Topic: tightening the cam chain, good advise and methods?

[cb400f/20yo/semi-broke.]

Bike = cb400f 77 f2.
Hi, so I've been working a bit with the tension of the cam chain at 1200 rpm. My haynes manual says "tighten till slight resistance is felt, then tighten the lock nut.", now that seem's kinda right, regarding the removal of rattle after i have loosened the bolt. The tension mechanism doesn't seem like its stuck, and it feels like it works. I tried to do it with 2 wrenches, that didn't work out so well, being just one person in that tiny space. So now i have gotten socket for the outer 10mm bolt, and a ratchet wrench for the lock nut. So here comes the question, do you follow the haynes description, or do you as some people say on the net tighten untill the rattle "dissapears" and it goes quiter? Whats your best experience?

Posting a pic of the bike just for fun.
Best Regards from Denmark.

[flybox1]

loosen #12
take out the top bolt #11
insert a small screwdriver where #11 was, and press down gently until the rattle quiets.
tighten #12.  reinstall#11

Here is the schematic.
http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb400f-1976-usa_model443/partslist/E++05.html#results

[strynboen]

nice bike you have.
.hint to scandinavia sohc drivers posts/threads....follovs in danisk.(.so you not have to translate the strange stuff vritten after this)

(.fin cykel du har...min ligger desvære på loftet...med en knust gearkasse...
der er en tråd med skandinaviske sohc medlemmer..skriv dig lige ind der.
.mvh lars larsen)

[cb400f/20yo/semi-broke.]

Thank you flybox1, i will try it .


Reply to strynboen: kan vidst ikke rigtig finde forummet?

[cb400f/20yo/semi-broke.]

So flybox, you have had better experience by helping the spring a little bit?, as i see the schematics the spring should be creating the acquired tension, but it doesn't since you have to help it a bit on the way by a push?

[flybox1]

semi-broke, Ideally, yes, the spring should self-adjust the tensioner pad, but on my 350F (same cam chain tensioner system) i was probably at the end of the spring pressure range, and it needed a push down on the tensioner bar to contact the chain.
With your engine off, #11 out and #12 backed off, you can feel if there is any push-back from the tensioner and spring.
If there isnt, its probably pretty close to the end of its adjustment range as well.

Just be sure to set the tensioner with the engine running.....and dont burn yourself   
Hopefully youve done a valve adjustment, timing/advance.
Top this all off with a vacuum sync of your carbs.  It should purr at this point 

[cb400f/20yo/semi-broke.]

Well, this is a bike i've always wanted. And it's my first ever bike. So its kind of a learning experience as well. The season is about to end, so its time for winter storage. So i will probably try to figure out how to do the above things that you've just mentioned over the winter. Anyhow, i will try to figure out more about the condition of the tension mechanism. I really appreciate the help flybox!!
Fun fact: I had to wait until i turned 20, to ride bikes over 125cc and 15 hp. And i am currently limited to 35kW (47hp).

Hopefully it will purr in April!!!!!
Best Regards from Scandinavia.

[flybox1]

Its a good looking bike.  Mostly blue and yellow ones around here.  I like the red.
Enjoy it!

[Bodi]

The springs just naturally lose tension over decades of sitting compressed. With a little help via the screwdriver/nail down the bolt-plugged hole the chain can be silenced. Just press hard enough to quiet the chain, overtension will eat the tensioner sliders. Be very careful, the headers are mighty close to the hole... and mighty hot.
There are suggestions to add a long bolt into the plug hole and use it to push down but I prefer the gentle push. It is much to easy to super tension the chain with the bolt method.
The locking bolt pushes against a sliding rod to hold it in place, it does not directly tension the chain - just holds the tension applied. Do not over tighten it! It is a complicated bolt with two different threads and is a real bugger to get out if you snap it off by overtightening the bolt or the locknut.

[cb400f/20yo/semi-broke.]

Now it does seem like i have to access that method, Because as i loosen the lock nut and then the tensioner bolt, the rattle becomes very loud. But as i tighten in the tensioner i can feel it gripping in to something and the rattle gets quieter. But i really just don't like the screwdriver operation, the space is narrow and the pipes are hot .
- Best Regards.

[flybox1]

if youve still got room with your tensioner bolt to turn it in and get the chain to quiet, absolutely, do so.
then lock it down with the lock nut below.
yeah.  its hot!
i still have a scar on the inside of my wrist 

[cb400f/20yo/semi-broke.]

Okay, will try the haynes guide with proper tools tomorrow  and see how it turns out. i'm going to try and snap a video of the result and see what you guys think about the sound/noise.
And i will see if i have to burn myself
Best Regards.