cam chain at what mileage

fish · 06-26-2012, 02:24 PM

who did the job at what mileage and did a dealer do it? My dealer said they never did one and acted like they never heard of it. WTF did anyone actually wear through the spark plug tubes??

usranger74 · 06-26-2012, 02:34 PM

Mine is being worked as I type this. The 07 Nomad has just over 25,000 miles. The work is being done by a guy that works on my bike - not a Kaw Dealer.

take a look at this.

http://vulcanbagger.com/forums/showt...541#post439541

recumbentbob · 06-26-2012, 02:58 PM

That is what I would expect a KAW dealer in the USA to say.

If they can't buy the part from KAW why would they know about them??

Also most KAW service depts do not know about the oil screen on the lower left side of the engine case.........

**Top Cat** · 06-26-2012, 03:07 PM

The mechanic that used to work at my dealer knew about the extenders and the oil screen. He has since quit the dealer and works in IT but still does my mechanical work.
I had him do mine at 45,000 miles and they were not hitting the tubes yet.

cactusjack · 06-26-2012, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fish

who did the job at what mileage and did a dealer do it? My dealer said they never did one and acted like they never heard of it. WTF did anyone actually wear through the spark plug tubes??

I don't doubt your dealer never heard of it. This isn't a dealer repair. A dealer would want to sell you new cam chains and a top end rebuild.

I did mine at around 32,000 miles.

**jestephens** · 06-26-2012, 05:10 PM

I forget if I was at 42,000 or 47,000, but either way it DID quiet things down a bit. I would say it can't hurt, but no reason to do it too early.

degreaser · 06-26-2012, 06:09 PM

who's the chickie in your sig pic? she looks hot

**Jared** · 06-26-2012, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by degreaser

who's the chickie in your sig pic? she looks hot

That's his little sister....

scott2007nomad · 06-27-2012, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jestephens

I forget if I was at 42,000 or 47,000, but either way it DID quiet things down a bit. I would say it can't hurt, but no reason to do it too early.

I was wondering if by doing them earlier would it stretch the cam chain faster with the added tension?

Yellow Jacket · 06-27-2012, 08:14 PM

The extenders should not increase the tension, unless the chains haven't stretched yet.

The cam chain tensioners basically just take out the slop in the cam chains. As the chains stretch the tensioners extend to take up the additional slop. When the chains stretch beyond the point that the stock tensioner can take up any more slop, that is when the extenders are needed.

Mileage is not a good determining factor as to when extenders are needed since it varies so much from bike to bike.

The remaining amount of extension available on the tensioners is the only accurate way to tell if the extenders are needed.

Or, you can just let it wait until the chains start to saw through the spark plug tubes. As long as you don't mind a bunch of metal shavings getting dumped into your oil.

**ringadingh** · 06-28-2012, 12:16 AM

I did mine a 55k, but as Bob said its not a true way of knowing when its time for you. It all depends on each motor, jackrabbit starts will stretch the chain a lot sooner than someone who is a gentle rider.

Monkeyman · 06-28-2012, 01:58 AM

Don't listen to the rest of these guys. Replace the tensioners the first time at 2500 miles then every 500 miles thereafter. You can never be too careful.

AlabamaNomadRider · 06-28-2012, 04:40 AM

I only have 19,000 plus miles and will wait as long as possible before doing it.

flavor · 06-28-2012, 05:50 AM

MACMAC did mine at about 28.000. Had about 5 clicks left on the stock ones.

**Farmer522** · 06-28-2012, 05:53 AM

I did the work on mine at 24k and had no clicks left

06-26-2012, 02:24 PM	#1
fish Top Contributor Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Aquashicola Pa. Posts: 6,377	cam chain at what mileage who did the job at what mileage and did a dealer do it? My dealer said they never did one and acted like they never heard of it. WTF did anyone actually wear through the spark plug tubes?? __________________ I'm not prejudice I hate everyone equally;) 08 nomad blue/silver MaryJane 74,010miles VBA #299 Her's 10 900LT 36,700 09 Bath NY. 10 Lake George NY. 11 National Maggie Valley NC. 12 Pa Wilds (Wellsboro) Pa. 14 Lincoln NH. 17 National Lake George NY. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-26-2012, 02:34 PM	#2
usranger74 Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: La Vista, NE Posts: 4,060	Mine is being worked as I type this. The 07 Nomad has just over 25,000 miles. The work is being done by a guy that works on my bike - not a Kaw Dealer. take a look at this. http://vulcanbagger.com/forums/showt...541#post439541 __________________ Bill (usranger74) Blake 2016 Goldwing VBA # 1505
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06-26-2012, 02:58 PM	#3
recumbentbob Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newburgh IN Posts: 3,404	That is what I would expect a KAW dealer in the USA to say. If they can't buy the part from KAW why would they know about them?? Also most KAW service depts do not know about the oil screen on the lower left side of the engine case......... __________________ VBA #01084 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
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06-26-2012, 03:07 PM	#4
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	The mechanic that used to work at my dealer knew about the extenders and the oil screen. He has since quit the dealer and works in IT but still does my mechanical work. I had him do mine at 45,000 miles and they were not hitting the tubes yet. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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06-26-2012, 05:10 PM	#6
jestephens Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fairview Heights, IL (StLouis) Posts: 1,601	I forget if I was at 42,000 or 47,000, but either way it DID quiet things down a bit. I would say it can't hurt, but no reason to do it too early. __________________ Jay Stephens, Former National Vice President (2013-2015) 2006 Yamaha FJR1300 formerly 2011 Vaquero- Black formerly 2005 Nomad - black/silver
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06-26-2012, 06:09 PM	#7
degreaser Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 614	who's the chickie in your sig pic? she looks hot
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06-27-2012, 08:14 PM	#10
Yellow Jacket Top Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 5,792	The extenders should not increase the tension, unless the chains haven't stretched yet. The cam chain tensioners basically just take out the slop in the cam chains. As the chains stretch the tensioners extend to take up the additional slop. When the chains stretch beyond the point that the stock tensioner can take up any more slop, that is when the extenders are needed. Mileage is not a good determining factor as to when extenders are needed since it varies so much from bike to bike. The remaining amount of extension available on the tensioners is the only accurate way to tell if the extenders are needed. Or, you can just let it wait until the chains start to saw through the spark plug tubes. As long as you don't mind a bunch of metal shavings getting dumped into your oil. __________________ Bob KawaNOW/VBA 210 Green/Silver 2006 Patriot Guard Riders 2009
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06-28-2012, 12:16 AM	#11
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	I did mine a 55k, but as Bob said its not a true way of knowing when its time for you. It all depends on each motor, jackrabbit starts will stretch the chain a lot sooner than someone who is a gentle rider. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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06-28-2012, 01:58 AM	#12
Monkeyman Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Wilkesboro, NC Posts: 6,289	Don't listen to the rest of these guys. Replace the tensioners the first time at 2500 miles then every 500 miles thereafter. You can never be too careful. __________________ Christopher "Monkeyman" Gray ---------------------------- Widows Sons "Overseers" Patriot Guard Rider USArmy 1987-1990 2021 Can Am Spyder RT 2018 Can Am Spyder RT Limited - SOLD 2014 Nomad - SOLD 2012 Victory Vision - SOLD 2007 Black Nomad - SOLD VMC #9367 VBA #1860
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06-28-2012, 04:40 AM	#13
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	I only have 19,000 plus miles and will wait as long as possible before doing it. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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06-28-2012, 05:50 AM	#14
flavor Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: RI Posts: 1,351	MACMAC did mine at about 28.000. Had about 5 clicks left on the stock ones.
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06-28-2012, 05:53 AM	#15
Farmer522 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 258	I did the work on mine at 24k and had no clicks left __________________ Scott aka Farmer522 Southeast MO VBA#01865 VROC #34433 VRA
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