Hi, I own a '99 Honda VTR Firestorm (SuperHawk 996) and I would like to know how tight a timing chain should be. At the moment my bike has the automatic chain tensioner. We removed the head cover and had a poke at the timing chain with a finger and it felt super tight and had no slack at all. We recorded this and uploaded here:

You Tube

Please do skip to 3:28 in the timestamp.

Does this mean the chain tension is correct or is it too tight? We removed the valve cover of our Toyota Corolla the other day and noticed it's timing chain had some slack and could be raised slightly with a finger. Was wondering if it should be like that in the bike as well.

Some info on this is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

I don't recall anymore for the OE CCT but for a manual CCT, when initially installed, APE for example, calls for approximately 1/8" ~ 3/16" deflection down in the middle between the cams. I'd think the OE CCT should result in the same. The manual provides procedures for removing the CCT as well as a template for the "key" required to wind and unwind the OE CCT spring. Most long running owners install a MCCT when replacing valve lash shims as part of a lash check.

I set the slack on a MCCT with the valve cover off but then run it up to operating temperature (when the fan goes on), then reset the MCCT while it is running. You back off the adjuster until the chain just begins to rattle then turn it in until the rattle just stops. It's a sound, feel sort of experience...

Good luck but why were you in there? As part of a valve lash check? Most OE CCT fail by loosening causing all sorts of noisy bad things to happen.

Also replace your voltage regulator rectifier with a Mosfet unit. Marc sells a kit. Do a search.