Cam Chain tensioner extenders

[jandreu]

Just a thought...could you check to see if you need extenders by pulling the spark plug tunnels? If the chain is hitting it will leave a mark. Would this be any easier?

Sorry to say but I wash my Nomad at least every two weeks and sometimes every week depending on how much riding I do and the wind. Wind you ask...yes wind. Living on an island we have normally high trade winds, combine that with ocean surf and it equals Salt Spray, heavy sticky salt on everything. Dirt may not harm anything but salt will rust and anodize everything if you don't get it off. Plus I'm just anal about having a clean bike, gives me a chance to check it over and do any maintenance required. I guess this habit formed when I bought my HD back in '94!

[Cajunrider]

Pulling the spark plug tunnels will tell you if the chains are hitting them or not but won't give you any idea of when they will if you are nearly or out of travel and don't know it. The rear assembly is easy to check the travel and it will give you a good idea of where you are for both tensioners. My #1 was just a couple of clicks less than the #2. If you've removed the intake crossover tube, the #1 is also easy to check. If you have over 20,000 miles on the dial, it's a good idea to have the extenders on hand.

[ringadingh]

I checked my cam chains the last year or so by looking at the spark plug tubes, I knew I was out of travel but the cam chains were not rubbing also. Finally I noticed a small nick in one of the tubes, this took about a year to happen from when they ran out of travel. Mind you if your real gentle on your takeoffs and gearing down, you will get a lot more mileage out of the cam chains rather than hard fast starts and stops.

[ballast]

How about an "After" video so we can hear the difference.

[blackdogbrian]

Yeah, I'll have to put up an after video.
I actually did on immediately after, and there were still issues - so I was concerned I hadn't found the source of my troubles.
But, after I took the bike for a ride it seemed to have worked it out (as I assume the tensioners adjusted to take in the slack).

[blackdogbrian]

but.....I still haven't washed it.
So, If I do an after video......someone has to volunteer to come and wash her first!

[dogleg]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

I think 20k is probably too soon to add them, I got over 50k before they where required. If the extenders are not out of travel you may not fit them back in with the extensions on.
Go to Gadgets sight and it is well explained there how to measure how much travel is left or not.
You don't gain anything by adding them way ahead of time.

I saw that Gadget says that if the rod is above or flush with the threaded end, then there is travel left. However, I was recessed about .195 inch. I was actually surprised too in the amount of stretch that had occurred with only 20K. I just didn’t want to wait till all the travel is gone.

[recumbentbob]

Extender Question :

After installing the extenders will you ever run out of travel again and have to replace the cam chains ?

[ringadingh]

Originally Posted by recumbentbob

Extender Question :

After installing the extenders will you ever run out of travel again and have to replace the cam chains ?

I don't know if anyone has gone that far, but if the chains start rubbing on the spark plug tubes with the extenders on you will have no choice but to replace the cam chains. Im sure that would be a whole pile of miles though, probably more than most of us will ever put on the bike. By that time the motor would be ready for a whole lot more than just the chains also.

[mikeyger]

I got my extenders in today.The front one was a little tight but I got it. I have 39000 miles and they were not making any noise but when I took them out I was out of travel.Thanks to every one for thier advice!! Have a good day!

[macmac]

Originally Posted by dogleg

Is there any harm in doing this job before the chains start cutting into the spark plug tubes? I almost have 20K on my 08 and was considering putting in the extenders when the snow flies.

We have the same miles about. And No there is no harm doing these before they do any damage. In fact you want to do them before there is any other damage.

However you might wait and ride a little longer if you can. i wouldn't bother to look really untill 25,000 miles.

I did Flavors bike and he has 2 and 3 teeth left, which IMO is just about right. No damage to anything and just about all the stretch has taken place.

These chains can only stretch so far, and it might be a wise idea to let them. If there is a next time a wiser idea would be break it all down and install new chains, rings and maybe do a valve job. Certainly pull the valves and check the guides, and refresh the seats and faces on all the valves.

In my case the timing is poor. I could be in mid to late season next summer when that time comes and I hate working on my bike in the season. I like to get it all in late fall or early spring, so ridin time isn't messed up with repairs.

But then these don't take a long time, if that's all that is done.

[skiman]

Maybe some 10:1 pistons and a cam, port match the intake and polish the runners,,

http://www.orientexpress.com/Kawasak...ulcan/Pistons/

[oldbikers]

I had street rods for many years and washing and waxing was just about all I did so when I sold my street rod and bought a bike I decided to do it a little different so now I ride as much as I can and wash it when I have to. As far as the extenders go I had 42000 on mine and still had 1 click left when I changed mine.

[macmac]

skiman, I don't know if I would personally change to hi comp pistions, but a cam would be an idea. More comp pistons would mean at least mid range octane even with a fuel modual, but a cam wouldn't.

Is there cams? What do you mean by polish runners? I have never heard the term runners before. Probably a local word for something else.

[skiman]

http://www.bing.com/search?q=intake+...m=MSNH14&qs=AS

There's few things out for the 1500's but sadly we're stuck with stock
Plus the cost is crazy high over 400 for cams with exchange over 300 for pistons