Cam chain tensioner

[cargo]

I think Cradleys can still do the old style ZXR 400 tensioner and it's a lot cheaper than the newer version...............

To be honest either one seems to work just as well or badly depending on your perspective

[jackdim]

I'm surprised you were able to by a new tensioner of that type.

I bought one t'other day from fowlers.

[extonyg]

for such an important part of the engine i woodnt be going for the 'cheap' option.

[jackdim]

for such an important part of the engine i woodnt be going for the 'cheap' option.

It cheaper but why does that mean it cheaper is worse? The old style tensioners were fitted to early L's and H's as standard, any problems there?

[extonyg]

i just think although they seem to work with no problems kawasaki wouldnt modify them for no reason there must of been research into it.thats all. im sure they will be fine fitting older style just personal preference.

[jackdim]

i just think although they seem to work with no problems kawasaki wouldnt modify them for no reason there must of been research into it.thats all. im sure they will be fine fitting older style just personal preference.

Not necessarily, could of been a number of other reasons for change i.e. the tensioner production may have been subcontracted out of house and closed contract may have led to a cease in their manufacture.

Things aren't always changed for the better; economic and social factors could have been the main drivers in these shifts.

[Chris1984]

Why would oil be leaking out my tensioner,i keep wiping it to see is it coming from somewhere else but it def coming out around the bolt holding it in.

[cargo]

Two bolts hold the tensioner in place.............

On the old style tensioner there is a small bolt on the side and on the newer style one there is a larger (12mm spanner) one on the bottom of the tensioner body

The tensioner body has an "o" ring and there is an ally washer on the new style tensioner spring bolt............the one on the bottom

your oil leak could also be coming from the ignition pick up cover (more likely in my opinion)


Be very careful that you know exactly what your doing if you start to touch the tensioner..............you could do serious engine damage y getting it wrong

[Smeagel13]

Thank god I have an L1 model, cam chain tensioner £23 later models £61 ... + VAT

Anyone else need one, then Cradleys and Fowlers both do the orignals for £23 + VAT (L1 Model) ... L3 and up I'm told are £61.

[jackdim]

Thank god I have an L1 model, cam chain tensioner £23 later models £61 ... + VAT

Doesn't matter what year bike you have AFAIK, both the earlier and later type tensioners will fit all ZXR L's and H's and ZX4R G's.

[Smeagel13]

Fitted the new tensioner today, the machine gun noise is still there it's a very loud knocking noise! The tensioner blade looks in good condition too along with the chain! I'm running out of ideas, there isn't much else I fiddled with... The sprockets are nice and secure so they aren't rattling! Any ideas would very helpful?

[RedexRobB]

how are the valve clearances? that would be be my next question. Have you tried resetting the tensioner again?

[cargo]

Is the new tensioner correctly fitted ?
Is the tensioner blade in good condition ?
Did you replace the camchain ?
Did you check the rockers for wear ?
Did you reset the valve clearances ?
Did you check camshafts for wear ?
Are the valves all ok bent ? broken ?
Has the valve timing been correctly reset ?
Did you refit the tensioner rod correctly ?


This thread does not mention anyhtong about a machine gun noise untill after you have fitted a new tensioner ?

Just what was the problem in the first place ?
What made you think a new tensioner would fix it ?
If this noise was made by the camchain then a new tensioner will not fix it.................unless the orginal tensioner was broken in some way did you find that the orginal tensioner was faulty when you removed it ?

[Smeagel13]

Is the new tensioner correctly fitted ?
Is the tensioner blade in good condition ?
Did you replace the camchain ?
Did you check the rockers for wear ?
Did you reset the valve clearances ?
Did you check camshafts for wear ?
Are the valves all ok bent ? broken ?
Has the valve timing been correctly reset ?
Did you refit the tensioner rod correctly ?


This thread does not mention anyhtong about a machine gun noise untill after you have fitted a new tensioner ?

Just what was the problem in the first place ?
What made you think a new tensioner would fix it ?
If this noise was made by the camchain then a new tensioner will not fix it.................unless the orginal tensioner was broken in some way did you find that the orginal tensioner was faulty when you removed it ?

*** ANSWERS ***

Is the new tensioner correctly fitted ? ... yeh
Is the tensioner blade in good condition ? yeh, looks it...
Did you replace the camchain ? ... no, its not that long ago it was replaced.
Did you check the rockers for wear ? ... i had a look, looked ok, but i don't think thats a result of my problem.
Did you reset the valve clearances ? ... no
Did you check camshafts for wear ? ... a bit, from what i could see they were ok.
Are the valves all ok bent ? broken ? ... no.
Has the valve timing been correctly reset ? ... no.
Did you refit the tensioner rod correctly ? ... yes I believe so from other peoples pictures in these forums.


This thread does not mention anyhtong about a machine gun noise untill after you have fitted a new tensioner ? ... yep, thats right it was absolutly fine before.

Just what was the problem in the first place ? ... nothing, now there is :'(

What made you think a new tensioner would fix it ? ... I didnt mean to take it off, i was taking off the clutch cable holder and the same bolts hold the tensioner in, of course it popped out under the spirngs load, tried putting it back in without resetting it, halfway through tightening it, ***crunch*** took it back out, and the rachet mechanism on the tensioner had grinded ... so it was dead!

If this noise was made by the camchain then a new tensioner will not fix it.................unless the orginal tensioner was broken in some way did you find that the orginal tensioner was faulty when you removed it ? yep and I caused it ...

I know alot of the answers in that are no's or things I maybe should check, but Im no mechanic, and I dont want to start something I can't finish so i'm trying to do as little as posible to work out the fault to stop me mucking something up that I didnt need to do... Hope these answers help! Cheers guys

[Smeagel13]

how are the valve clearances? that would be be my next question. Have you tried resetting the tensioner again?

Valve clearances not checked no, I dont want to fiddle and break anything else if its not needed, it was fine before the I broke tensioner so would it really affect the valves?

Yep i've reset the tensioner a few times...

What I will do is over the weekend, drop the engine down a bit so I can unscrew the bolt on the tensioner blade, and take pictures of different parts of the cam chain area and post them up here... I might be missing something...