rnb

Help Please. Is there anything specific I should do before removing the front tensioner to install a new one? My front tensioner broke last week and Im supposed to have a new one this Tuesday. Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions.

drew_c14

Did it cause any damage when it broke?
Are you replacing them both?
Are you using the stock automatic or manual?

There are lots of steps involved in doing this the right way, but more info is needed.

rnb

I shut the motor off as soon as I heard it making noise. The bike was still running ok. I am only replacing the front one for now with a stock Honda part. I will do the rear one this winter. I was just wondering because my sons went bad on his CBR and I just removed the old one and installed the new one.

drew_c14

Others will disagree with me but I recommend removing the valve cover to secure the chain while swapping from one tensioner to another. This is a PITA on the front but really easy on the back.

At the very least you have to make sure the piston is at TDC on the compression stroke so that the lobes on the cams are pointing up and no pressure is on the cam sprockets. There is a thread in the knowledge base describing how to do this I think.

rnb

Thanks for the info.

opsmgr

Problem is, the tensioner doesn't tend to 'go bad'. The tensioner spring fails, and then the cam chain starts flailing around, losing the cam timing in short order.

You may be lucky (others have been) but I'd definitely be checking for bent inlet valves on the front pot, just in case.

There's loads of threads on this, just look up "CCT"

Cheers,

Paul.