I think you may have this backwards.

why would I want to buy something I have to keep adjusting and messing with.

I bought the automatic so i actually could be "done with it".

 

I think it usually goes something like this:
fit new manual cct
starts getting a little noisy
tighten it up
noisy again
tighten
noisey again
tighten
"£%&%^&^(^%*$%%
OOH SHI......
Guess i over tightened it
Buy new engine

 

Personally I say APC Manual Cam Chain Tensioner FTW! My OEM one failed and since I installed the APC I never looked back. Honestly I was skeptical at first, I did my research online and everywhere on just about every bike the positive reviews out number the neg. I say have it installed and enjoy the ride

 

i think monkeh has it right, this is why i wil never use a manual, an incorrect adjustment leades to a bad engine, where as a bad oem cct is just an annoying aound and only 60 bucks in parts. i also think theres a reason honda engineers used a automatic tensioner on their engines so that it could provide different loads depending on what was necessary to keep the engine reliable, and performing well. if they wanted to use a manual bc it was better then they would just have put one of those on it to begin with and just put it on the service list, i mean, they did that with the valves, u have to take thos in to get adjusted every once in awhile.

i know many people have done fine with the ape cct themselves, but the ones i know personally, they couldnt get it adjusted right and the bikes ran like crap and a couple burnt motors up bc of it. oem is the way to go-or let a shop mess with the ape-then they can be held liable

 

Very valad points with the whole automatic being able to adjust itself but the point is mines fixed now =D lol.

 

I've installed APE cctl's on my old F2, my F4 and my F4i's.. as well as 2 friends F3's. All of the bikes are still running to this day without issue. If you install it correctly they are perfectly safe.

I tighten the adjuster until the noise goes away then back off half a turn. Tighten the locknut down and call it a job well done. Never had an issue with this method.

 

I tried to post the video of the sound but i couldnt get it to work. I took the video with my phone so if anyone knows how to get videos off a phone and can post it let me know.

 

i installed a manual cct when my sstock one took a dump and havent had n e problems since and btw when the "automatic" cct fails if u get on the throttle hard and let off fast it can cause the cam chain to jump a tooth and as long as u tighten the set screw it shouldnt come loose . . . and i have a question about this keep adjusting and messing with it isnt that how a drive chain works on a bike or how u change ur oil or spark plugs or air filter just wondering . . . just my 2 cents

 

just so people realize the op posted that his bike already had the ape on it and the shop adjusted it right for him so hes good now

 

^^^ What he said. I also posted the video of it in the general tech section for those who wanna hear how bad it was.