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Problem with my Cam Chain

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by LincsTriker, Apr 29, 2007.

  1. LincsTriker

    LincsTriker Member

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    Hi All

    Just had the cam cover off my 82 XJ650RJ engine, mainly to check the gaps on the valve shims, the engine has been a little rattle like for a while and I thought it was the valve shim clearances, however, looking on the inside of the cam cover there are scratch marks on the front (over the exhaust cam) made by the cam chain. After manually rotating the engine a few times the chain goes very loose at just one point, the rest of the rotation it's tension is fine. Does anyone have any thoughts? I was thinking maybe the chain had stretched but would have thought it would be slack all the time????

    Thanks in advance
    Lea
     
  2. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

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    How many miles on the bike?
     
  3. LincsTriker

    LincsTriker Member

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    Hi Rick,

    I'm guessing at about 44000, but can't guarantee, certainly can't tell if it has been changed in the last 25 years!

    Lea
     
  4. MacMcMacmac

    MacMcMacmac Member

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    Check your front guide to see if it has broken about an inch down from the top. My bike was doing exactly the same thing. The slack point in the chain is probably normal, as there are times in the motor's rotation when none of the cams are at the tops of their lobes and the chain relaxes a bit, especially if you change rotation of the motor as you wrench. I was quite perplexed when I was putting my motor back together to see this happening.

    My bike has over 50,000 miles (85,000+kms) on it. The chain I took out was exactly the same length as the new one.
     
  5. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

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    44,000 is too early for a new chain.

    The '82 Bikes can be -- Either / or -- for having an Automatic Chain tensioner.

    I'd suggest trying to auto-adjust the chain tensioner out a notch or two.

    Remove the plugs.
    Turn-over the engine Clock-wise 2 turns.
    Get ready to turn-over the engine Anti-clockwise.
    Then, ... suddenly move the crankshaft to do so.
    Listen ... as you do ... you may hear the tensioner self adjust.
    I'd try it a few times.
     
  6. LincsTriker

    LincsTriker Member

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    Hi Rick,
    Thanks for that, I'll give it a try tomorrow.

    Lea
     
  7. LincsTriker

    LincsTriker Member

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    Rick, Once again you've come up trumps! Cheers fella, that rectified the problem.

    Thanks
    Lea
     

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