location: Carrickfergus Northern Ireland
Re: Can somebody please tell me where this goes?
using a vice is like using a hammer to crack a peanut............when you fingers will more than suffice.
I'm told I'm good with my fingers
I'm told I'm good with my fingers