Cam Chains

[RichGSer]

I ve been re building my R 1150 GS as a guide rail roke up. The left cylinder chain is short so the sprocket will not engage the camshaft. Has anyone any experience of getting the chain fully engaged on the sprocket in the crankcases as this must be the reason its short? I ve tried revolving engine both ways but no joy so far - have just bought inspection mirror and forceps!! I might be able to wiggle it but am I being optimistic? Should I just take the engine out of the frames again and split it?

 

[northengit]

I ve been re building my R 1150 GS as a guide rail roke up. The left cylinder chain is short so the sprocket will not engage the camshaft. Has anyone any experience of getting the chain fully engaged on the sprocket in the crankcases as this must be the reason its short? I ve tried revolving engine both ways but no joy so far - have just bought inspection mirror and forceps!! I might be able to wiggle it but am I being optimistic? Should I just take the engine out of the frames again and split it?

You probably have done this but I'll ask anyway. ! are you trying to put the chain on the cam sprocket while it's in situe.... ie cam sprocket attached to the cam, the only reason I ask when I did some work on one of my 1150's a while back I noticed how little play I had in the chain when trying to hook it over the cam sprocket... it was all loose so i just removed the sprkt hooked on the chain then re-attached the sprkt to the cam easier.. might be worth a try.

 

[Steptoe]

it was all loose so i just removed the sprkt hooked on the chain then re-attached the sprkt to the cam easier.. might be worth a try.

Thats the way to do it (said in a woody woodpecker voice)

 

[Cookson]

Thats the way to do it (said in a woody woodpecker voice)

Naaaah, you mean Punch voice, as in Punch & Judy.

 

[Steptoe]

Naaaah, you mean Punch voice, as in Punch & Judy.

"Thats the one", said in a "Punch" voice.

 

[meintjiesj]

Maybe another daft question - is the camchain tentioner out. I replaced both the heads on my 1150 last week. Right hand one went smooth because I had the camchain tentioner out when I put the spocket with chain back. Left side the tentioner was screwed in maybe two turns. Could not get the sprocket on. Got a bit worried because it was my first time doing it I thought I got something wrong. Saw the tentioner was screwed in but thought it couldn't be that. Untill I walked out had a cuppa and came back removed the tentioner and then it was so easy. Another lesson learnt.

 

[RichGSer]

Thanks fr all yr replies. Yes I did take the cam tensioner out and yes the sprocket was unbolted from the camshaft. It appears that when installing the cam chain on the sprocket in the crankcase I put a kink in the chain which will NOT drop out when engine revolved anti or clock wise. The result is dissassembly again of the crankcases as the guide rail assemblies do not allow enough room to pull the kink through. So, a warning to all those who do split crancases that you must ensure cam chain fully engaged on sprocket in crankcases and then to bind chain very tightly until crancases back together again so no new kink has a chance!!!

Anyway although third time crankcases split now hopefully will all be back together without mishap at the weekend.

 

[northengit]

Thanks fr all yr replies. Yes I did take the cam tensioner out and yes the sprocket was unbolted from the camshaft. It appears that when installing the cam chain on the sprocket in the crankcase I put a kink in the chain which will NOT drop out when engine revolved anti or clock wise. The result is dissassembly again of the crankcases as the guide rail assemblies do not allow enough room to pull the kink through. So, a warning to all those who do split crancases that you must ensure cam chain fully engaged on sprocket in crankcases and then to bind chain very tightly until crancases back together again so no new kink has a chance!!!

Anyway although third time crankcases split now hopefully will all be back together without mishap at the weekend.

Ohh... unlucky.. you'll be a dab hand at splitting cases though...
good luck.

PS sorry if just a quick question, just so I can get me head round the problem...
if you can rotate the engine with the kink in the chain, is it the "kink" jamming against the installed guide. ??
tell me to p*ss off if you want, just being curious.

 

[RichGSer]

yes the kink jams if there is one extra link than the sprocket teeth. so when the sprocket goes round the kink just falls back to the next tooth - held in place by the guide rail. There is no way you can get the kink out. Thanks fr all yr replies - all back together again now and new main seal installed with Cooper's (Tunbridge Wells) special install tool. So, hopefully Saturday engine can go back in frame and gearbox etc can be bolted on. Sunday could actually be a startup!!