Extenders

[koolaid]

Just one more question before i do these Cam Chain Extenders, has anyone had them fall off after the install? my friend is a bit worried that loctite might not be the way to go to do this, thanks and i need answers real soon....

[ringadingh]

Ive never heard of them falling off before. Make sure you use good loctite and clean all traces of oil with rubbing alcohol or a spray parts cleaner. They press on and shouldn't be a problem at all. Gadgets Fixit has a great how to on installing them.

[macmac]

Cople tips: Do not cut the old extenders off, instead grab them in a padded vise, and have a helper hold the body. With a drift and hammer drive the body off the old extender.

They are just barely pressed on, and drive off very easy, which is a lot cleaner, and is very fast.

Any other way makes grit of steel chips and abrasives, and you will never get the last of that mung.

The rear jug guide rail will fall back. You won't see it fall back, and with a finger you can feel it has fallen back. I found I needed to one finger assist the guide rod IN to help the springs.

You do not push will all the might you can muster either, just simply assist.

IMO you will find the bearing collar to be tapered just slightly, so pay real good attention to it, at disassembly time. Since this is your first time I suggest doing the ft cly first all the way, and if a problem comes up in orders of things use the rear cly as the bible.

Keep all the bearing, collar, and springs in line in order. Don't kick the bloomin box you have these in like I did either

[mikeyger]

Koolaid I used loctite When I ordered them from Joe he told me that he does not even use any loctite and has done more of these than any of us.I would use it though! Once in they ain't going any where! Mike

[macmac]

Yeah the extenders need to stay in place long enough to intall, and again to disasseble maybe at some point in the distant future. They should be a light press ON but a little insurance isn't a bad idea.

[Cajunrider]

I've installed them on a couple of Nomads. I used the red high temp loctite. Just a drop in each extender does the trick. On my bike, I cut them off as Gadjet instructed. On the second bike, I punched them out as Mac described. Much quicker, cleaner, and less risky. Let the loctite set up for an hour or so before installing the assembly. Follow the service manual instructions on setting the tensioners before installing them in the jugs. If you go to the technical board, I have a detailed post with pictures on the installation. Not a difficult job at all.

[macmac]

Cajun, I didn't know you had a pics thread in the tech room. That's cool. I should have taken the time, but as usual there was no time. Like right now... pffffffffft gone.

[mikeyger]

They are exellent directions. Good job!

[redeye]

I just had the extenders installed on my Son's 2003 @ 35,000 miles. 50% of the miles were on California freeway & 50% were stop'n go on city streets. Does anybody know how long this repair will last before the chains HAVE to be replaced?

[trosco]

Redeye the "stretch rate" (if that is a term) slows down dramatically after the chains wear in about 20,000 miles. I think people do this repair to early. I have a little over 40,000 miles on my bike and the extenders have been 1 clic shy of fully extended for 10,000 miles. I will add the thicker feet to my extenders this year. Probably around 50,000 miles and I expect that to be enough for atleast another 50,000 miles.
Does anyone know someone with a high mileage bike that has had to change the changes because of stretch?

[gv550]

I rode a 1600 Nomad for 4 years and 239,000 kms.
I paid attention to the chain tensioner travel throughout those kms and contrary to the popular belief, my chain continued to stretch at about the same rate as I rode it.
I installed the extenders at 56k and over the next 160k the tensioners travelled 3.4 mm. I never took a measurement at 239k when I traded the bike.
At that rate, the tensioners would have been fully extended (with the extenders installed) at around 400,000 kms (240k miles) so it would then need longer extenders or new chains. At that mileage I would have just replaced the engine.

Garry

[ringadingh]

I think a lot of people replace them too soon as well, I kept an eye on mine for a few years before I installed the extenders at about 58k. As Gv550 said, by the time you need to replace them the second time, Im sure youll be ready to do a few more things on the motor if you keep it that long.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by koolaid

Just one more question before i do these Cam Chain Extenders, has anyone had them fall off after the install? my friend is a bit worried that loctite might not be the way to go to do this, thanks and i need answers real soon....

The red loctite is used to hold the extenders in place during installation. Once installed, the pressure of the tensioner against the tensioning shoe will not allow them to come off.

[redeye]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

I think a lot of people replace them too soon as well,

I my case I think it was time for the extenders. There was a buzzing noise coming from down low in the engine. The mechanic said there was signs of wear too. Not sure what he meant by that though. Now the engine is much quieter, with the buzzing gone. All the normal clacking & clicking seems to be at a lower volume too....-Rich

[macmac]

Anyone doing new chains after adding longer extenders would likely need new sprockets too.

Adding new chains with old sprockets is asking for a big problem fast.