I'm in the midst of doing the valves on the 954. All of the intakes checked out to be in spec at around .006. The exhausts however have 5 valves that are running tight at around .009 . I plan to pull the exhaust cam and shim those valves and let the intake cam just sit in place. My question concerns the cam chain tensioner.

I can't see how to turn the tensioner in like the manual/instructions say. I have removed the little bolt but there is almost no room to get to it and I'm not sure how to turn it or what to do with it.

What happens if I just leave the tensioner as is and unbolt the cams and remove the exhaust cam ?

Any help or ideas I'm all for it. I've worked on a lot of bikes but as much as I love this thing it sure has clearance issues when working on it.

Thanks.

Stan

 

it's a screw,get a small flat-head screwdriver, turn it right to release tension, but just unbolt it now and you'll be good to go
thats weird you're too tight on the exhaust side though... off topic

 

Thanks for the info Conrice. I can see where to insert the screwdriver and I got an offset one to do it with. However when I try to turn the adjuster clockwise it won't turn . Acts like it is stuck and I am afraid to apply too much pressure as it would likely bugger the threads the bolt needs. My understanding is it should turn freely to release the tensioner. I am thinking of just removing it and checking it off the bike. If it is seized I could get an APE manual one I suppose.

BTW I was somewhat surprised too after checking so many posts on 954's that my valve had tightened up. Seems most people have the opposite. Also Honda didn't do us any favors with the frame rails blocking the index marks on the intake cams Jeez.

Never done this on an engine So cramped but 400 bucks to a dealer I don't know makes me more nervous :>)

Also

 

Ahh now I've got it. I took the tensioner off and looked way down inside. Yeah that takes a little bitty screwdriver to wind the tensioner in. Had a small one and still had to grind it a bit. were talkin' jeweler style, Ohh this is going to be fun...