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timing chain making noise....help?

14043 Views 25 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  Boogiemanink, 
Perfecte99
Hi guys... i finished my motor swap project... it runs!!!! Well!!!! However the new engine has 35xxx miles... and has a slightly ticky timing chain, clean on accel... but idling and when decelling... for this reason i was assuming it wasnt the valves...

The one that came out... with a blown cylinder had only 20xxx....

So the question is... can i just get a manual cam chain tensioner? Retension the stock one?
Or should i just go and do a whole new chain... pulling the motor again would suck but its easy enough..

Also- if i pull out the chain from the 20xxx blown engine and it doesnt look ruined from the metal everywhere else in engine... can i slap that in? Would probably be best to just get a new one... ?

Also if it helps i can video the noise

Thanks in advance for any help or advice given...

I will eventually do a whole write up on the engine swap....
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Perfecte99
just curious... why u dont like a manual tensioner.... ? And u think it could be the valves even though its not a constant engine speed related noise? Or just sayin check em for good measure?


And one more question.... would it be easier to pin down the cause of the noise... valves/timing chain...

By just pulling out the tensioner... clicking it out one extra stop... thus tightening on the cam chain... like a manual tensioner... stick her back in... it only seems to be halfway out... strange because the one on my 20xxx mile blown motor is at least three stops further out...if the noise is improved or gone then i know its the cam chain and can replace it or tensioner....

Also i forgot to mention but this bike is a project for resale... so again it doesnt have to work forever....

Just quiet it down so i can say this engine is perfect. Lol i know im turrible.
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Perfecte99
Its a question on if my theory is sound. Many ppl use manual tensioners.... and they do queit down the chain... why r u against them? Stress chain can snap or what?
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Perfecte99
So rundog ur advice is just what i already said. Remove tensioner click out one extra click put back... Only ur way u do not remove tensioner...

And maxumis thanks i will def try swapping....

Obviousely if it where my "keeper" 12 i would treat her to new everything... Since this is a project for resale, temporary fix is ok and the next owner can deal with it after a few thousand miles of falling in love with the bike.

I am regretting not tearing open the motor before slapping it in... I was so worried it was garbage i just wanted to see if it would even start... Course now an hour checking the chain and guides would have saved countless hours if i must remove engine again... Doh!
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Perfecte99
Luckily ive been around enough bikes... the green twelve bing number 45... its cam chain.... ty all for the advic and the opinions... will tell how it works out...
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Perfecte99
The engine had been sitting since 2010...

Pulled out the timing chain tensioner lubed reset and let it do its thing...

Bike now is quiet and t chain rattle is non existant.

Seems it was just stuck...
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Perfecte99
Man, i like how referring to a manual tensioner, something hundreds of people do, and also suggesting doing a manual tension on the auto adjuster, to queit the chain down both of which there is nothin wrong with, and where suggested by other people, has somehow made me the sneaky dealer...

Only reason i mentioned the resale thing is to point out that i am going to do the simple tricks to fix this project... Rather than go crazy and waste hundreds on new everything... Like i might do if i planned on keeping it forever.

Only reason u take it the wrong way is cuz u read what u want into my otherwise innocent words.

I disclose everything thats wrong with ANY bike i sell... Or part for that matter...

My snide remark was a response to you guys and ur overzelous attitude towards... Do it right or dont...

Right is subjective.

My fix may last 3000 miles til the chain stretches... Or it could last forever... Either way i did my job to fix a small rattle, that makes an otherwise perrrrrrfect engine, sound like a truck.

And according to kzscott if i dont check the valves before doing anything with the t chain then thats also, not doing it right...

Not to mention i should put new guides chain and who knows what else... Cam sprockets maybe? Omfg, pls...

Man this forum is good for some things... But horrible for people preaching when there totally offbase.


And the worst part is... The fact that i even care to fix a tiny rattle, which i could have easily sold the bike with in the first place, to hundreds of 23 year olds... just saying thats what its supposed to sound like... already puts me in the - getting good karma group...

Anyways... Too quick to judge... I guess we should change the title of the thread to that. :mfclap:
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