Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Cam Chain Tensioner Guide...reuse or replace?

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
    #1

    Cam Chain Tensioner Guide...reuse or replace?

    Chuck and I were putting the engine for my '82 GS1100 GLZ (8v) back together today, and noted this wear on the rear cam chain tensioner guide (large images for detail):









    The grooves have a depth of approximately 0.53mm.

    The material appears to have some fine 'cracking' in it, but does not seem to bend, and (gentle) attempts to do so do not spread the cracks wider.

    I have checked the FSM, and while it goes into great detail on operation of the tensioner assembly, I found no reference to inspection procedures, specifications, or wear limits of the guide.

    Does this look to be normal guide wear, and is the part reusable?
    1982 GS1100GL (Sold )(Retrieved!)
    1978 GS1000C (Sold, to be revived by Chuck)
    1979 GS1000EN (Parts Whore)
    1979 GS1000C (Collecting Dust)
    1980 GS750E (Sport-Touring Build...Someday?)
    1981 GS750L (Abandoned Project...maybe?)
    1982 GS750E (Collecting Dust)
    1983 GS750T (This is becoming a problem...)
    1981 GS650GL (Parts Whore / Cafe Donor)
    1981 GS550L (Cafe Project)
    Tags: 1100, guide, tensioner
    #2
    It is a cheap part to replace while you already have it apart. I wouldn't use it in an engine of mine, let alone a customer's engine.
    Ray.

    Comment

      #3
      First i saw it was today and it instantly got my attention too. Friggin $86.00 from Suzuki. Theres 22,583 miles on the clocks. Seems a lot of wear for such low miles to me.

      Wonder if a stuck tensioner at one time could have made it press excessively against the chain and cause that wear???
      Last edited by chuck hahn; 11-07-2015, 06:41 PM.
      MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
      1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

      NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


      I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

      Comment

        #4
        Thanks for the input, Ray. Our initial thought was also that it should be replaced, but like Chuck said it isn't exactly a cheap part, not to mention having to wait another 2 weeks for it.

        The more I think about it, the part doesn't do anything other than press against the cam chain. With the grooves in it, the tensioner rod has to extend an additional .53mm to exert the same pressure as it would with a brand new unit. It seems to be plenty strong still, and doesn't want to deflect at all. What is the actual danger of reusing it?
        1982 GS1100GL (Sold )(Retrieved!)
        1978 GS1000C (Sold, to be revived by Chuck)
        1979 GS1000EN (Parts Whore)
        1979 GS1000C (Collecting Dust)
        1980 GS750E (Sport-Touring Build...Someday?)
        1981 GS750L (Abandoned Project...maybe?)
        1982 GS750E (Collecting Dust)
        1983 GS750T (This is becoming a problem...)
        1981 GS650GL (Parts Whore / Cafe Donor)
        1981 GS550L (Cafe Project)

        Comment

          #5
          Sometimes it's not about the miles on a part. That is a rubber type chain guide. The cracks are from AGE, I would replace it, I did on my current build. What happens if it starts to break up? Timing changes, pieces of **** causes other problems for the oiling system and etc.

          Do you think it ONLY pushes on your cam chain, which only turns your cams which have to stay in time with your crank so the valves and pistons don't kiss each other?

          Just something to think about.......

          That type of wear is typical.
          1978 Gs1085 compliments of Popy Yosh, Bandit 1200 wheels and front end, VM33 Smoothbores, Yosh exhaust, braced frame, ported polished head
          1983 Gs1100ESD, rebuild finished! Body paintwork happening winter 2017

          I would rather trust my bike to a technician that reads the service manual than some backyardigan that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix things.

          Comment

            #6
            I haven't taken an 850 lump apart that doesn't have that wear. Mileage isn't much of a factor, as high mileage engines seem to have the same amount as that one there. However, that was 20 years ago, and as mentioned, age is a major factor now. I wouldn't re-use any of them now, though I have in the past, with no troubles from them, but they were only a decade or so old.
            At some point I'll have to lift the cylinders to replace the base gasket on my current lump. If there's any cracking on that guide, it's getting heaved and I'll just bite the bullet for a new part, painful though it is.
            Last edited by Grimly; 11-08-2015, 03:04 PM.
            ---- Dave
            79 GS850N - Might be a trike soon.
            80 GS850T Single HIF38 S.U. SH775, Tow bar, Pantera II. Gnarly workhorse & daily driver.
            79 XS650SE - Pragmatic Ratter - goes better than a manky old twin should.
            92 XJ900F - Fairly Stock, for now.

            Only a dog knows why a motorcyclist sticks his head out of a car window

            Comment

              #7
              Replace them now while it's apart or you next post will be "Why do I have a lot of debris in my oil".

              Seriously, do you really want to risk having to take the engine apart again for $85 worth of parts? It would be piece of mind to me.

              1980 GS1000GT (Daily rider with a 1983 1100G engine)
              1998 Honda ST1100 (Daily long distance rider)
              1982 GS850GLZ (Daily rider when the weather is crap)

              Darn, with so many daily riders it's hard to decide which one to jump on next.

              JTGS850GL aka Julius

              GS Resource Greetings

              Comment

                #8
                Ebay, $30, make an offer
                Error Page | eBay
                http://www.ebay.com/itm/82-SUZUKI-GS1100E-GS1100-GS-1100-CAM-TIMING-SET-CHAIN-TENSIONER-GUIDE-/121816458524?hash=item1c5cd3a51c:g:5gwAAOSwNSxU9c~q&vxp=mtr

                Comment

                  #9
                  ^^^It amazes me that people won't take a few minutes to clean something up before they sell it. I bought a pair of case savers on Ebay and they arrived with oily dirt on them. How easy would it be to take some carb cleaner to that part?


                  1982 GS1100 G converted by Motorcyclist magazine in 1986 to be a tribute to the Wes Cooley replica. 1982 Honda 900F. 1997 Yamaha VMax.
                  Also owned: 1973 Kawasaki Z1 900, 1972 Honda 750 K, 1976 Yamaha XS 650, 1980 Kawasaki KZ 1000 MKII, 1978 Kawasaki SR 650. Current cage is a 2001 Mustang Bullitt in Dark Highland Green. Bought new in Sept. 2001.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Wow, the same part for the 550/675 I'm putting together is $260. Crazy talk.
                    Good thing I have three parts engines to choose from.


                    Life is too short to ride an L.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      These don't seem too expensive. I wonder if the GN250 uses the same part.
                      http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20160221142212&SearchText=gs1000+cam+guide
                      Last edited by Guest; 02-21-2016, 06:31 PM.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Replace, replace, replace. $86 is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

                        Ed
                        GS750TZ V&H/4-1, Progressive Shocks, Rebuilt MC/braided line, Tarozzi Stabilizer[Seq#2312]
                        GS750TZ Parts Bike [Seq#6036]
                        GSX-R750Y (Sold)

                        my opinion shouldn't be taken as gospel or in any way that would lead you to believe otherwise (30Sep2021)
                        Originally posted by GSXR7ED
                        Forums are pretty much unrecognizable conversations; simply because it's a smorgasbord of feedback...from people we don't know. It's not too difficult to ignore the things that need to be bypassed.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          GS Zone - Cam Sprockets, Cam Chain
                          http://gszone.biz/sprockets.html
                          Speed Merchant
                          http://www.gszone.biz

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Don't forget the front one is just as old
                            1978 GS 1000 (since new)
                            1979 GS 1000 (The Fridge, superbike replica project)
                            1978 GS 1000 (parts)
                            1981 GS 850 (anyone want a project?)
                            1981 GPZ 550 (backroad screamer)
                            1970 450 Mk IIID (THUMP!)
                            2007 DRz 400S
                            1999 ATK 490ES
                            1994 DR 350SES

                            Comment

                              #15
                              This is an old thread, but has anyone used the APE rear guide. Jay posted his link for the guide. The original post was from an owner of a 1982 GS1100GLZ which is a 8 valve engine. I have the same bike and don't want to put that 40 year old part back in. Well I have talked to APE and they claim that the guide is only for the 16 valve engine. Been all over the internet for one of the OEM guides with no luck except for 1 in Germany which would cost over $200. The Suzuki part # is 12810-49051. Funny thing is when I go on to https://www.z1enterprises.com/ape-hd...00-gs1150.html they list all the 8 valve GS models. APE has no idea where they got that info so i'm at a loss. There are a few companies that sell the rear guide for the GS bikes but they don't mention anything about being for 8 or 16 valve engines and they have not got back to me. The last resort would be to just order one and check for dimensions.
                              Any input would be great.

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next
                              Working...
                              X