Given I'm not riding at the moment waiting for a new cam chain I've started playing with the old one that I've taken off the bike. So I've been able to split and rejoin the stock chain, only issue is the joined link is a bit tight. It should loosen up over time but it might reduce the life of the chain / guides / etc. So next Option now I know the chain model type 98 XRH 2015 was to hunt for a master link. Firstly no matching part for 98XRH2015 even K&L supply doesn't have one. If they don't no one will. So next I started to go through all the cam chain specs I could find and came across the 82 RH 2015 which has many similar specs. In the below link catalog 82 RH 2015 is CMM-A and 98 XRH 2015 is CMM-K15 Pin Center to Center 6.35 Number of plates 9 Inside width distance between outside plates 7.2 Pin diameter 2.6 http://www.xmas1.at/xneu/KATALOG/200_Katalog/160_Motorteile/010_Ventilsteuerung/010_Steuerketten.pdf Now I'm getting excited as 82 RH 2015 has master links available So I bought one (a K&L supply one) from http://www.z1enterprises.com Fast forward a couple of days and I receive my new 82 RH 2015 master link. So with no delay I test fit it to my old timing chain and as expected from my measurements it fits As can be seen from the 2nd picture the outer plates are thicker on the master link but all inner plates are from the original chain. The master link is only two pins and two outer plates with the pins fixed in the outer plate. The 82 RH 2015 is only 0.6mm wider at the pins then the 98 XRH 2015, so I'm not going to worry about it but if you were worried you could file down 0.3mm from each side. So next step for me is to wait for the cam chain to turn up then fit it up, I'll take some photos and post it up once done. Al
Warning: I've done zillions of bicycle chains and a few m/c chains, never a cam chain so keep that in mind. What are the clearances like around the chains path? i.e. Through the guides, etc. Any chance that the wider link could catch? And kudos for tracking this down - - it could be a huge help for a lot of riders in the future!
Although I have not been in there..... If it is anything like other bikes... Then there is plenty of clearance. That thing slaps and bangs around...thus plenty space is needed....... But looking at it with the valve cover off.... There is plenty of room.... Erling
That's awesome man. A lot of people are going to be thanking you for many years to come if this works out well!
Good show, chadams! When you say "0.6 wider at the pins" do you mean that the 82RH2015 link has it's pins placed 0.6 wider centre to centre than the 98RH2015? Or do you mean wider at the pins just referring to the thicker plates, when the link is installed as shown? I'm assuming/hoping that "wider at the pins" means wider outside to outside link "thickness"and not a pin centre to centre difference. :eek1 LOL that the 82RH2015 does end up being the one to use, it's the one I posted the err...link to, (sorry) back on page 4
Correct outside to outside, the 82RH2015 has thicker outer plates, but all the original inter plates will be retained/ reused.
Well the theory worked, chains on and timings done. Tomorrow I'll put the covers back on and all the plastic back together. To do the job you'll need a cam chain tool, I used a cheap one off ebay with no problems. Apologies to DIeselboy for hijacking his thread and also for not finding this information earlier to save him some time. Edit: tensioner & spring were replaced approx 4 weeks ago. I did not measure the new chain but the new one was extremely tight to fit over the camshaft sprockets and the old chain was so slack it came off with out needing to move the cams. The main issue I see with the cam chain is the length and load (driving the water pump). I'll be chaining it next time as soon as I hear any chain slap at start up. Cam chain tool TL0003
Not a hijac. IMO Making this a more useful thread. I put an edit on post #1 to link to your work. In fact, please post a pic ofthe the chain tool. What's the make? (EDIT: thanks for adding that pic.) Also, did you mention the tensioner? I may have missed it but is it replaced or are you running the old one still? And definitely come back with an update. Well done!
Hey Chadams, did you safety wire the old chain to the new chain to feed it thru or did you connect it with a master and then disconnect it after feeding thru. A little more detail would be appreciated. Great work.
Thanks chadams! Very nice detective work, as well as wrenching!!! That is a good point on the extra load from the water pump drive ... I had not considered that factor. About how many miles do you have on your bike?
In most (all?) vehicles timing chains drive the water pump, correct? Don't know why the stretch / wear on this one is so high.
It's certainly not UN-common for them to be driven from the cam. I don't know why we seem to have higher wear rates .... Under-designed chain Poor chain metallurgy Poor tensioner design (there is a new heavier tensioner spring out - I have one on order) don't know...........
Hey JR, I was told here that the new spring design was not new per se but had been updated in 2008. When you get the new assembly can you compare the spring to your old one and provide the build date for your bike? Very cool that a couple of mysteries are being solved!
MikeMike - I agree, I'm not sure how "new" this heavier spring design is exactly... but since it's only a few bucks I ordered one. When it arrives I'll compare it to what I have installed now and post back!
I'm guessing some of it may be that on the motorcycle the noise and performance loss are much more noticeable than in a car or (especially) truck where the chain wears over time.
I removed one pin from the new chain, then pushed one pin to the outer link of the old chain then used this old pin to link the two chains.
Just finished and went for a test ride all is good. The motor has never been so quiet even when new. Total time for the job was about 5 hours and the parts I change was the cam chain, tensioner spring, tensioner, top chain guide (as it was broken). All other parts I reused. Tomorrow I'll ride it to work and back to see how it goes, approx 150km trip. Update: Made it to work (75km) no leaks and the motor sounds sweat.....