Hi guys I'm kind of new here. I am however a certified power equipment technician.

It all started last season I was hearing the infamous rattle around 5,000 - 7,000 RPM chain rattle. I finally pulled the old cam chain tensioner lifter and installed and APE Manual tensioner lifter. I would really like to know the deflection of the chain should be between the two cam sprockets because all I can find (using google and on here) is back it out a 1/4 to 1/2 turn after the whining goes away. or tighten it until the rattle goes away and then back it out a 1/4 to half a turn. does anyone know what the actual deflection is considering I don't want it too lose or too tight, considering both routes cause failures. who knows what the deflection spec should be because it's not in the service manual because the F4i uses a automatic tensioner lifter, stock. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

 

I don't think there is a spec deflection persay. If you want to see how tight oem runs, then just pull the valve cover with everything tightened down and see how tight the chain is with the oem cct.

 

^^ he's right, there's no specified deflection on the cctl because the cam chain itself is like any other chain, it streches. That's why the oem cctl is automatic, to take the slack when accelerating, decelarating and from the "natural" streching.

 

Tighten still the sound goes away and idle is smooth, look for that sweet spot. Then lock it up. No back turn.

 

there's deffinately a proper deflection spec. I just can't find it anywhere, and it makes me so paranoid cuz I don't have the money for a new set of valves and shims and possibly anything else that will get nicked up if it jumps out of time

 

You're not going to find specs anywhere because the bike came with an auto-tensioner.

Just tune it by ear and forget it. OR, if you truly want to do it PERFECTLY, remove the valve cover and check the deflection. But thats way more effort than what is needed. I have yet to read a single bad review on the manual tensioner.

The only way it would jump timing is if you drastically loosened the tensioner bolt. But before you get anywhere near that point the chain will start making a loud rattle and a lightbulb should go off in your head at this point to stop loosening the bolt. There is a detailed tuning thread in the CCTL Sticky. Thousands have done it that way and never had any problems.