Hi everyone, my name is Doug and I'm new to the boards here.

I have an 87 cbr 600 with about 41k and after replacing the hydraulic tensioner its clear(*) that I need to replace the chain because it has too much slack. I have the chain in hand, but lack the manly parts to take apart the engine. It's not that I don't think I could do it, it's that its over 20 years old! The chain is in the middle of the camshaft and I don't know how difficult it is.

Has anyone done this before? Does the motor need to come out or can it be done on the bike? All I can find are posts about the tensioner. Probably because no one ever has a bike long enough to do the chain, but in anycase, if anyone could help me with advise that would be great!

 

You could -maybe- do it with the engine in the bike, you'll have to take the camshafts out, and the only very important part is that you need to make sure you keep your cam timing intact - which cam is which (they are labeled, so that's pretty easy) - and where in their rotation they were when you took them out. If you're one tooth off, you will have an issue.

Other that that, it doesn't SEEM too hard just thinking about it, but I haven't actually done it.

 

IDk, you can try to do it in the frame, but its hard enough to check valve clearances with the engine in the bike; I couldn't imagine trying to do any real maintenance to the top end of the motor while still in the frame.

 

Thanks to both of you for your input, I guess I'll have to take the thing out and pray that nothing breaks. I sure hope someone has done this though on here that could let me know what type of headache I'm about to get myself into.

 

Looking into this more, am I gonna have to pull the crank!? I mean, the cam chain runs from the cam to the crank and I'm assuming short of cutting the thing off there's no way to get it out, let alone get the new one on!

 

You are right on, you will have to disassemble the whole motor to change the timing chain. unless the f1s allow you to flip the motor and rip off the bottom of the crank case and pull the crank. regardless, while you have it apart might as well check all bearings and gears. Had to rip apart my cousins bike for 1 simple 8 dollar crank bearing. that was fun!

 

Its actually relatively easy to get the motor out and in. I was facing a rebuild, so I just swapped the engines. Took all of 6 hours.

 

What condition is your chain ramp in?

Perhaps a new chain ramp and a manual tensioner would be a better option for you.

 

What's a chain ramp? Is it the chain guides? If so I haven't opened it up yet. I didn't think that manual tenioners are an option for the 87? If so, maybe that would be better.

Anyone know if you can put a newer 600 engine in without too many problems? Maybe I could find a newer one to throw in there.

 

Yes the manual CCT is an option. Its actually recommended since the hydraulic CCTs are common with issues.

http://cbrzone.com/sprockets.html