CAM Chain Replacement

[Northern Dancer]

I installed my Cam Chain Extenders at 76,205 Kilometers and was over due -- hadn't caused any damage but was sure rattling.

Presently have 109,121 Kilometers and it is getting noisy again. What has been the expected life of this Cam Chain, how long has the Nomad normally gone after installing the Cam Chain Extenders??

Has anyone been able to replace the Cam Chain without having to remove the Motor? I own a 2008 Nomad and would not have a Motorcycle without a Drive Shaft.

I was wondering if I was to purchase a New Cam Chain and put a Link in it to attach to old Cam Chain and pull the New Chain through when rotating the Motor then re-attach removal Link to exposed end of New Cam Chain.

Would this be possible?? 109,121 Kilometers equals 67,806 Miles and this seems to be a short service period. My Goldwing has 197,634 Kilometers on it with no need to think about its Cam Chain.

Northern Dancer,

Regards,

Ron

[DragonLady58]

The GoldWings have timing belts, no chains. Gotta pull the engine to change out the timing chains on the Vulcans.
After pulling the engine out to the side to where I can work on it, it takes me 2 hours to pull the top covers off the engine, pull the covers off the sides and strip it all down to where its gotta be. Its a pain in the ass to try and feed the chain on a wire up thru the cylinder and head on a wire....
Its easier for me physically to just pull the cylinder and head and do it that way....and quicker, but I got all the tools & air ratchets.
On my Nomad, I had to go with the extenders at about 70,000. Chains should be good till 150,000, at engine rebuild.
Chains and extenders just depend on how the engine was broke in and how its been treated. You do have to check the extenders on occassions. Or at least you should!

[Top Cat]

Ron, I understand your concerned about your bike but QUIT SHOUTING !

[ldhthept]

TC, he prob has an after market key board making his post too loud...��

[roadhawg]

Hey shout if ya want to! Easier for me to see!

[minst7877]

Actually that is not shouting All Caps is shouting he is just using a very large font.

DC

[degreaser]

I thought all caps was shouting

[degreaser]

i had always thought that the cam chain would stretch only so much then reach a limit and stop stretching

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by degreaser

i had always thought that the cam chain would stretch only so much then reach a limit and stop stretching

That is the way I understood it also

[DragonLady58]

Originally Posted by Top Cat

That is the way I understood it also

Yep, thats what they say.....
The scenario, vulcan 1500, varoom-varoom, chain stretches, extenders installed.
Varoom till 135,000-150,000. Mechanic rebuilds engine, hum....sees extenders. Installs new chains. extenders can be taken out.
Yes, after chain stretch, it stops stretching, next step is chain failure.
Look under chain stretch, then failure.

Chains are very durable, they don't fail often. But when you push them to failure, they do fuche up some shitse when they let go. The timing chains on a Vulcan 1500 are in a very narrow, confined space. If the timing chain were to stack up inside....it could very easily ruin the head, barrel and crankcase.....
Read up on motorcycle chain failure.....ouch....

https://itstillruns.com/causes-timin...s-7452887.html

[hardrider]

So, if you change oil regularly and don't race your cruiser, you should be ok with the extensions for 100,000 miles?

[roadhawg]

Originally Posted by Jake_7

So, if you change oil regularly and don't race your cruiser, you should be ok with the extensions for 100,000 miles?

Yes good question, so about 150 k miles is all we should expect to get out of our engine before rebuild is necessary?

[ringadingh]

I think that you could go a lot more than 150,000 miles on the original chains with the extenders installed.

[recumbentbob]

Originally Posted by roadhawg

Yes good question, so about 150 k miles is all we should expect to get out of our engine before rebuild is necessary?

Quinten Grubbs got 253,000 miles on his 2003 1500 Nomad on the original motor. He bought the bike new.
He put cam chain adj. extenders in at 170,345 miles.

http://vulcanbagger.com/forums/showt...ht=Qdog&page=2

scroll down on page 2 and there is a link to his maintenance log.

Sadly Quinten has passed away.

[DragonLady58]

There I was, Just got thru servicing out a brand new Electra Glide Classic, owner was coming in to pick her up. There was a fella trading in a Kawasaki 1500 with windshield, bags, custom paint, had 250,000 on her, there was a kid working there at the dealership, he wanted the bike once it was traded in.
Service mngr wanted me to check the bike out....I put her up on the lift, pulled and checked the plugs, checked the oil, pulled the oil filter and cut it open. Looked good. Clutch was slipping when I test rode it....I popped open the clutch, internally was in great shape. Just needed a little shim work since you can't adjust the clutch pushrod easily.
Anyway, I was really impressed, engine still had good compression, leakdown was good, ran fine. Idled like shit, fuel system was dirty....
Anyway, I had my Electra Glide for over 20 years, loved my bike but I was getting older, the vibration was starting to bother me.
Anyway, I fell in love with the Nomads. Bought one about 2 weeks later. The I sold my Electra Glide.....
Yep, the Kawa 1500s easily can do 250,000 miles....I've seen it.