timing chain jumps under idler gs850

[cacker]

Ticking noise appeared yesterday under valve cover. Disassembled and found the cam chain is "jumping" on idler gear every time around. Timing is correct, but seems a little hard to turn, like the chain is possibly too tight. '79 gs850, engine milege unknown, best guess is in the 60k range. Top end rebuilt, valves, rings, cyl. honed. etc less than 1000k miles ago. Chain issue? Tension issue? Idler gear worn?

[Runningdog]

Likely a stupid question, but did you tension the chain idler the right way......don't ask me how I know about this....

[cacker]

I just placed the idler on the chain and torqued to 7 ft. lbs. as the manual says. Did you mean chain tensioner?

[gssuzukixxx]

If the chain tensioner is in position and working and you take the idler off the tensioner will move in to try and maintain the tension. Then if you put the idler back on and torque it down the chain is very, very tight. Maybe the idler is now screwed.

Take the idler off and see if it is OK. If it is,or if you get another idler, then either take the tensioner off and then put the idler on or back the knob off on the tensioner while you put the idler back on and screw it down. The idea is to put the idler back on when there is no tension on the chain then put the tension on.

Brian

[cacker]

Thanks for the help guys. I removed the tensioner, then installed the idler, then reninstalled the tensioner. Seems to have solved problem. Thanks for all your input, and thank goodness for this site.