Camchain rattle on SV650

[huskie69]

I recently bought my SV650 and the guy told me a little about cam-chains and the fact that they're rattly on the SV (before I bought it). I'd read a little about noisy SVs from reviews so didn't think it was anything to worry about.

The noise of the exhaust soon drowns out anything else anyway so I don't often notice it.

Anyway, I picked my bike up yesterday after having a new tyre fitted and the first thing the mechanic said to me was that I need new cam-chains.

'Uh oh... how much'
'Well, seeing as it's a V-twin and you have 2 of them, £400 (inc labour)'
'Oh bollocks'


So I mentioned I'd heard about cam-chain tensioners. He said they could be had for about £80 each and not that difficult to fit. However, another mechanic who was listening in said there was already cam-chain tensioners on the SV and they were automatic.

They first guy explained that the bike literally has to be pulled apart to fit the new chains which is why the cost is so high. As a complete mechtard, this is something I'd never attempt myself anyway.

The bike's done about 34K and not had the chains changed as far as I know. How often are these meant to be replaced and does the cost sound about right?

Also, is the cam-chain tensioner thing right? Are they already built into SVs and operate automatically?

Also, are cam-chains basically the bike equivalent of a cam-belt? If they go, have I knackered the engine?
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'10 Skyjet SJ125-23 - Crashed > '09 YBR 125 > '53 Suzuki SV650 - Died > 2010 Suzuki VanVan 125 > '87 Yamaha FZ750 Sold > VTR 1000 FireStorm - Sold > Honda CB1000R

[Damon]

£400 sounds about right to me if that includes parts. It is quite labour intensive to fit cam chains. The sv will have a tensioner/s more than likely they will be automatic so self adjust. Alot of people fit manual tensioners however as they cant fail (unless you forget to adjust them).

And yep, the cam chain is like a cam belt on a car. If it goes/ slips the timing will be all wrong and you will bend valves or worse...

[chris-red]

Right

First off you need to check the cam chain tensioners are working.

If the cam chains go the top end of your engine is scrap.


34k seems a little soon for a cam chain to be loose, but I will never be Suprised but the poorness of the quality of parts used in budget Suzuki's.

The cam chain tensioners tension the cam chains (funny that). picture your drive chain, it should have a bit of slack to it, if you push with you finger on the under side of the chain upwards it will tighten it up, this is was the CCT does, it pushes into the chain to tighten it. Most on bikes these days are automatic. They are sprung loaded if the spring has gone this means it isn't doing it's job and the chain will rattle.

What you need to do is take the CCT out and make sure it still has spring in it, although this isn;t a full proof testing method it is the only one I would do. Some people suggest sticking the handle end of the screw driver in the CCT hole to put tension on the chain, I would never do this.


This isn't a case where you could replace either to fix the problem, depending on the state of your engine you will either need one or the other or both, you don't have a choice in what you need to replace.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
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[huskie69]

[chris-red]

The SV is built like a tank compared to a chinky bike, still I would replace you break pins with stainless ones before they seize,
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[jimbothe]

[huskie69]

So if the SV already has automatic CCTs installed as stock, why would I also need to think about get manual CCTs as well - surely the automatic ones aren't doing a good enough job, or the chains are too stretched?
____________________
'10 Skyjet SJ125-23 - Crashed > '09 YBR 125 > '53 Suzuki SV650 - Died > 2010 Suzuki VanVan 125 > '87 Yamaha FZ750 Sold > VTR 1000 FireStorm - Sold > Honda CB1000R

[chris-red]

[huskie69]

[MaybeGuy]

right... firstly.

IGNORE THE MECHANIC. THEY ARE SCUM.

secondly, check the tensioners as mentioned. DO NOT LET THE MECHANIC DO WORK.

look it up and do it yourself. it's fucking easy to do tensioners and they're known fail points on suzukis as they approach that sort of mileage
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[boundy]

I had a mechanic tell me the same thing when I took the wifes SV in for an mot. I took both out, cleaned them and refitted them and it ran perfect after that.

[huskie69]

[0l0dom0l0]

Here is a diagram I prepared earlier:

https://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x474/0l0dom0l0/Camchain.jpg

Automatic tensioners are fitted as standard. As the cam chain stretches the tensioner pushes more and more on the valve guide (in black on the diagram) to tighten it again.

In short terms, don't start deciding a preparing yourself to do a full engine strip when you really don't need to.

Take out the tensioners and make sure they are working correctly. Disassemble them completely and clean and lube everything. If they aren't working get new ones.

Then put them back into the engine and gradually turn it over slowly using a socket on the crank and listen for the clicks. The CCT's will be taking up the slack in the chain.

Don't bother taking it to the mechanic that said it needs a new cam chain, asking him to do the work to the CCT's. Buy a haynes and do it yourself. If he's already told you that you need a new cam chain then he won't even bother trying to fix the tensioners and will just rip you off.
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CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[hmmmnz]

who the hell would do a full engine strip to replace cam chains,
it only requires the rocker cover to be removed,

despite popular beleif cam tensioner rarely fail, how ever they do fail to tension the chain on there own because the spring isn't strong enough
to push against the chain,


try this,
loosen the tensioner bolts slowly untill you hear a click, then re-tighten the tensioner bolts back up,
do it to both tensioners

if you don't hear a click then pull the tensioner completly out,
give it a clean, check the spring and reset the tensioner and put it back in,

once in and the tensioner has tigtened against the chain, loosen the bolts slowly again untill you hear said click, re-tighten

that'll hopefully sort you out
____________________
the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[dextersaurus]

Having to do this myself on the tt ^

What are these clicks you mention?

Dunc

[hmmmnz]

[HD]

[MaybeGuy]

buy new tensioners.
bodging nackered ones is asking for trouble, especially if you're a complete noobile
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[Blue_SV650S]

Getting to the CTTs on the SV is a right fag!!

I agree with others, your first step is to look at your existing CCTs though.

Get yourself a Haynes manual (or D/L one) it is all described in there.


p.s. the bloke who sold it to you saw you good an proper ... the SVs don't have a cam chain rattle as standard ... they are a 'mechanical' sounding engine though, but it is the sound of things whirring about, not the sound of rattling chains in a dungeon!
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The purpose of life is to fight maturity.

[huskie69]

[Blue_SV650S]

The CTTs have a 1-way ratchet type thing, if you partially pull it out, then bolt it back up, it will over tighten the chain as it has adjusted out a bit and the 1-way means it can't go back in.

There is a little screwdriver orafice in the back where you need to wind it back in, the you can let go and it will 'ping' back out into the correct adjustment position. To be fair, you need to do this on re-fit also!!

A competent friend stood there talking you though is the way forward for sure!
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The purpose of life is to fight maturity.