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This is an "add-on" to Dirt's post, so feel free to move it or take it on, but many of you kids wanted to know about the APE/manual conversion, so Imma help you guys out a bit and fill in some gaps.

The F3's are notorious for these babies dieing out as time goes by,
so replacing them with an APE manual CCT can be one solution!

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(above: manual cam chain tensioner)


NOTE:
Because Dirt's walkthrough is very thorough, please use his and take mine as an extension. I don't know half of what he knows when it comes to these f3 ladies, so just enjoy the pictures kids!

Alrighty lets dive in!

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It all begins with taking your lower right fairing off... if you don't know how to do that, well you shouldn't be replacing your cct. (below)



Gonna have to take your engine door (small fairing off as well)
but I figured that was understood

Then you have access to your oem/factory cct, which looks a bit like this girl right here...



She's a bit nasty lookin for sure!
and as far as mine is concerned, it's about dead!
my bike rattles like no other~

So...
You gotta remove the obstacles to get to her, which include:

clutch cable:: (2 screws, and then the cable comes right out!)


you can just let the cable dangle, mine was easy off...
and then getting it on was cake as well
sorry about the dirty bike kids... :P

next up:
engine mount (black) (3 bolts, 1 missing here though, and its easy off!)


keep all the bolts/washers/and junk together
unless you're like me and have a box of em beside you for spare parts!

then:
the engine mount comes right out with ease!


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This gives full access to the factory automatic cct



For you kids as a heads up, its a PITA to get to, so i suggest moving your wires outta the way and using some ratchet extensions.

They pop right out, and slide back on pretty easily
I would recommend doing it,
as it made my life much easier with the ratchet.




My ratchet bolts didn't fit all that flush, but i just barely got it in here with clearance and got the bolts off!
Put some WD40 on the bolts to "loosen em up"

Drank a cold beer and waiting 5min



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Once ya get the bolts loose, the girl comes right out, and if you didn't wind it up any, expect it to push its way out like dirt said!
(thanks for the heads up dirt!)





Mine was lucky enough to come fully out with the paper seal so I didn't have to do any scraping or cleaning of the engine side, she was out and done with!

Wipe any oil/wd40 of with a rag/papertowl



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Alrighty, now with the APE CCT!!

she fits right in, easy as pie!



1)it came with clear instructions as "how-to" install it, but the real secret is simply to bolt it on in.

2)then attach the clutch cable back, and start her up, with the APE screwed all the way out.

she's gonna rattle like a biotch when you start her up, but that's fine.



3)now when she's idle, slowly screw in the manual cct until the rattle stops
make sure it's about finger tight, and give it a small half turn more, no more.
take her out or let her sit a bit, and make sure its fine,

4)then lock the nut with the rubber washer!



bolt that gal right back up and you are good to go!


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I did some side work myself, and replaced some of the rubber washers on my engine mount.



now she's prettier than ever!



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Here's a vid to hear if the sound works!

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...00326-1455.flv

I hope this helped a few of you if you had any questions!
Thanks guys, especially you Dirt!

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lol sorry that's a terrible vid...

my bike from my video phone sounds like a pissed off cat.

 

I read the other post about these APE chain tensioners as well. I have a 99 900 and it's a bit "rattley" as well. does this fix go for all of our bikes or is this a model specific part?
I just did an oil change and now it's worse

 

APE makes em for all bikes I believe,
and yours should be located in the same area,
but don't hold me to it.

If it is by the pictures,
yea id say it should be simple, and the same.

 

bump

i want dirt to read this..
no one likes to sticky my stuff.

 

Good Stuff Spicey! Mine is getting bit rattly ow so i am thinking of having a go myself.
Where did you get it eBay or ape?
Great photos should make the job a hell of allot easier for allot of people.

 

ebay. bout the same price, but I need to up my feedback ya know?
make sure you get/have/make a gasket for it..

paper/rubber/silicone.

 

i have the teeniest jingling right now.... as soon as i get some money im gonna do this because the guy who i bought the bike from said he never replaced it and he wasnt sure if the guy before him replaced it... given that my bike has 26k miles... i think it couldnt hurt to replace even if it isnt all that bad....

what does the CCT even do?

 

Manual Cam Chain Tensioners (MCCT) are designed to replace the automatic and hydraulic tensioners found on today's hi-performance 4-stroke engines. Factory automatic adjusters can back out when the throttle is suddenly closed at higher rpms. This allows the cams to momentarily go out of time and can result in bent valves and/or serious engine damage! Hydraulic tensioners have a tendency to put too much tension on the chain guide under high rpm/high oil pressure conditions, resulting in premature cam chain wear. Installation of a Manual Cam Chain Tensioner will allow you to maintain the proper, constant cam chain tension necessary for reliable hi-performance riding and it will not backout

basically it presses against the cam chain to tighten it.
when the chain is loose, it rattles
there are 2 types:
manual and automatic.

 

I installed one on mine around 30k since it was rattling bad. no noise anymore!

When you took the automatic one out did it slide in and out? cuz mine was frozen solid, thee FSM said it should squirt oil out and you should be able to pump it.