Cam chain replacement - is that normal?

Originally Posted by northwind

Surprises me too... If it's had a bad tensioner then the slap would maybe wear the guides, but chain stretch, I'd be a bit skeptical. I don't know what the runouts are unfortunately but accessing the chain is very easy if you can find it. Did he diagnose it just based on noise?

The 30.000 service includes checking the valves. I can imagine that they did a quick measure on the cam chains, but I don't think that's in the service schematics. He didn't really explained how he came to the conclusion, but as far as I understood, he based it mostly on the noise, yes.

I'll give him a call this week and ask him how he exactly determined it. I'll also try to get an answer from Suzuki. Hopefully they'll have some valuable input for this.

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

Way to early for a new chain.

That's something I've been hearing too many times now...

The fact that I do track days with it as well doesn't really affect the wear of the cam chains?

[northwind]

Maybe a little, but they're not really under huge stress in the grand scheme of things.

It's not normal, but not entirely out of reason.

On my speed triple engine (a second hand one, supposedly with ~16k on it) I had to replace the cam chain at about 25kish, as it had stretched.

If your handy with a spanner, I would check it out myself.

This would involve removing the cam covers and checking your cam chain tensioners are working, and then the chain is becoming tensioned properly.

If you wanted, you could remove the cam chains and measure them if you can find the length of the OEM ones.

WARNING: Dont go removing the cam chain tensioners, or cam chains unless you are happy with setting up the timing on the engine, as things can slip when you remove the tensioners.

Also, don't take my advise, as im a mechanical numpty and murder anything mechanical i touch.

Dan

Mmmm, ok. So what could the cause of the increasing rattling sound then? I do have the idea that the noise is louder when I just start it up in the morning, than when I come home after a ride.

Originally Posted by Knaapie

Mmmm, ok. So what could the cause of the increasing rattling sound then? I do have the idea that the noise is louder when I just start it up in the morning, than when I come home after a ride.

It's quite common for the cam chain tensioner to become stuck. I would check that first.

Dan

Grrr, still would need a spanner for that...

[yorkie_chris]

The k3 isn't known for weak tensioners though

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

The k3 isn't known for weak tensioners though

No, but realistically in this setup, we have 2 parts which can conceivably brake or wear*:
The cam chain
The chain tensioner

Now, it costs nothing to check that the cam chain is working, and that the cam chain is tensioned correctly. Or you can replace the cam chains at a cost of £94.92 and still potentially be stuck with a broken tensioner.

*Sure, the teeth of the cams or crank could wear or brake the plastic guide could wear, etc, etc But lets be sensible, use occam's razor lets start with the normal stuff.

Still, im no expert on engines, i've just done this several times.

Dan

[yorkie_chris]

Indeed nothing wrong with checking.

However did this just start all of a sudden, a shim not being seated in valve retainer will cause a bad rattle from front pot.