Cam chain help

C

chrissoz

Senior member
Location
Sydney, Australia
Have been replacing the cam chain on my 73 SF - the new chain seem short - see pic.

I have had a look down the tunnel and it looks like has a nice straight run down to the crank on both sides. Cam chain tensioner has been removed. Head and barrel look to be seated correctly. I have read on the forum that making some spacers and tightening everything down can help but I cannot see how this would make enough difference to join this chain.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Chris
 

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I can remember someone saying that there was an issue with some cam chains being tight but yours looks like it's missing a couple of links. It hasn't doubled up on the u/s of the crank has it?
What is the brand of the chain? I'd be seriously looking at using Andy's Merc chain.
Good luck
 
Shows how much I know,surprised me the twins have a duplex cam chain.When did that happen?On the triples I think there are guides in the front that take up space.Obviously something far from right there.
Andy did say at sometime that some industrial chains needed to have the grease washed out of them but its not going to make it grow THAT much.Steve B is around,I suspect he know a bit more than me.
 
Take it out and check the length, should be 88 links (IIRC). I reckon yours is short at one end. :)  Tensioning down on spacers only assists in getting it over that last tooth. The ones I've used from Andy have fitted quite easily.
Cheers
SteveB
 
Put in some more effort to make sure it is properly seated on the crankshaft. They can be pretty stubborn, especially with the engine sitting as you have, leaning forward. Try blocking up the front to get it level at the cylinder surface and lowering it and raising it with your wire bits, rock the crank a bit. Regardless, you gain a lot of slack by using spacers and nuts to compress the gaskets a bit, makes life much easier.
I?d be surprised if someone short-chainged you  :D
 
Good chance it isn't seated properly at the bottom and there is a corresponding slack section down there.. I can't imagine that tightening down is going to give that much more slack to join this chain.....
 
Chris,

Is the tensioner removed from the rear of the cylinder?  Especially if a new rubber has been fitted, it may already get in the way of the chain, even though it is tightened up in the "lowest" position.

By all means, tighten down the head and barrel assembly with spacers, the smallest gap at the cylinder base and head joint will prevent you getting the ends together.

No great issue with doubling up of the chain at the crank with the twins, feeds on easily enough.  Sit the engine upright, hold both ends of the chain and hang it down slack in the tunnel, pull upwards and all should be OK.

piet
 
there is a similar thread with this issue on the ILOC forum currently too.
 
Ok - I am not going mad. The pulled the new chain out and it is 86 links - the old chain is 88.

Anybody know if there are any decent 750 cam chains around in Australia - does Red keep them?
 
chrissoz said:
Ok - I am not going mad. The pulled the new chain out and it is 86 links - the old chain is 88.

Anybody know if there are any decent 750 cam chains around in Australia - does Red keep them?
Click to expand...

yes, have them in stock, send me an e-mail with postal address



 
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