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How can I tell if cam chain is shot? How can I tell if cam chain is shot?
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
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  #1  
Old 17 Oct 2017
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How can I tell if cam chain is shot?
I'm trying to to track down an intermittent, erratic knock I sometimes get from my engine when it's not under load. I've read Mezo's great thread from 2014 on how a loose keyway on the counterbalance shaft can be to blame, but everything seems tight on mine.

So, working on the idea it could be a slack cam chain, I opened up the cylinder head cover and found the chain still snug against the sprocket with no obvious kinks or stiff sections in it. The cam chain tensioner is two thirds of the way in.

I'd be grateful for advice on two things:

- If the tensioner is that far in should I replace the chain?
- If the nuts and gears on the clutch side of the crank case are tight can I assume the keyways are also fine? (I don't want to go digging into parts of the engine that don't need digging into).

Thanks in advance for any help.
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Old 17 Oct 2017
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fotobucket
Last edited by turboguzzi; 18 Oct 2017 at 00:00.
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Old 17 Oct 2017
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Cant see pic, but a worn camchain would "knock" (more like tapping, sounds a bit like loose valves) at idle, and very low revs, and the sound would go away as you put a load on the engine.

My tensioner was about halfway out at 125.000km, were I replaces it 'cause I had the engine open. You could tell the difference between new and old no problem, but im fairly sure it could have lasted way longer.

Without seeing a pic, og hearing the engine, my bet would be that it isnt the camchain.

You can see if the sound goes away if you install tensioner, and remove the spring. Then use a screwdriver ect and press on the tensioner and see if you can press the tensioner in a click more. Start the bike and see how it sounds.

Be sure to set the tensioner back to normal afterwards.
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Old 17 Oct 2017
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here you go, right type of chain this time
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How can I tell if cam chain is shot?-chain.jpg  

Last edited by turboguzzi; 18 Oct 2017 at 00:00.
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Old 17 Oct 2017
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Here is another thread on cam chains
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...n-change-87669

Bob
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Old 18 Oct 2017
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Thank you for the advice. I've already pulled the engine out so, given the bike's history (it was running on half a litre of oil when I got it), I'm going to try to check everything I can without going so far as splitting the crankcase. Once I've finished making a tool to replicate the very expensive Yamaha fly wheel holding tool I'll try to get the cam chain out and do the stretch test. I know it's a tough one to get out but if I don't try I'll never be able to ride with the peace of mind that will hopefully come from knowing I've checked it all.
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