Valve cover & auto tensioner

1981 KZ650-CSR w Hy-Vo cam chain & automatic cam chain tensioner (cross wedge type).

When removing or installing the valve cover, was I supposed do anything w the tensioner?
I did not remove the camshafts or anything... just the valve cover.

On a KZ 1000 they are unrelated. Cover can be removed without effecting any internal motor systems

On the 550's you must release the camchain tension before installing valve cover.

Once the cover is off, if the chain slack is taken up, when you put the cover back on, it pushes down on the chain increasing the tension several fold. This chews up guides and may stretch the chain.

I haven't confirmed any of this for a 650, though.

There should be warnings in the manual for this.

Thanks. There is a note in the manual that I overlooked, but it's not really a warning or caution that is typically found elsewhere in the manual.

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Yes just as the manual says, you need to either remove the tensioner from the back of the cylinder block. Or take the cap loose from the cross wedge, and remove the spring and cross wedge. Removing the wedge will let the chain push the plunger back in for the tensioner. With the wedge in place, well you are exerting forces on the guides and chain that it was not designed for. It would be possible to have damaged the guides, but those chains are pretty strong, I would doubt it would be damaged but it would be a possibility. The guides though are the weaker of any of the parts.

Thanks.

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Very interesting and informative post. Trouble is its got me thinking. I've just had the cam cover off of my Z1100 Ltd to sort the leaks in the end caps. The chain definitely had some slack in it, and I'm hoping this procedure doesn't apply to my bike...

Oh for a stress free life... :ohmy:

saxonpirate wrote: Very interesting and informative post. Trouble is its got me thinking. I've just had the cam cover off of my Z1100 Ltd to sort the leaks in the end caps. The chain definitely had some slack in it, and I'm hoping this procedure doesn't apply to my bike...

Oh for a stress free life... :ohmy:

It does apply but don't loose and sleep over it. I watched dealership mechanics do that all the time back in the mid 80's.

LarryC wrote:

saxonpirate wrote: Very interesting and informative post. Trouble is its got me thinking. I've just had the cam cover off of my Z1100 Ltd to sort the leaks in the end caps. The chain definitely had some slack in it, and I'm hoping this procedure doesn't apply to my bike...

Oh for a stress free life... :ohmy:

It does apply but don't loose and sleep over it. I watched dealership mechanics do that all the time back in the mid 80's.

Well that will teach me one thing Larry. Look at my service manual next time I do a supposedly simple job on the bike. Never too old to learn eh!

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