Cam Chain Adjustment - A whole new kind of over-reaction!

[Represto]

My cam chain is quite noisy and needs adjustment. The manual says to..

- Remove the tappet cover on cylinder 1 and the points cover
- Rotate the crankshaft until both valves are loose
- Rotate until at 15 deg ATDC
- "loosen lock nut so that the proper chain tension can be obtained automatically"

The last step has me scratching my head. Is it really as easy as loosening the nut and then tightening it back down? How do I know that the proper tension has been achieved?

 

[DrJ]

Re: Cam Chain Adjustment

There is a spring mechanism that takes up the slack when you loosen the lock bolt.

 

[Represto]

Re: Cam Chain Adjustment - A whole new kind of Fuck up!

Ok. So I tried to adjust the cam chain tonight. Following the manual instructions, I removed the tappet cover on the first cylinder. Problem is, I went to loosen it but I sheered the threads right off. I now have a tappet cover top and a bike that I can't ride. I'm sweating, everything is white and I'm shaking.

What do I do now?? Please tell me this is something that everyone does and that it's an easy fix...because I don't know if I, nor my bank account, can handle another big bill.

 

[Tim]

Re: Cam Chain Adjustment - A whole new kind of Fuck up!

Let's be clear on exactly what happened (take pics) - is it the valve cover that has been stripped of threads or the cap itself? Any metal bits end up in the valve train? Remind us of the model of bike.

If there is any risk of metal bits in the valve train, you need to remove the valve cover and make sure you're clean. Get out the shop vac and make sure it's clear of any bits. Blow it out with compressed air, suck it out with the vacuum etc.

Then it sounds like you're into either a new $5 part for the tappet cover or a new valve cover.

 

[locOleoN]

Re: Cam Chain Adjustment - A whole new kind of Fuck up!

Ok. So I tried to adjust the cam chain tonight. Following the manual instructions, I removed the tappet cover on the first cylinder. Problem is, I went to loosen it but I sheered the threads right off. I now have a tappet cover top and a bike that I can't ride. I'm sweating, everything is white and I'm shaking.

What do I do now?? Please tell me this is something that everyone does and that it's an easy fix...because I don't know if I, nor my bank account, can handle another big bill.

CAll TOny...

 

[TonUpSoldier]

Re: Cam Chain Adjustment - A whole new kind of Fuck up!

Sounds like some helicoils are in your future if the threads in the cylinder heads are toasted.

 

[Represto]

Re: Cam Chain Adjustment - A whole new kind of Fuck up!

Let's be clear on exactly what happened (take pics) - is it the valve cover that has been stripped of threads or the cap itself? Any metal bits end up in the valve train? Remind us of the model of bike.

If there is any risk of metal bits in the valve train, you need to remove the valve cover and make sure you're clean. Get out the shop vac and make sure it's clear of any bits. Blow it out with compressed air, suck it out with the vacuum etc.

The threads ripped right off the tappet cover. It's now in two pieces; the cap and the threads (still in the bike).

CAll TOny...

Done. He's coming over tomorrow morning. He was calm and now I am. He thinks that we can use a chisel to back it off. If not, we'll have to chisel it to pieces to get it out. Then put in a new cap. Sounds easy enough...but so did twisting off the cap and I seemed to bugger that up good and proper.

 

[locOleoN]

Re: Cam Chain Adjustment - A whole new kind of Fuck up!

LOL!!!.. hmmm... thats another $2000 that you owe me now!!.. LOL!!!..

You can wipe out all that debt with a large double double coffee next week at Tims!!..LOL

 

[Represto]

Disaster averted. I came home from work today with a clear head. No longer freaking out/kicking myself. I sprayed a little bit of wd-40 around the edges and tapped it with a flat head screwdriver and a hammer. 30 seconds later it was out. Over reacted...big time.

This is my daily rider...my grocery getter...my chick magnet. I thought I killed it like a fat kid sitting on his hamster. Turns out all I need is a tappet cover. Doh!

A picture for the record.

 

[Chad]

Does anyone here put stuff on the tappet cover threads to prevent this? They are big enough and don't require lots of torque, but I'm curious.

 

[Tim]

You could put anti-seize on the threads before putting them in. Maybe some PO put Loctite on them or something. I've never seen one break like this before.

They require NO torque at all. Just a light twist with a short wrench once you've put them in finger-tight. They have an o-ring seal, which when snugged up is enough to keep the oil in and helps to hold the tappet cover in place.

Glad to hear you got it out with no missing pieces - that's the most important part. You don't want a sliver of aluminum bouncing around inside there.

 

[Represto]

It was a clean break and a clean removal. There's no o-rings on any of mine. I ordered 2 new covers and 8 o-rings. So I'll have a spare. Ordered from Honda. Should be here on Friday.

Although...if anyone is downtown Toronto and happens to have a spare kicking around...I'd gladly borrow it and replace it when my parts come in from Honda.