happywanderer;500015]If you are going to just check them - it is a damn PAIN to put all the pieces back in. VERY little clearance to do it with the tensioner bodies still on the bike.
I would recommend pulling the tensioners to check them personally.
More involved - yep, but in the end easier to get all those parts back in correctly without having to worry about accidently pushing the tensioner rod in as you're trying to force that damn spring and ball bearing cage down to the body of the tensioner body.
Couldn't agree more, the first time I checked mine I managed to get the large spring entwined inside the roller bearing between the ball and cage.
I haven't checked the spark plug tube as I had no tool to pull it. Once I figure out something that will work at HomeDepot, I'll pull them and check if it was rubbing significantly.
This is what I used for the tube removal.
Model # T141 Internet # 100015414 Store SKU # 639305
www.homedepot.com