cam chain tensioner

[cuttercustom2]

my aftermarket service manual hasent really told me much, but i guess its my fault for judgeing a book by its cover, but my question is do you half to release the lock nut and set screw for the automatic camchain tensioner (1980gs1000e)to activate basically how do i work it?
any ideas help thanks

[Suzuki mad]

Hi,
this post may have been better in the technical section further down the site.

To your question YES. The screw fits into a slot in the tensioner bolt and when tightned the bolt will not move. It is designed to hold the tensioner in place while assembling or dissasembling the engine, not when running. To make it operational loosen the lock nut and turn the screw half a turn then tighten the lock nut up leaving the screw in the turned postion not tightening it. This leaves the bolt free to move as the tensioning strip takes up the slack in the chain inside the engine.

From memory the Honda's had a locking tensioner.

Suzuki Mad
GS1000E 1981
GSX1100ESD 1983 Nearly back together.

[Billy Ricks]

This does belong in the tech section, but here you go.

Here's how to service the tensioner.

With the tensioner removed from the cylinder block loosen the lock nut on the left side of the tensioner and back the slotted bolt out ¼ turn. Turn the knob on the right side of the tensioner, which in the Suzuki service manual is called a lock shaft handle, counterclock-wise. As you are turning the knob counterclock-wise push the pushrod all the way back. Keep turning the knob until it refuses to turn any further.

With the pushrod still pushed in as far as it will go tighten the slotted bolt so that the pushrod will not plunge out.

Remount the tensioner to the cylinder block. If the tensioner is not going in turn the crankshaft clockwise slowly to get slack in the cam chain on the intake side of the block.

Loosen the slotted bolt ¼ turn allowing the pushrod to advance towards the cam chain. Tighten the lock nut but leave the slotted bolt loose by that ¼ turn.

While turning the knob counterclock-wise, slowly rotate the crankshaft in reverse direction, counterclock-wise. This causes the chain to push the pushrod back.

Release the knob and slowly turn the crankshaft in the normal direction, clockwise. You should see the knob rotate as the chain becomes progressively tighter. If it does the pushrod is obviously moving forward under spring pressure signifying the tensioner is in good operable condition. If it moves sluggishly or not at all that means the pushrod or the slotted bolt is sticking. If so remove the tensioner from the block again and inspect the pushrod. It could need cleaning or could be bent or galled. Further crank rotation will take the slack out of the cam chain.

[cuttercustom2]

worked great

i do half to say sorry for posting in the wrong place , but thank you for your instructions they worked grerat

[Billy Ricks]

i do half to say sorry for posting in the wrong place , but thank you for your instructions they worked grerat

It's a common mistake around here. Some of the regulars get a little sassy about it and don't offer help until it's posted in the right place.

[bwringer]

Yours will be similar, but not identical. The principles of operation will be the same, though:

http://bwringer.com/gs/camchaintens.html