Suzuki cam chain tensioners,,,heads up!

BALLZ · #1 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 12:29 AM

Watch out for them they are known junk. I always thought it was internet talk but I have one 1st hand going south. It would have destroyed my engine in time if not for my trained ear that heard a problem and went looking for it. I pulled the valve cover checked the valve lash and all was spot on middle of the road in spec. I turned my attention to my 1st thought the tensioner. I pulled the backer bolt, all looked okay only the chain over intake cam sprocket was not snug on the sprocket, I pulled the tensioner spring inserted a allen wrench into tensioner, pushed a little and the rachet must have moved a notch, never heard it do it, bolted it all back up, fired it up and it sounded better than new no more rattle. Rode it 250 miles all was well. I had the dealer order a new tensioner under warranty today. I came home today took it all out, yep my suspicions were true the tensioner teeth are worn badly on two notches enough to cause the rattle. I would go with a APE manual but the bike is still under warranty. I plan on running the replacement OEM one until August then switching over to a APE manual unit. Bike only has 3500 miles on it and about 4 trackdays no rev limiter abuse. Chalk this one up to typical Suzuki, they can't make a tensioner and that has been proven over and over again on several of their models. Don't think your immune to it it will bite you eventually.

You have been warned!

BALLZ · #2 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 02:33 AM

New OEM POS tensioner installed and no more rattle. Engine never sounded so good the whole time I've owned it. I know what went bad on the other one, the spring lost it's tensil strength and i'm sure this one will too in time, APE manual one on the way!

Of course I had to hit Suzuki with the cost of a new one before I whipped out my cash.

LDH · #3 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 02:47 AM

Where do you get the APE unit at?

PSk · #4 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 03:01 AM

Hmmm, wish I could check my timing chain tension on the GN

... from the looks of it I'd have to remove the cylinder head cover and that holds the valve rockers and camshaft in (I think) ...

One day I'll find out I guess.
Pete
ps: It amazes me how manufacturers seem to have weaknesses in their particular area ... you would think once they have had trouble a couple of times they would just buy a competition's example and then copy ...

BALLZ · #5 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDH

Where do you get the APE unit at?

http://gsxrzone.com/sprockets.html

BALLZ · #6 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSk

Hmmm, wish I could check my timing chain tension on the GN

... from the looks of it I'd have to remove the cylinder head cover and that holds the valve rockers and camshaft in (I think) ...

One day I'll find out I guess.
Pete
ps: It amazes me how manufacturers seem to have weaknesses in their particular area ... you would think once they have had trouble a couple of times they would just buy a competition's example and then copy ...

Kind of hard to do when all the competitors have the same or similar problem. Look around alot of other brands have cam chain tensioner issues. I guess Suzuki being the squid bike of choice and since they sell a ton of GSXR's to new riders their failure numbers will be higher. Hayabusa's pop them all the time.

LDH · #7 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 03:30 AM

Thank you.

manic · #8 (**permalink**) 06-30-2006, 02:29 PM

You can contact APE directly as well. I put one on my R1 and will put one on every bike I own from now on. I've got 6500 miles on this tensioner and it is just now starting to need a little adjustment.

I'm sure you know how to install them but warning.....DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN. Your cam chain will eat into the slider and will cause you many headaches. I had a customer that did that...the result was a new engine.