Topic: Cam chain tensioner rollers?

[Dunk]

Anyone have experience with or thoughts on the metal cam chain rollers available? I see Making Motion and Cappellini available. Thoughts on the merits of these vs factory Honda rollers or other options?

Making Motion:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB250-CB350-CL350-SL350-CB750-Cam-Chain-Tensioner-Roller-Wheel-Set/231576401099

Cappellini:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1960s-on-Honda-CB-250-350-750-Cappellini-72-chain-cam-tensioner-sprocket/171879379182
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB200-350-750-Cappellini-73-chain-tensioner-roller-in-special-alloy/360450222883

[beemerbum]

I like to think that Honda put a lot of engineering thought into the stock tensioner system. As I understand it, the stock rollers will last 100K miles with good oil change discipline. I'll always use OEM if available

[kmb69]

The Making Motion are too soft.
Don't know about the Cappellini.

Cycle X will soon have a new non-roller, slipper system, produced from PA46.

[rcl5011]

Wanted to send an update on this topic. I ran the Making Motion ebay sales of these cam chain tensioner rollers in the past. I have since launched a standalone business dedicated to these as well as other various motorcycle products. If you are interested in these products among others, please take a look at my website www.spectrummoto.com

We have sold many hundreds of these products with no negative feedback regarding the hardness of the rollers. There are many notable reports of people with tens of thousands of miles on them. Additionally, a large number of these products are currently in race bikes that range from drag racing, road racing, to even Bonneville salt flat time trial bikes.

KMB69, please send me an email through our website above to discuss any issue you may have with the product.

If anyone has any questions or concerns regarding these or any other product, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Thanks,


-Ryan

Spectrum Moto LLC

[slikwilli420]

I used the cappellini in my race bike and it destroyed itself after 2 seasons. After understanding what the system needs under race conditions, replacement wheels really just answer a question no one should be asking. The stock wheels are perfectly fine for a stock engine. When you need a performance option you really want to control the chain by having less unsupported links. Aftermarket wheels don't help there. The Cycle X slipper is the answer needed for racing applications.

[PeWe]

The Making Motion are too soft.
Don't know about the Cappellini.

Cycle X will soon have a new non-roller, slipper system, produced from PA46.

I tested too. Chain made marks on upper wheel after not long worried me, it looked like the teeth should be worn really quick. Less than 1000km street use. I think this should be hardened.
Replaced by stock Honda.

Cam sprocket no marks at all despite 40.000km.

[madmtnmotors]

Wanted to send an update on this topic. I ran the Making Motion ebay sales of these cam chain tensioner rollers in the past. I have since launched a standalone business dedicated to these as well as other various motorcycle products. If you are interested in these products among others, please take a look at my website www.spectrummoto.com

We have sold many hundreds of these products with no negative feedback regarding the hardness of the rollers. There are many notable reports of people with tens of thousands of miles on them. Additionally, a large number of these products are currently in race bikes that range from drag racing, road racing, to even Bonneville salt flat time trial bikes.

KMB69, please send me an email through our website above to discuss any issue you may have with the product.

If anyone has any questions or concerns regarding these or any other product, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Thanks,


-Ryan

Spectrum Moto LLC

Sorry bud, but if you are going to promote a direct replacement for a heavily tasked component such as a cam chain tensioner then the onus is on you to prove your part is up to the task. A lack of negative feedback is hardly scientific proof and barely qualifies as anecdotal. This part requires a complete teardown of the top end for evaluation, not something very many noobs or shade tree mechanics are likely to do. There is a very comprehensive thread on this very forum dedicated to this very topic:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,155043.msg1774841.html#msg1774841

[kmb69]

Wanted to send an update on this topic. I ran the Making Motion ebay sales of these cam chain tensioner rollers in the past. I have since launched a standalone business dedicated to these as well as other various motorcycle products. If you are interested in these products among others, please take a look at my website www.spectrummoto.com

We have sold many hundreds of these products with no negative feedback regarding the hardness of the rollers. There are many notable reports of people with tens of thousands of miles on them. Additionally, a large number of these products are currently in race bikes that range from drag racing, road racing, to even Bonneville salt flat time trial bikes.

KMB69, please send me an email through our website above to discuss any issue you may have with the product.

If anyone has any questions or concerns regarding these or any other product, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Thanks,

-Ryan

Spectrum Moto LLC

How about a picture of your product through this forum.

[scottly]

What did the chain look like, Keith? How many miles (or 1/4 miles)?

[slikwilli420]

That's mine Keith. I bought it second hand but thought it was cappellini. Lasted 2 seasons of racing. Either way, never again.

[PeWe]

Less than 1000km, street use. See marks that for me indicated soft material.

No racing decelerations that make life for internal chains and tensioners very hard.



I noticed when I had other reasons to tear down head and cylinder.
Stock Honda tensioner was the better alternative for me.

Edit:
I found the tensioner and took some more photos. My tensioner has minor marks. It had only done max 300 km so that worried me. Engine apart due to other issues and I noticed the upper wheel marks.

If >50.000 km probably no problems. The teeth has deformed a little like they are soft.  Small ridges pressed out on the teeth.
More visible on one side. The upper wheel spin very easy.

Lower wheel has small marks on the sides of the center ridge.

I saw the tensioner to not last as long as stock tensioner. My bike is a street bike, few heavy decelerations. Only during break in of the pistons vs fresh hone.

[kmb69]

That's mine Keith. I bought it second hand but thought it was cappellini. Lasted 2 seasons of racing. Either way, never again.

I assembled quite a few of the Making Motion versions for folks when they first came out. Yours may have been one of those.
One had to be VERY CAREFUL not to over tighten the rivet so it would stay free spinning.
Matt, the Cappellini has lightening holes in them and are a harder material. I have a set but have not run them.

[rcl5011]

Feedback like this is very much appreciated. We have a test engine setup that had previously tested these products many years ago in addition to a number of real world motorcycle applications putting road miles on them prior to any public sales. We will be doing some further investigation based on some of these comments. These parts were not developed with the intent of making any substantial financial profit. The purpose of these were for providing an option for everyone interested in these vintage bikes to keep them alive and have them operating well into the future. Those facts haven't changed, and for that reason further development work from time to time may be required. Like I said, we will evaluate and make some design decisions here so that everyone can benefit from having reliable cam chain tensioner options into the future.

[rcl5011]

Received a batch of parts at various increased surface hardness back from heat treater today. Will be testing these to determine a path forward.