Hi all,
I was wondering if a broken cam chain means that the engine is dead or if it is reparable...
I bought a 'cane from 89 for 200 and the previous owner broke the cam chain by streching it too much.
I was wondering if it is a point to open the engine to check or not
Thanks for your answers
Nicolas

 

It is 1000000% fixable. tear the motor down and rebuild it(if you're gonna pull the cam chain out you may as well) put a new cam chain and cct in there, theres manual tensioners on ebay for like $50.

 

Whaou that s a good news man !!! Thanks a lot
Do you think I should be changing some other stuffs also at the same time ? Taking the opportunity that the engine is out of the frame...
I am really happy of your answer, lots of my colleagues where saying like "It s never going to be repaired, you have to change everything... The valve are crashed in the big end" and stuffs like that....
Is that due to the difference between automotive industry and bike industry ?

 

it depends on when the cam chain broke. if it snapped during the engine running, then you may have valve damage. if it snapped on startup then maybe nothing really too bad. but an engine of any type is still an engine regardless of automotive or bike industry.

cam chain can be replaced but you might as well check the valve train (valve, valve seat, valve stem, etc.) and pistons for any damage.

 

It would be a wise idea to confirm that your pistons and valves arent like totally screwed up. if the motor was running when the chain broke, then its possible that a piston and valve met each other.

probably not a bad thought to put some fresh rings in there anyways, I mean you're going to have the motor apart so you may as well do that while its apart.

 

Am I obliged to get it appart to change the chain ?
I saw on internet (but I don t know if I chould or not...) cam chains that are endless and that you just at first attach to the old one, then turn a bit and then close it , so that you only take the head out.
Do you think that s ok, or should I better take everything appart, buy a closed cam chainand then go on to change few stuffs in my engine ?

Thanks for your help

 

I personally would only trust a cam chain that is already a complete loop. besides, you need to know that your motor didnt sustain damage from the chain breakingg, and taking the engine apart is probably one of the best ways to confirm it didnt sustain injury.

 

Thanks for you help.
I will have a friend coming over to help me saturday, we are going to get it out, check it and change the chain for a closed one..
Busy day coming!!
I will let you know if it s roaring on sunday :-))