Cam chain life ?

[straycat]

Hi ,

Can anyone tell me how long a cam chain on a gs 550 e be expected to last . They aren't duplex,so I just wondered if I would be looking at 40 000 ish ? I see posts about high mileage bikes never been split, so are they more durable than I think. I know regular oil changes must be a factor.

thanks

sc

[Nessism]

The factory service manual details how to measure the cam chain for elongation. Measure, don't guess, to determine the condition of your chain.

BTW, 40,000 miles on a GS bike is nothing. Most likely the chain is fine.

[Big T]

Well over 40,000 miles if it had oil changes

There is a specification for it in the factory manual

[tkent02]

My 1977 550 had 120,000 miles when we rebuilt it, the chain was fine at that point. Actually everything was fine inside the engine, we only rebuilt it because it was leaking oil everywhere.

[straycat]

120 000 miles wow ! Maybe the main cause of rebuilds is oil leaks then ......... or too long between valve adjustments ?

I remember my 1st GS 550 was only 3 or 4 years old and it was leaking from the base. I thought my current one was ,but it looks as if it's the tensioner. I made a new gasket, but still has a fresh drip on it today. I think the tensioner needs a rebuild / new o rings .

May be I should stop dismissing looking at 40000 miles + bikes


sc uk

[tkent02]

When I look at GSes, I don't even look at the mileage, it just doesn't matter.

[hampshirehog]

Ditto tkent - ignore the mileage (loads will have the wrong clocks on anyway). It's condition that counts.

And a 550 engine, provided it's had the oil changed every once in a while, will last forever. For example, ever noticed the prices of 550 cranks on Ebay? Nobody ever sold one even if it was for £1.

[straycat]

Never thought about the cranks before - good point.


Mine has a slightly annoying metallic "knocking" from the top end. If I lean bike slightly or put it on sidestand it stops. Cam End float ?


SC

[tkent02]

Mine has a slightly annoying metallic "knocking" from the top end. If I lean bike slightly or put it on sidestand it stops. Cam End float ?


SC

Just another harmless and entertaining GS noise. Ride it.

[janner]

i got the same , asked about it on here and it would seem like cam end float, noting to worry about, while on the subject, i,ve stripped my tensioner out tonight, wheres the best place to get the oil seal and o rings from? also intake boots ?

[hampshirehog]

wheres the best place to get the oil seal and o rings from? also intake boots ?

Robinsons.

[janner]

oh yeh, robinsons foundry, forgot about them, could also try crooks suzuki too ! would robinsons have the inlet boots too though?

[hampshirehog]

oh yeh, robinsons foundry, forgot about them, could also try crooks suzuki too ! would robinsons have the inlet boots too though?

Robinsons have the boots - £28.33 each left and right handed.