Cam chain tensioners

nighthawk11 · 05-31-2009, 11:18 AM

Hi All,
Well, I've noticed my '03 Nad would be real quiet when I start her up when cold, but as I rode, I could hear a ticking or a "chainish" kinda noise. I removed the rear cylinder cam chain tensioner cap and could see, according to Gadget's site, that I would need the extenders. Is this something relatively easy to do? I'm no mechanical genius, but I'm no slug either. I generally work everything on the bike except tires. Have any of you put these on? Was it difficult? Did it solve any previous noises? Any tips would be very helpful.

Ok, I guess I should've measured but I didn't. The tensioner was about half way in the threaded outer portion, so I'm "guessing" it needs extenders? It doesn't make a loud "chainish" kinda noise, but does tick when idling warm and cruising. No ticking when accelerating. I only hear the "chainish" noise when I'm idling warm.

Thanks, Mark...

**ringadingh** · 05-31-2009, 03:26 PM

Remove the two spark plugs and the plug tubes and take a look to see if there is any rubbing on them, If there is you need the extenders installed before they cut a groove and start leaking oil .
Gadgets sight has pretty good instructions on installing the extenders.

chuckster131 · 05-31-2009, 05:33 PM

Hey Nitehawk,
Sounds like you are do for a set. Here is the link to how to add them in, and it really that bad of a job. The best advice I can tell you is to follow the instructions to a T and you will do just fine my friend.
http://www.gadgetjq.com/cc_tensioner.htm
I have them always available as well

Cheers

nighthawk11 · 05-31-2009, 06:15 PM

Hey Chuckster, I was hoping you'd chime in. I already have your large lowers and risers. I may as well add this to my "chuck" stuff. How do I go about getting a set from you?
Thanks, Mark...

chuckster131 · 06-01-2009, 05:17 AM

Just paypal 25.00 to my email addy chuckster1_31@comcast.net and I will have them headed your way my friend.
I guess I will have to come with a T-shirt design as I know Coacha wants one.....

Chuckster's Custom's
"chuck" stuff

Quote:

Originally Posted by nighthawk11

Hey Chuckster, I was hoping you'd chime in. I already have your large lowers and risers. I may as well add this to my "chuck" stuff. How do I go about getting a set from you?
Thanks, Mark...

nighthawk11 · 06-07-2009, 02:22 PM

Got my extenders in yesterday and went to work on it today. Let me just say, everything I've read about this mod never covers the left side. HOLY COW!!!!!!! I already had the Cadmann mod done, so I went ahead and removed the air crossover tube. What a PITA that was. That was actually the major time consumer. The actual extender mod only took about 20 minutes each. I can't see how anyone with a complete stock intake can do this mod without removing the tank and throttle bodies. Anyhow, I changed my Cadmann mod to a right side air feed only, and still mounted the left side backing plate and filter for a symmetric look. I may change that one day. When I got her fired up I could hear an immediate difference. A lot of the engine noise I was used to is gone. Even the right side intake is quieter. My tensioners were definately out of limits. The rear one had 1 click left, the front one had 3 clicks left. Hopefully, this will let me add at least another 30k miles to the 'Nad.
Thanks, Mark...

audiogooroo · 06-07-2009, 03:47 PM

Oh it's possible to install the extenders with the crossover tube in place, but you do learn a lot of new words in the process. :)

chuckster131 · 06-07-2009, 08:31 PM

Yes you can do the extender on the left side with the cross over tube still there, and yes you will learn some new words in the process !! LOL as audiogooroo says.

nighthawk11 · 06-08-2009, 02:26 PM

Well, I didn't want any more "new" words this year, so I opted to remove (dissect) the crossover tube. I don't plan on going back to stock, so I think I'm ok.

johnbn · 06-09-2009, 04:39 AM

someone mentioned to remove the sparkplug tubes to see if they are worn. Is this a big job! can anyone give a briefing on this procedure.

**ringadingh** · 06-09-2009, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John LeBlanc

someone mentioned to remove the sparkplug tubes to see if they are worn. Is this a big job! can anyone give a briefing on this procedure.

Remove the two spark plugs with the tubes around them, then use a large nut , stamped steel socket from an old toolkit, or maybe a basin wrench if it fits, and unscrew the spark plug tube, it has a shallow hex in it for the tool to fit.
Check to see if it has a groove being worn into it from the cam chain. It takes about two minutes per side to check.

isaiahsdad · 06-14-2009, 09:24 PM

How many miles on average are people getting before having to do this??

**ringadingh** · 06-14-2009, 09:30 PM

I installed mine yesterday, at 56,000 miles. I was totally out of any travel but the chains had not rubbed on the tubes yet. A lot of guys instal them after about 35,000 miles but every bike varies.

isaiahsdad · 06-14-2009, 09:52 PM

Thanks Ring, and I have to say I love the whitewalls. I have been thinking about doing it to mine but not sure how it would look on all black. Deffinately makes your bike though.

**ringadingh** · 06-15-2009, 08:16 PM

I like the whitewalls also on some bikes, the only thing is they come in limited sizes. On a 1600 you have to go with a 150/80/16 on the rear.

05-31-2009, 11:18 AM	#1
nighthawk11 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL. Posts: 306	Cam chain tensioners Hi All, Well, I've noticed my '03 Nad would be real quiet when I start her up when cold, but as I rode, I could hear a ticking or a "chainish" kinda noise. I removed the rear cylinder cam chain tensioner cap and could see, according to Gadget's site, that I would need the extenders. Is this something relatively easy to do? I'm no mechanical genius, but I'm no slug either. I generally work everything on the bike except tires. Have any of you put these on? Was it difficult? Did it solve any previous noises? Any tips would be very helpful. Ok, I guess I should've measured but I didn't. The tensioner was about half way in the threaded outer portion, so I'm "guessing" it needs extenders? It doesn't make a loud "chainish" kinda noise, but does tick when idling warm and cruising. No ticking when accelerating. I only hear the "chainish" noise when I'm idling warm. Thanks, Mark... Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-31-2009, 03:26 PM	#2
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Cam chain tensioners Remove the two spark plugs and the plug tubes and take a look to see if there is any rubbing on them, If there is you need the extenders installed before they cut a groove and start leaking oil . Gadgets sight has pretty good instructions on installing the extenders. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

05-31-2009, 05:33 PM	#3
chuckster131 Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Jackson, Michigan Posts: 1,367	Cam chain tensioners Hey Nitehawk, Sounds like you are do for a set. Here is the link to how to add them in, and it really that bad of a job. The best advice I can tell you is to follow the instructions to a T and you will do just fine my friend. http://www.gadgetjq.com/cc_tensioner.htm I have them always available as well Cheers __________________ Joe (Chuckster) Norris Jackson, Michigan 2007 Goldwing 2010 Voyager (Blue/Silver)sold 2001 Nomad (gone, but not forgotten) www.chucksterscustoms.com
	0

05-31-2009, 06:15 PM	#4
nighthawk11 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL. Posts: 306	Cam chain tensioners Hey Chuckster, I was hoping you'd chime in. I already have your large lowers and risers. I may as well add this to my "chuck" stuff. How do I go about getting a set from you? Thanks, Mark...
	0

06-07-2009, 02:22 PM	#6
nighthawk11 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL. Posts: 306	Cam chain tensioners Got my extenders in yesterday and went to work on it today. Let me just say, everything I've read about this mod never covers the left side. HOLY COW!!!!!!! I already had the Cadmann mod done, so I went ahead and removed the air crossover tube. What a PITA that was. That was actually the major time consumer. The actual extender mod only took about 20 minutes each. I can't see how anyone with a complete stock intake can do this mod without removing the tank and throttle bodies. Anyhow, I changed my Cadmann mod to a right side air feed only, and still mounted the left side backing plate and filter for a symmetric look. I may change that one day. When I got her fired up I could hear an immediate difference. A lot of the engine noise I was used to is gone. Even the right side intake is quieter. My tensioners were definately out of limits. The rear one had 1 click left, the front one had 3 clicks left. Hopefully, this will let me add at least another 30k miles to the 'Nad. Thanks, Mark...
	0

06-07-2009, 03:47 PM	#7
audiogooroo Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado/Las Vegas, NV Posts: 3,390	Cam chain tensioners Oh it's possible to install the extenders with the crossover tube in place, but you do learn a lot of new words in the process. :) __________________ Audiogooroo - Daryl Porter Colorado Springs, CO VBA #248 VROC #17261 1999 Grn/Grn Nomad
	0

06-07-2009, 08:31 PM	#8
chuckster131 Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Jackson, Michigan Posts: 1,367	Cam chain tensioners Yes you can do the extender on the left side with the cross over tube still there, and yes you will learn some new words in the process !! LOL as audiogooroo says. __________________ Joe (Chuckster) Norris Jackson, Michigan 2007 Goldwing 2010 Voyager (Blue/Silver)sold 2001 Nomad (gone, but not forgotten) www.chucksterscustoms.com
	0

06-08-2009, 02:26 PM	#9
nighthawk11 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL. Posts: 306	Cam chain tensioners Well, I didn't want any more "new" words this year, so I opted to remove (dissect) the crossover tube. I don't plan on going back to stock, so I think I'm ok.
	0

06-09-2009, 04:39 AM	#10
johnbn Jr. Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 12	Cam chain tensioners someone mentioned to remove the sparkplug tubes to see if they are worn. Is this a big job! can anyone give a briefing on this procedure.
	0

06-14-2009, 09:24 PM	#12
isaiahsdad Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Midwest City, Oklahoma, USA Posts: 246	Cam chain tensioners How many miles on average are people getting before having to do this??
	0

06-14-2009, 09:30 PM	#13
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Cam chain tensioners I installed mine yesterday, at 56,000 miles. I was totally out of any travel but the chains had not rubbed on the tubes yet. A lot of guys instal them after about 35,000 miles but every bike varies. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

06-14-2009, 09:52 PM	#14
isaiahsdad Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Midwest City, Oklahoma, USA Posts: 246	Cam chain tensioners Thanks Ring, and I have to say I love the whitewalls. I have been thinking about doing it to mine but not sure how it would look on all black. Deffinately makes your bike though.
	0

06-15-2009, 08:16 PM	#15
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Cam chain tensioners I like the whitewalls also on some bikes, the only thing is they come in limited sizes. On a 1600 you have to go with a 150/80/16 on the rear. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

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