Silly Cam Chain tensioner mistake!

[TheSilencer]

I had the cam chain tensioner removed in order to remove my Starter motor. (Silly design on the 1981 GS450)
After repairing the starter I placed it back in position and without thinking I 'tested' it by pressing the start button.

Thankfully my repair was successful and the starter swung/ engine turned but unfortunately I was silly enough to do this without first replacing the cam chain tensioner! (Although I know otherwise!)

Is there any quick and easy way of getting the pushrod and tensioner back in place?

Im kicking myself for being so hasty!!!

[Russ' GS1000E]

Yikes! Hope your cam chain didn't jump a tooth or two.

[Steve]

Just follow the procedure in your service manual.

You DO have a manual, don't you?

OK, the FIRST thing to do is to remove the valve cover and make sure nothing jumped a tooth. Count the pins between the timing marks on the cams.

Then, loosen the locknut and set screw on the side of the tensioner. While pushing in on the plunger, rotate the knob. When the plunger is all the way in, turn the set screw to hold it in place. Put the tensioner back in the engine. Loosen the set screw, you should see the knob rotate as it takes up some slack. Turn the set screw until it touches the plunger, then back it out about 1/4 turn and lock it in place with the lock nut. This puts the tip of the set screw into a notch in the plunger that allows it to move for adjustment, but won't let it come completely out.

.

[Steve]

Don't forget to rotate engine crank from r/h crank nut in normal rotation, let adjuster do its job then lock adjuster.

When you lock the set screw, you are NOT locking the adjuster.
The plunger is still free to slide under the set screw, that's why you have to lock the screw into position with the lock nut.

Yes, it's still a good idea to rotate the engine and watch the adjuster take up its slack,
but I like to do that after locking the set screw, just to make sure that it does move.

.

[goat]

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=155781

i just posted this thread. is this want yall are dealing with?

[tejasmud]

Yep.

While you have the valve cover off, I would double check the valve clearances, after you get the tensioner back on. Even if the chain slipped or not. If the valve clearances are all good you can be at least confident the none of the valves are bent.

[TheSilencer]

Sorry guys but Im quite new to the workings of the inside of the engine.
Does the chain tension look right?
I see an arrow on the gears but not sure what thats for.
I've evidently got the valve cover off - whats next?

[Steve]

I don't know about anybody else, but all I see are three boxes with a red X in them.

How are you putting pictures in there?

.

[rustybronco]

I see an arrow on the gears but not sure what thats for.

http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/...450_Haynes.pdf

see page 56.

#1 on the exhaust cam faces forward and points to the front edge of the cylinder head.
#2 faces straight up
#3 is the 20th pin from #2

the crankshaft is set at TDC with no slack in the chain from the crank to #1 on the cam.

you can find out how to set the crank@ TDC on the same page.