Topic: Bent cam chain tensioner? Trouble fitting. Cb550

[Joemac]

So I made the mistake of installing my original cam chain tensioner outside of its slot.  I've taken the engine apart and want to correct the bad install.. trouble is, I can't get my tensioner down far enough for the adjustment bolt to go inside its slot.
In the picture above,  the tensioner underneath is my original that was installed wrong.  The other one is a spare I have.  Im assuming my original was bent from the bad install but I can't get the spare to fit..

I want to use the spare because the gear is in better shape.  But maybe it's actually the one that is bent?

Thoughts?

I spent half an hour trying to get it to fit, hope I'm not just a being a big dummy.

[DaveBarbier]

Normally you need to lift the cylinders a bit to get it to slide into the hole. The head off?

The one on top looks bent to me.

When you get it installed you can remove the oil pan and look up and see if it's in it's slot.


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[Joemac]

I did have the jugs up off the case, I can get the bolt in that way but as I press the jugs down it begins putting so much stress on the bolt I feel it will sheer.  I feel like I'm not getting the end of the tensioner in the slot correctly.  I was at work earlier but I'm about to try a test fit with my old tensioner and see if it fits easier.  Think I can just clamp up the bad tensioner in a vice and bend it to match the one that fits without issues? 

[flatlander]

you should be able to bend it back, just make sure the blade can move freely and the mechanism with the springs etc. does not get blocked. but you have a new one so why bother...

dave is right about removing the oil pan to make sure it's seated correctly. if everything is in the right place then it should easily slide together. also, you only need to lift the jugs a little, like half an inch or an inch. then insert the blade making sure it's seated correctly at the bottom, push the jugs down and guide the adjustment bolt into its hole.

[calj737]

and put some anti-sieze on the adjuster screw!

[BomberMann650]

A borescope came in handy to make sure bloo's tensioner found the hole.

If you haven't already, clean out any gunk that may have built up in that spot.

[Joemac]

Update: solved.

Trust me guys I've had the pan off the whole time to insure it's going where it needs to.  Not making the same mistake twice!

Both tensioners were bent.  It's needed a slight extra curve, especially at the end to slip inside the slot.  I clamped one up as guinea to find what's the best amount of angle.

The one on top in my picture was closer to what it needed to be.  The one underneath in the photo was completely off...it's also the one I installed wrong.  Mostl likely it was bent from when I torqued the head down.



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[HondaMan]

and put some anti-sieze on the adjuster screw!

^^^...what he said...!