Camchain tensioner lock
TROUBLE:
Camchain tensioners can often be in hard-to-reach places that prevent you from easily reaching the tensioner and setting the tension correctly with a flat-blade screwdriver.
There are often carburettors, airboxes, breather hoses and cables in the way that prevent easy access.
TRICK:
The trick is to make a small lock tab that can be fitted into the camchain tensioner while it is out of the engine. Once the tensioner is refitted, the lock tab can be pulled out and the tensioner will automatically set.
DIFFICULTY RATING: 5/5
COST: $2 for steel
TIME: 20 minutes
TOOLS: Sidecutters, tinsnips, file, flat-blade screwdriver
Step 1:
Take a piece of 0.8mm flat steel and, using a pair of tinsnips or sharp sidecutters, cut the piece of steel into a T-shape.
Step 2:
The width of the lower, narrow end is 3.5mm and the width of the upper, wide end is 8.5mm. The depth of the thinner, lower end is 11mm and the depth of the upper, wide end is 7mm.
Step 3:
Use a file to clean up the edges and file the T-shape to the exact size.
Step 4:
Take the tensioner in your hand and use your thumb to depress the cam follower while winding the tensioner back with a flat-blade screwdriver. Stop
just before it reaches the tensioner’s self-locking mechanism.
Step 5:
Put the lock tab in place with the narrower end locked into the screwdriver slot and the wider end locked into the outer grooves in the tensioner.
This will stop the tensioner from releasing while you bolt it into place.
Once the tensioner is secured, pull or flick the lock tab out and the tensioner will release and apply pressure to the camchain.
WARNING:
The tensioner has a locking mechanism. The trick is to fit the tab before the mechanism activates.
TIP:
If any of the measurements are slightly out (of your T-shape piece of steel), this could cause the lock tab to not work efficiently.
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