you are supposed to work on the bike while drinking the beer and eating the pizza, makes everything more fun

I would have, but I wanted to be able to take her for a spin before drinking. :D Nonetheless, there were plenty of beers to be had while I cleaned my chain. :icon_beerchug:

So a few pics: (just adding a couple things that dirt didn't touch on in his post that seemed relevant to me)

Scrubbing the old gasket off without losing anything inside the engine is fun... I used the paper towel stuffed in the hole method while I worked the gasket off with a Brillo pad.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...h_DSC00551.jpg


I used a little grease on my gasket before installation :D
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...h_DSC00573.jpg


New CCT pre-install
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...h_DSC00560.jpg


Old CCT
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...h_DSC00536.jpg

New CCT
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...h_DSC00577.jpg

(Click for mega pics)

Hey guys
The other day my bike started having some of the symptoms idodirt describes, a small rattling noise on the righthand side of the engine.
Now, i SUSPECT its the cct, but im not entirely certain, as it could just as well be the cam chain thats worn out, so my question is:
How much pressure is the cct supposed to deliver?

As it is now, I can easily hold in the spring after releasing the tension, I just figured that if it's not supposed to be more powerful than that, I can rule that out.
Just want to try and avoid opening up the engine without knowing if I really need to ;)

What you think?

How come whenever I look at a part manual to buy the cct, it says what you are holding up in your pictures is called a lifter.

http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmot...r600f3/o/m2044

I don't know the answer to that. For the 1998 they called it a Lifter, Tensioner

Is there any way of retracting it while its out?

Yeah, just use that special tool, or do as i did, use a small screwdriver :)

I think mine might be seized. It was working fine before I took it out and then realized the Manual CCT from my old f2 engine is slightly bigger. Since i didnt find this thread in time, i decided to pop out the ring and twist the spring from the bottom and hold it while popped the spring back on. It was put together exactly like it was, but the chain is rattling now. Did I mess up somewhere?

The only purpose of the tightener, is to apply pressure on the chain, so its doesnt flap around, apparently you either hindered the spring's free movement, or you damaged the spring. In any case I'd get my self a new one, even if you do make it work, you cant be sure the spring hasnt been damaged, and theyre not really that expensive. Whether you want manual or spring is a matter of preference, both work and both have their up and downsides, i prefer spring because im lazy and dont want to adjust my cam chain tightener all the time (once, maybe twice a year?)

Anyhow, i've included this for you, for the next time you go to work on your motorcykle, its surprisingly accurate:D
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nujB_bTXMY...gFlowchart.gif

Haha that is a great table to follow. Thanks for the information.