Does anyone know the purpose for the adjustment of cam chain tensioner on the 2001 model year during a valve shim measurement ?
it seems that the 2001 year must be slightly dif. my manual says i need a special tool (or 1 can be made)to adjust the cct during the shim measurement. i would like to know exactly what is going on when i make this adjustment. i cant understand why u would allow chain slack with this model year and no others.(if in fact thats what it does??).
if i had an APE tensioner, what would i do ? my KZ1000 doesnt require u to loosen the cam chain before an adjustment.
Thanks Mark.

 

The automatic OEM cam chain tensioner takes up the slack on the inlet side of the cam chain. As it has a ratchet on it once the slack has been taken up it wont release the tension unless you take out the bolt at the top of the tensioner and wind it back in. You can use a screw driver to wind it back in but the tool they tell you to make allows you to lock it in the fully in position at the same time.

If you tried to remove the cams with the tensioner in place you would struggle and then the tension on the chain would end up too high as the ratchet locks the tensioner out to max.


What I do is remove the tensioner, do your valve adjustment, then wind it in with a screw driver and jam a small piece of steel into the back to keep it in place (like the locking tab on a new tensioner and the tool they tell you to make). Pull this out after it has been reassembled to let the tensioner move out and take up the slack again.

 

i take the tensioner right out to reshimm my KZ, but leave it properly adjusted while measuring the shim clearance.
Why would we need to slack the chain during the measurement procedure?
am i reading the manual right? it seems that u only do this on the 04 model year. why would that be?
Thanks for the help

 

bump

 

You have to back the tensioner out but not remove it. It is a spring loaded piston that puts pressure on the cam guide. You need to slack it so it doesn't extend all the way out when you remove the cam chain to remove the camshafts. Once you look at a CCTL out of the bike you will understand, it is very tough to explain without demonstration.

This is required for all F4i models with the auto CCTL. Re-read what DonnyBrago wrote it is spot on.

 

i guess the chain only needs to be relaxed when removing the cams. i dont see the need if u are just checking the shim clearance.
Thanks.

 

Yes you are correct but you do realize that you need to remove the cams to adjust your valves. I'm assuming that is what you are trying to do since you are measuring your valve lash (clearance) what ever you choose to call it.

 

i just want to check the lash first then if neccesary i would remove the cams. i can do this very easily,on my kz .but the honda manual was confusing the issue. it dosnt make sence to me , why i would need to relax the chain just to check lash.