i adjusted timing chain tensioner with the motor warmed up

was I supposed to adjust the chain tensioner on my xj700n with the motor stone cold

 

Well, if it was an auto adjuster it would move whenever & probably more likely when it was hot.

 

I'm almost afraid to ask: HOW did you "adjust" it? The '85 XJ700N has an automatic cam chain tensioner.

 

I took the left side cover off lined up top dead and loosened the locknut ( when i loosened it i heared the tensioner spring out like it put tension) on the tensioner and tightened it back up. I did it after a short ride too so the engine was kinda warmed up is that bad?

 

What locknut?

Again, that bike has (or should have) an automatic tensioner. If you loosened the bolt on the "arse end" and then re-tightened it, you didn't do anything except maybe freak out the spring.

Unless your tensioner has a small BOLT with a locknut sticking out the right side of it, it's an automatic tensioner.

The automatic tensioner does have a bolt head on its "butt" but it's not an adjustment point. Leave it alone.

On the bikes with manual tensioners, there's also a "C" mark on the timing plate for reference for adjusting the cam chain.

 

There is a c mark

 

Perhaps you could post a picture of this bike & the T/C adjuster.

 

A pic of the chain adjuster from the RH side would do.

 

hi it wont let me upload a picture says its too big. im pretty sure this the tensioner on my air cooled xj700n. http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAMAHA-XJ700-XJ ... 4897.l5658

is this automatic or manual

 

That is an automatic tensioner, and is what Yamaha put on your bike when new. The nut on the back is what holds the spring in. What you heard when you loosened that nut was the spring popping loose, and releasing tension. The tentioner has a racheting system for the plunger, so you didn't do any harm.