Cam Chain & Top Idler Query
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 6:22 pm
Chaps, apologies my spannering skills are a bit limited and any advice would be appreciated.
Was checking valve clearances today on my Z1000A1 project - bike is still on my ramp but starts and runs fine with no noises or rattles etc (meant to be low miles but no guarantees).
A couple of inlet clearances were tight, but more worryingly whilst rotating the crank I noticed that the cam chain was not at a constant tension and appeared to have a slack spot. I dismantled and checked the tensioner which appeared to be functionng Ok. I then whipped off the top idler gear, the gear was hardly worn but felt loose on its shaft (as if its needle rollers were failing).
I was going to replace the cam chain and top idler, or get he bike looked at by someone who knows what they are doing - but before doing either is there something I am missing and should be checking out ?
The bike's been running strongly for a few workshop sessions without any drama, so reasonably I did not think there were major problems: maybe I am being delusional.
Cheers Tim
Was checking valve clearances today on my Z1000A1 project - bike is still on my ramp but starts and runs fine with no noises or rattles etc (meant to be low miles but no guarantees).
A couple of inlet clearances were tight, but more worryingly whilst rotating the crank I noticed that the cam chain was not at a constant tension and appeared to have a slack spot. I dismantled and checked the tensioner which appeared to be functionng Ok. I then whipped off the top idler gear, the gear was hardly worn but felt loose on its shaft (as if its needle rollers were failing).
I was going to replace the cam chain and top idler, or get he bike looked at by someone who knows what they are doing - but before doing either is there something I am missing and should be checking out ?
The bike's been running strongly for a few workshop sessions without any drama, so reasonably I did not think there were major problems: maybe I am being delusional.
Cheers Tim