Cam chain tensioner dial?

[rymac11]

Hello All,

I have noticed that my engine has been getting a little nosier lately. The only way I can explain the sound it is making is by comparing it to a model train running on a track. A friend of mine said this seems like normal noise but that if you hear a knocking and the engine runs badly that my timing chain might be coming loose. Another friend of mine said he used to run his bike and turn the tension dial very very slightly until the engine quieted down. I made the hasty (and probably not the best) decision to try and turn it a hair while the bike was running. It wouldn't turn at all clockwise, but did turn about a click counterclockwise. When I turned it counterclockwise, it did (and this may just be in my head) seem to make the engine run ever so slightly quieter.

So, my questions are:

A. Does this make sense to anyone?

B. How exactly does the cam chain tensioner dial work?

Thanks,
Ryan

[tkent02]

Leave it alone, it's fully automatic.
Unless it's not working, then fix it.

Turning it counterclockwise loosens the cam chain and will make it more noisy.
It can also let it skip a tooth, which would be bad.

There is a tensioner rebuild tutorial on Cliff's site which explains the function well.

[rymac11]

Have I messed anything up turning it as I described? Is the noise I am hearing related to the chain?

I will definitely check out Cliff's website, however what is Cliff's website?

[tkent02]

Probably not if you only turned it a little bit. Yes it's the chain.

These are normally fairly noisy engines.

[rymac11]

Ok, thanks tkent02. As always, I much appreciate the advice. That's actually pretty neat that its automatic. Was this common for a lot of bike in these years?

[cowboyup3371]

Cliff's site was in your welcome package earlier this year...http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff

[tkent02]

Ok, thanks tkent02. As always, I much appreciate the advice. That's actually pretty neat that its automatic. Was this common for a lot of bike in these years?

No, Suzukis were special.

[rymac11]

Cliff's site was in your welcome package earlier this year...http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff

Thanks! I don't recall ever recivining a welcome package, I must have missed it. Looks like a fantastic site though.

[rymac11]

No, Suzukis were special.

Pretty cool, these bikes are definitely underrated. Everyone talks about how amazing and desirable vintage Hondas are, but from what I have been reading these Suzuki engines are rock solid. Not to mention they are a nice looking bike.

[Steve]

Thanks! I don't recall ever recivining a welcome package, I must have missed it. Looks like a fantastic site though.

Click HERE to go back to your second thread (July 5), go to post #12.

.

[rymac11]

Click HERE to go back to your second thread (July 5), go to post #12.

.

Yep, there it is. Don't know how I overlooked that before.

Thanks,
Ryan

[Mekanix]

You have a roller bearing engine. Normally noisy.

Specs

The tensionner is spring loaded and as the chain wears it automatically takes up the slack but once it has done that it won't back out again. That's the automatic part.

Your friend was probably talking about a manual tensioner that you have to adjust from time to time.

On the other side there is another bolt that can be used to lock it in place so that you can work on it but there have been times where people have tightened it and effectively disabled the automatic part.

You'll learn lots on Clif's site, Probably won't sleep for days taking all that knowledge in

[GateKeeper]

quick link to the cam chain instructions

http://www.bwringer.com/gs/camchaintens.html

found here

http://www.bwringer.com/gs/

.

[rymac11]

Thanks everyone for your help!

[rymac11]

You have a roller bearing engine. Normally noisy.

SpecsOn the other side there is another bolt that can be used to lock it in place so that you can work on it but there have been times where people have tightened it and effectively disabled the automatic part.

I checked this as per the Clymer manual to make sure it was turn out correctly and it was. Noisy old engine...