Valve cover noise

[gearhead13]

I took my cam chain tentioner off and the body came off but the rod stayed in the engine the rod came right out I don't see any damage anywhere. But I don't know what this means?

It means you didnt tighten the screw down before you took it out. Without the screw there, nothing to stop the rod coming out.
Sounds like your chain jumped a tooth. Or it was out from the start.

[chuck hahn]

Ok...so you have the tentioner out...clean it and compress it and lock the screw against the rod and snug down the jam nut.

You already have the timing mark on the line, so do not turn the engine.

Lift the chain from the front of the engine just enough to move the exhaust cam so the number 1 arrow and number 2 arrows are pointing to the right spot. Set the cam chain down on the exhaust cam..keeping tention on it so it cant slip off the exhaust cam.

As you keep tention on the chain ( being sure it is on the exhaust sprocket ) you count the 20 pins back from arrow 2 and put arrow 3 on the 20th pin. Now you can slide in the tentioner and release the rod.

The chain should now come back tight. Relook at the arrows and verify that all is right. You should be back in time.

[Steve]

It means you didnt tighten the screw down before you took it out. Without the screw there, nothing to stop the rod coming out.

Actually, if the screw were properly set, the plunger would have extended a bit more upon removal, but would not come out completely. There is a notch in the side of the plunger in which the set screw rests. By backing the screw out 1/4 turn after installation, the side of that notch will be stopped by the setscrew when it attempts full extension.

.

[mike10]

tentioner

I was playing with the tentioner and it didn't work like the manual said it would.There was no tention on the spring on the knurled wheel. The last time I fooled with valve adjustments, a few months ago. And fixing an airleak I had the carbs and air box off so it was easy to get to the tentioner. I took it apart to clean it and put the spring back on wrong. There wasn't enough tention to spin the wheel back to push the rod into the chain. Thank GOD I was not riding it much I could have really busted something.
I twisted the spring around once and stuck the end of the spring back in the wheel. Now everything pops in and out like it should. I'll reset the timing and put it back together. Thanks for the help

[mike10]

Ok...so you have the tentioner out...clean it and compress it and lock the screw against the rod and snug down the jam nut.

You already have the timing mark on the line, so do not turn the engine.

Lift the chain from the front of the engine just enough to move the exhaust cam so the number 1 arrow and number 2 arrows are pointing to the right spot. Set the cam chain down on the exhaust cam..keeping tention on it so it cant slip off the exhaust cam.

As you keep tention on the chain ( being sure it is on the exhaust sprocket ) you count the 20 pins back from arrow 2 and put arrow 3 on the 20th pin. Now you can slide in the tentioner and release the rod.

The chain should now come back tight. Relook at the arrows and verify that all is right. You should be back in time.

I'll give it a try in the morning. I work 11:00PM to 7:00AM. I was thinking I have to take the cams loose to turn them. I like what you said better.

[mike10]

Setting the cam timing

why is it I took the cam caps off, got the marks all lined up snugged the caps down on the EX cam. Everything still looking good. Till I snug the caps down on the IN cam. Then I have big time slop between the cams in the chain up there in the middle. WHY

[mike10]

Never Mind

why is it I took the cam caps off, got the marks all lined up snugged the caps down on the EX cam. Everything still looking good. Till I snug the caps down on the IN cam. Then I have big time slop between the cams in the chain up there in the middle. WHY

I got it done all is right now with timimng chain and tentioner.