Camshaft Chain Tensioner

[pooker]

Hello, how do I know when I need to adjust the Camshaft Chain Tensioner?
I know Chuckster sells extentioins for this.

My bike has 22,000 kms on it and it rattles like a heat riser in a car!!!
I hate this rattle and if it isn't the Camshaft Chain Tensioner what could it be?
Thanks

[cactusjack]

I did mine on my 2007 at 35,000 miles. The only way you'll know is to remove the caps on the tensioners and see how far they have extended. It's possible that one might be "caught" and hasn't moved forward. Someone here had that happen. If you go to the trouble of removing the caps, push the rod in the center and see if it moves forward any. Don't try to force it, just poke it with a screwdriver or punch to see if it moves. I wouldn't expect it to, but if it's caught that might cure your noise. You could also remove the spark plug tubes and look for wear from the cam chain.

Gadget's Page has a good write up on inspecting and installing extenders.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

It shouldn't need the extensions yet but as Scott said there could be a problem of one being stuck. You didn't say how long you have had the Nomad. Have you put on all of the kms or not? The Nomad is a fairly noisy engine so if the bike is new to you it may just be the engine noise you are hearing.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I just checked your profile and see you have been a member here since December 2008 so I guess you have put all the miles on it. So if the engine noise has changed then you do probably have some sort of problem. Check out Gadget's site and see what you need to do.

[ringadingh]

Some rattles are real hard to find, I had a broken weld on the LH dog bowl bracket that rattled until I tracked it down. Start checking for loose stuff. I doubt its your tensioners at that mileage.

[pooker]

I bought my 2008 Nomad new. Yes,.......it made little noises here and there.
My first experience with this rattle is when I tried to run it on regular gas,.........every time I gave it some throttle it would rattle so loud!!!!
I run high test and the rattle seem to be less but still there.
Now I have the rattle no matter what I burn.
I tried disconnecting the green wires from the secondary throttles and I did the marble trick,.............nothing has helped.
My bike is all stock but I will be putting a Chuckster 7 inch plate and K&N filter on very soon.
thanks

[ringadingh]

It sounds like your describing engine knock and pinging rather than a rattle of some loose part. Install a TFI unit if its the engine pinging.

[pooker]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

It sounds like your describing engine knock and pinging rather than a rattle of some loose part. Install a TFI unit if its the engine pinging.

TFI,............which one or are they all the same?
The pinging,..........am I running rich or lean?
Thanks

[taranis]

Based on what you've said already I would definitely recommend the TFI unit first before anything else. When you give it throttle, does it sound like a bunch of marbles rattling around under the tank? Lugging the engine?

If the engine is indeed pinging, you're running lean and causing detonation in the combustion chamber. That ping you hear is the explosion of gas in the cylinder trying to drive the piston back down before it's at the top of the compression stroke when the spark plug fires. Very bad for rings and piston heads.

A popular fuel computer is the Techlusion TFI: http://www.customdynamics.com/motorcycle.....htm#Kawasa ki_

Installation is fairly straightforward - remove the tank, plug your stock injectors into the TFI and the TFI plugs into the injector ports, then connect the TFI to your (-) battery terminal. Once you have it set, it should enrich the fuel mixture and eliminate the engine ping (again, if that's what the problem is).

Have you pulled your spark plugs to check them? If the tip is damaged that is a tell-tale sign you're engine is detonating (pinging). Sometimes they just wear out too, but in either case, if there's wear or damage, they should be replaced. If you don't know what to look for on your plugs, here's a good site that'll help you read them: http://www.dansmc.com/spark_plugs/sp...s_catalog.html

[pooker]

Originally Posted by Taranis

Based on what you've said already I would definitely recommend the TFI unit first before anything else. When you give it throttle, does it sound like a bunch of marbles rattling around under the tank? Lugging the engine?

If the engine is indeed pinging, you're running lean and causing detonation in the combustion chamber. That ping you hear is the explosion of gas in the cylinder trying to drive the piston back down before it's at the top of the compression stroke when the spark plug fires. Very bad for rings and piston heads.

A popular fuel computer is the Techlusion TFI: http://www.customdynamics.com/motorcycle.....htm#Kawasa ki_

Installation is fairly straightforward - remove the tank, plug your stock injectors into the TFI and the TFI plugs into the injector ports, then connect the TFI to your (-) battery terminal. Once you have it set, it should enrich the fuel mixture and eliminate the engine ping (again, if that's what the problem is).

Have you pulled your spark plugs to check them? If the tip is damaged that is a tell-tale sign you're engine is detonating (pinging). Sometimes they just wear out too, but in either case, if there's wear or damage, they should be replaced. If you don't know what to look for on your plugs, here's a good site that'll help you read them: http://www.dansmc.com/spark_plugs/sp...s_catalog.html

My plugs look GREAT!!
Yes, I am getting pinging, a lot!
If I ride at 80 kms per hour in 4th gear it's not to bad!!!
As a matter of fact it seems to run much better if I keep the RPM's up.
Thanks

[ells]

Taranis, Thanks for the plug info. It's been a while since I've seen photo like that and got it bookmarked now.