Cam chain tensioner - no slot??

[stevieo]

Hi, Im about to do my valve clearances on a 02 curvy, its at 70K now and all exhaust clearances are on the very tight limit, intakes are all ok.

My tensioners do not look like anything i can see in any pics - when i removed the center bolt, there is a hole with a flat screw inside, but no slots on the outside so no way of using the suzuki tensioner tool because there is nothing to slot it into?

[admin]

That's odd. I removed my '99 tensioners way back and remember that I made a tool (same as Suzuki's) to hold the centre screw against notches in the tensioner body.

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[stevieo]

Yes, thats what I was expecting as i have the little tool already. I have a photo here if anyone can help https://www.dropbox.com/sc/c3g2cqx81...1S1ikMYq8J4bta

[NedSVS]

Do you know anything about the bikes history? Could the tensioner have been changed for an early Gen2 tensioner.
If the tensioner looks like this it is gen1:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335245917836


If it looks like this it is Early Gen2:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235495471612


The early Gen2 tensioners are considered a worthy upgrade for Gen1 machines

[stevieo]

Thanks for your help, and yes I have also heard about the gen 2 being better. Well Ive got both tensioners off the bike and they are indeed gen 1's.
I have also solved the problem of the missing slots - if you can see my picture in previous post, just in case anyone as dull as me needs to know in the future, the slots are covered by some kind of gasket or washer that is crushed on there so hard I had to scrape it off with a knife - and as if by magic there were the missing slots

[admin]

Originally Posted by stevieo

Thanks for your help, and yes I have also heard about the gen 2 being better. Well Ive got both tensioners off the bike and they are indeed gen 1's.
I have also solved the problem of the missing slots - if you can see my picture in previous post, just in case anyone as dull as me needs to know in the future, the slots are covered by some kind of gasket or washer that is crushed on there so hard I had to scrape it off with a knife - and as if by magic there were the missing slots

Ah. I remember those washers now. Glad you got it sorted.

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[R1ffR4ff]

I don't know if this helps ?

http://www.bluepoof.com/motorcycles/howto/svs_valves/

[stevieo]

Thankyou, that looks a good guide, I have some 1.6mm shims on the way which will bring all my exhaust clearances up to .25mm. I honestly think Im the first person to be doing this on my bike after 70K, and they are only just out of tolerance

[R1ffR4ff]

Originally Posted by stevieo

Thankyou, that looks a good guide, I have some 1.6mm shims on the way which will bring all my exhaust clearances up to .25mm. I honestly think Im the first person to be doing this on my bike after 70K, and they are only just out of tolerance

All I can say is from what I've read and that is to make sure you triple check your work because many an SV650 engine has been ruined by getting this job wrong so be really really vigilante

[glang]

Originally Posted by stevieo

Thankyou, that looks a good guide, I have some 1.6mm shims on the way which will bring all my exhaust clearances up to .25mm. I honestly think Im the first person to be doing this on my bike after 70K, and they are only just out of tolerance

Thats quite possible as a vee twin doesnt usually get revved as much as some other configurations so if ridden sensibly the clearances wont change much...
Make sure you put the old shims back in the right way up or their readings could be different.