Cam chain tensioner rebuild. Can it be removed with the carbs on???

[1978GS750E]

Looks like my 78 GS750 has developed the dreaded cam chain tensioner leakage. Anyone tried removing the tensioner without removing the carbs? Is it possible? I really don't want to take the airbox and carbs off if I can do it with them on the engine!

[Steve]

It's (sorta) possible on the 850 (with the BS carbs). The 850 is based on the 750, so it might be similar, but I'm not sure if the VM carbs might intrude a bit more on the bottom, hindering access.

.

[alke46]

I'm probably too late to the party, but I just looked at mine and it looks like you would only have about 1.5" of rearward movement before hitting the carb. I think you might need more room than that.

[Buffalo Bill]

I accessed mine, by removing the airbox, pulling the carbs out of their boots but left them hanging by throttle and choke cables.
Pulling the airbox out sideways on a GS1100G is kinda easy.

[Steve]

Pulling the airbox out sideways on a GS1100G is kinda easy.

And pulling the carbs isn't that much more effort, but he has a 750 with VM carbs, so we shouldn't be bragging.

.

[1978GS750E]

The short answer is NO, at least not with my big paws! Oh well, what's another 20 minutes?

[bwringer]

I seem to recall this has been done, but takes longer and removes more skin and sanity than just getting the carbs out of the way in the first place.

I think future removals might also become possible/easier if you replace the tensioner mounting screws with socket heads (allen heads) so you can reach them from an angle with a long ball end key socket. Then again, once you put in a new seal and o-rings, you probably won't need to remove it again for at least a few decades.


I was a little surprised to find that the starter can fairly easily be removed/replaced with the carbs in place on the 750+ engines, at least the ones with CV carbs. I don't know whether the VM carbs are different enough to interfere with this.

[Noreg]

I seem to recall this has been done, but takes longer and removes more skin and sanity than just getting the carbs out of the way in the first place.

I think future removals might also become possible/easier if you replace the tensioner mounting screws with socket heads (allen heads) so you can reach them from an angle with a long ball end key socket. Then again, once you put in a new seal and o-rings, you probably won't need to remove it again for at least a few decades.


I was a little surprised to find that the starter can fairly easily be removed/replaced with the carbs in place on the 750+ engines, at least the ones with CV carbs. I don't know whether the VM carbs are different enough to interfere with this.

Do you happen to know what part is 09284-10006 for the GS1000G? I can't find anything that looks like it... Bought all the seals and o-rings for my bike though.

[rphillips]

Shows an oil seal, looks like appx. 1/2" ID X 3/4" OD. Did you order a seal & didn't know what it was or where it goes? That don't sound right. I'm kind'f confused what you're say'in.

[BigD_83]

Noreg.

I have checked a number of parts fiche and that seal does not show up for the 1000G. It is used as cam chain tensioner seal, however, and it fits on both my 550es and the 650G. The parts fiche for your model doesn't show that oil seal in the tensioner, either.

Maybe Suzuki changed the design after 1981, and it doesn't fit on your 1000G. Other parts places list it as a straight-up oil seal, but I don't see it listed as used anywhere on the 1000G.

[bwringer]

I give dimensions and a complete explanation here:

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

(Never mind those other numbers and letters; that's just some sort of production code and the manufacturer, NOK.)

09284-10006 is the oil seal used in every known GS cam chain tensioner. Yes, even yours.

For reasons known only to those who once walked the hallowed halls of the Suzuki mother ship in Hamamatsu, this part did not appear on most GS fiches.

There are later models like the GS500 that use a completely and obviously different tensioner design, and so this seal is obviously not used. But people all over the world have used my Suzuki GS cam chain tensioner rebuild instructions since I posted that page 16 years ago, and so far I haven't heard of any where that seal wasn't correct.

[Noreg]

I give dimensions and a complete explanation here:

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

(Never mind those other numbers and letters; that's just some sort of production code and the manufacturer, NOK.)

09284-10006 is the oil seal used in every known GS cam chain tensioner. Yes, even yours.

For reasons known only to those who once walked the hallowed halls of the Suzuki mother ship in Hamamatsu, this part did not appear on most GS fiches.

There are later models like the GS500 that use a completely and obviously different tensioner design, and so this seal is obviously not used. But people all over the world have used my Suzuki GS cam chain tensioner rebuild instructions since I posted that page 16 years ago, and so far I haven't heard of any where that seal wasn't correct.

Guess Ill have to ask the shop to order me one, I think I have all the other parts on the way.

So weird they'd hide such an important part...

[bwringer]

Guess Ill have to ask the shop to order me one, I think I have all the other parts on the way.

So weird they'd hide such an important part...

There are ALL KINDS of omissions and egregious mistakes in the Suzuki fiches and the official Factory Service Manual. It happens with every vehicle, really.

Never trust, always verify...