Cam chain replacement - worth splitting the engine?

gn77b · 09-12-2012, 01:36 PM

I'll try to be short.

bike: '98 Suzuki Bandit 600
problem: it's becoming clear that cam chain is on the way out

friend who's a mechanic says that it'd be better to take the engine out, split it and look at the cam chain sliders too (which, reportedly, are known to go too).

but I'm really not in the mood for an engine removal and I'm looking for a second opinion.

oh, and mileage is irrelevant. I'm sure it's been tinkered with.

what do you say?

GreaseMonkey · 09-12-2012, 05:06 PM

If you think the chain is worn to the point where you are thinking about it, you either need to inspect everything with a teardown or use it as-is and either start babying it like the worn engine it is, or keep going with the realization you might need a new engine at some point.

troidus · 09-12-2012, 09:59 PM

I can't imagine needing to replace the cam chain and not also needing the guides and sprockets.

gn77b · 09-13-2012, 05:20 AM

oh.

it's a Hy-Vo chain, if that counts. TBH I never heard anyone mentioning sprocket replacement. what about the crankshaft sprocket? that would mean a new crankshaft and we all know that can be more expensive than what the bike is worth.

the noise is not very bad, actually I haven't really noticed it until the mechanic told me that the engine is noisier compared to other similar bikes (he should know, I guess).

but if it needs to be done, it needs to be done.

OldPete · 09-13-2012, 06:14 AM

I'd check on a Bandit forum. The UK guys are DIY fellas.

At 80k miles my K75 BMW could use a chain & tensioners but I'll be selling it soon.
It's quite noisy at idle when warm.

gn77b · 09-13-2012, 10:01 AM

thanks for the suggestion. I tried here because Bandit owners tend to replace the whole engine. I'd rather not, although maybe I should.

R-A-M-O-N · 09-13-2012, 12:07 PM

You can check your cam chain tensioner position to know better how stretched is the chain, you should take it out reset it mount it again and take it out again to check which position it marks on the plunger. On the bandit 600 it has around 23 positions if i remember right but you will see it when you take it out. To give you an idea mine is a 96 and its still in the 6th position, so cam chains last a lot, if yours shows near 23 then you should worry. You take it out two times in case your tensioner was stucked in the first place, which is very common and also thats a very good cause of cam chain noise. Mine was rattling like hell and it was only a tensioner problem. Haynes manual explains the procedure properly.

Also the upper guide can be checked by only removing the valve cover.

Bandits as all air-oil cooled engine are noisier than modern engines so dont strip down an engine based on one opinion only, i would check the tensioner first. Inspect the actual chain second by removing the valve cover and then if enough reasons are found replace the chain.

anonny · 09-13-2012, 09:13 PM

If you do have to replace the cam timing chain you shouldn't need to split the cases. Just join the old chain to the new chain and pull it through, retime and reassemble.

Unless this bike is really unique?

gn77b · 09-14-2012, 04:20 AM

on my engine you can't remove the sliders unless the engine is split in 2. otherwise I wouldn't even consider engine removal, it's not exactly what I call weekend fun.

gn77b · 09-14-2012, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R-A-M-O-N

You can check your cam chain tensioner position to know better how stretched is the chain, you should take it out reset it mount it again and take it out again to check which position it marks on the plunger. On the bandit 600 it has around 23 positions if i remember right but you will see it when you take it out. To give you an idea mine is a 96 and its still in the 6th position, so cam chains last a lot, if yours shows near 23 then you should worry. You take it out two times in case your tensioner was stucked in the first place, which is very common and also thats a very good cause of cam chain noise. Mine was rattling like hell and it was only a tensioner problem. Haynes manual explains the procedure properly.

Also the upper guide can be checked by only removing the valve cover.

Bandits as all air-oil cooled engine are noisier than modern engines so dont strip down an engine based on one opinion only, i would check the tensioner first. Inspect the actual chain second by removing the valve cover and then if enough reasons are found replace the chain.

hi Ramon, missed your reply.

the tensioner is near its end, less than 10 notches to fully extended.

09-12-2012, 01:36 PM	#1
gn77b ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2010 Location: RO Oddometer: 135	Cam chain replacement - worth splitting the engine? I'll try to be short. bike: '98 Suzuki Bandit 600 problem: it's becoming clear that cam chain is on the way out friend who's a mechanic says that it'd be better to take the engine out, split it and look at the cam chain sliders too (which, reportedly, are known to go too). but I'm really not in the mood for an engine removal and I'm looking for a second opinion. oh, and mileage is irrelevant. I'm sure it's been tinkered with. what do you say?

09-12-2012, 05:06 PM	#2
GreaseMonkey Rhymes w/piecejunkie Joined: Jun 2006 Location: The only county in Illinois with no train tracks Oddometer: 4,761	If you think the chain is worn to the point where you are thinking about it, you either need to inspect everything with a teardown or use it as-is and either start babying it like the worn engine it is, or keep going with the realization you might need a new engine at some point. __________________ Grow a WW1 Victory Garden this year!

09-13-2012, 09:13 PM	#8
anonny What could go wrong? Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Beautiful Revelstoke BC Oddometer: 4,956	If you do have to replace the cam timing chain you shouldn't need to split the cases. Just join the old chain to the new chain and pull it through, retime and reassemble. Unless this bike is really unique? __________________ Kawasaki H1 build thread 71- 450 Honda CL re & re Just another pathetic sheep following the herd

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-12-2012, 09:59 PM	#3
troidus Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2010 Oddometer: 6,877	I can't imagine needing to replace the cam chain and not also needing the guides and sprockets.

09-13-2012, 05:20 AM	#4
gn77b ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2010 Location: RO Oddometer: 135	oh. it's a Hy-Vo chain, if that counts. TBH I never heard anyone mentioning sprocket replacement. what about the crankshaft sprocket? that would mean a new crankshaft and we all know that can be more expensive than what the bike is worth. the noise is not very bad, actually I haven't really noticed it until the mechanic told me that the engine is noisier compared to other similar bikes (he should know, I guess). but if it needs to be done, it needs to be done.

09-13-2012, 06:14 AM	#5
OldPete Be aware Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Los Alamitos, CA Oddometer: 2,472	I'd check on a Bandit forum. The UK guys are DIY fellas. At 80k miles my K75 BMW could use a chain & tensioners but I'll be selling it soon. It's quite noisy at idle when warm.

09-13-2012, 10:01 AM	#6
gn77b ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2010 Location: RO Oddometer: 135	thanks for the suggestion. I tried here because Bandit owners tend to replace the whole engine. I'd rather not, although maybe I should.

09-13-2012, 12:07 PM	#7
R-A-M-O-N Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Buenos aires, Argentina Oddometer: 297	You can check your cam chain tensioner position to know better how stretched is the chain, you should take it out reset it mount it again and take it out again to check which position it marks on the plunger. On the bandit 600 it has around 23 positions if i remember right but you will see it when you take it out. To give you an idea mine is a 96 and its still in the 6th position, so cam chains last a lot, if yours shows near 23 then you should worry. You take it out two times in case your tensioner was stucked in the first place, which is very common and also thats a very good cause of cam chain noise. Mine was rattling like hell and it was only a tensioner problem. Haynes manual explains the procedure properly. Also the upper guide can be checked by only removing the valve cover. Bandits as all air-oil cooled engine are noisier than modern engines so dont strip down an engine based on one opinion only, i would check the tensioner first. Inspect the actual chain second by removing the valve cover and then if enough reasons are found replace the chain.

09-14-2012, 04:20 AM	#9
gn77b ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2010 Location: RO Oddometer: 135	on my engine you can't remove the sliders unless the engine is split in 2. otherwise I wouldn't even consider engine removal, it's not exactly what I call weekend fun.