Well, I've spent the last two week rebuilding the damn thing, new flywheel, new alternator, new cover, oil and filter change... So I changed the CCT at the same time with a manual one.
No I can't get the rattle to go!
If I go to tight the bike dies, but at any point I set it, it's got a horrendous rattle?

Any ideas, the CCT originally didn't give me any trouble

 

Did you put the old one back on, just to see if it rattles? Before you put it on put some oil down the center bolt where you'll need to re coil the spring wind it up a few times let the oil loosen up the moving parts. They get gummy from never getting oil.

 

Sorry I think in being stupid. Do you mean put some oil in the hole where the CCT goes? I can do that.

 

Ok refitted the original CCT.

Still the same. Here's a video

931D10C5-98E1-4C83-958F-873C25B228CF-244-00000035A2C03395_zpsba19dd0e.mp4


Any ideas ?
Anyone? I want to go ride!!!

 

931D10C5-98E1-4C83-958F-873C25B228CF-244-00000035A2C03395_zpsba19dd0e.mp4 Video by richard_bransby | Photobucket

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put oil down the hole where the 8mm middle bolt was, where you screw the tensioner back, thats where the spring that hold then tension is. oil, dirt and grim builds up making the spring harder to move, which then means less tension. work the oil in a bit. You can also try to screw the tensioner out (clockwise) to manually push the tensioner out a little.

 

tried that. also took the original tensioner out and used a screw driver to move it in and out a few times, it moves really freely and the spring action when released is quite powerful, im fairly confident it works fine.
Given that with the original and the manual both tried with no success... what options do I have?

Whilst trying to to get the ruined flywheel off, it rotated, moving the cams... could this of caused my issue? have I inadvertently ruined the timings? or bent something?

Tbh, i really havent got the time or the space to strip the engine out of the bike with my F2 race build, but im guessing that to do anything further i need to get it out and inspect it...
I do however have another F3 engine in my garage... I am unsure whether it is a runner or not... are there any simple and inexpensive tests i can do on this spare engine to see if it will run if moved to the bike? Last thing i want to do is strip out the current one, fit this spare and find out its in worse condition than the current, if that makes sense?

 

Unless you had the chain removed rotating the engine is fine. The next thing I would do is check the plastic guide that the tensioner pushes on the chain, this could be worn down. Or your timing chain may have stretched. Both can be checked by just pulling the valve cover off. If you think the timing may be off it would be a good idea to check the markers while the valve cover is off The chain should feel tight with the CCT installed. You'll then Need to remove the CCT to pull the plastic guide out, maybe you can compare or swap this part out of your spare engine?

Either way I'd say you know what's making the noise, so the next step is ruling out each part. Sounds like the CCT is working fine, now to check the chain and guide, odds are its gonna be one or the other.

 

do i not need to remove the engine to take the cover off?

 

Nope, just some fairings, and the radiator? Not sure on that, you may be able to work around it. Its a easy job