Straightforward job, just as in the video of post #7 in this thread. However, if you have oem crash bars, there is no room for a standard socket and ratchet to get to it and if you lean the bike to the right, you lose far less oil.
If you do change the tensioner please report back here and say whether it made the engine quieter and was worthwhile. Or not..
I have a 1250RS built in April 2023, has the new cam chain tensioner. Just checked and it takes a 19mm socket. I know is a different bike but is bizarre yours has the old one.
Tensioner received from Motorworks (£92.21, incl p&p) and fitted. I did not think that my bike was particularly noisy, but it is noticeably quieter now - seems smoother. Using the old 'stick of wood' stethoscope I cannot tell any difference between L&R cylinders. What I did notice (and you maybe already aware of this) is that the tensioner pistons are the same size - it's the holder that is different. Worthwhile? who can tell, but I'm happy with it.
Nice one, i think i`ll do mine as the l/h cylinder is deffo noisier than the right and it`d be nice to remove some of the clatter.
There's a video in one of the earlier posts. Screw it out & screw it in, no problem, just don't turn the engine . Haynes manual goes into a lot more detail, but it's not necessary. My bike was on its centre stand and hadn't been used for a couple of days so the oil was well drained. Cover everything with rags - very little came out. A previous post said to lean your bike to the right - which makes sense - but I didn't. The video shows a lot of oil coming out but that was on a warm engine.
I fitted the later tensioner bought from Ash this afternoon to my late `21 GSA and can also confirm that it does indeed make a noticeable and immediate improvement, the tap-tap-tap of the l/h cylinder has now dissapeared.
I didn't really think my '21 GS was noisy, but I considered the fact that BMW wouldn't go to the cost of changing something just for the sake of it. At least the new one gives me a certain peace of mind.
