Hush Noisy Cam Chain. I Can't Stand The Rattling!

I’ve final managed to replace the cam chain tensioner lifter on my bike (Honda CBR600-FX) today. The process went something likes this.

1. Remove two small panels connecting the side fairings and tank together.


2. Remove fuel tank, remembering to turn fuel tap off before removing pipes.


3. Put together various pieces of sockets set and adapters.


4. Remove tensioner retaining bolts.


5. Using a large screwdriver, apply pressure to tensioner to break seal with engine block.


6. Wiggle tensioner to remove it from engine block.


7. Clean off old gasket from mounting engine face, skinning and bruising hands in process. This process took nearly four hours, but was worth the effort.
   
   


8. Put new tensioner in hole, using new gasket smeared in oil.
   
   


9. Fit bolts using ramshackle arrangement of sockets etc.


10. Remove tensioner retaining pin.


11. Fit the new bolt in end of tensioner. This is the replacement for the one I wreaked last weekend.
    
    


12. Refit fuel tank & panel.


13. Start bike and enjoy the rattle free sound.


14. Smile widely in the knowledge of a job well done.

Even the Cat helped.

Well almost.

Basically it was a total success and I’m very please with the resultant rattle free engine note I now have. I just need to get the valve clearances checked and adjusted and I’m ready for our adventure.

Or so I thought. I get through so many rear tyres with punctures, three so far this year, that I’m not very well tuned to spotting a worn-out one. I happened to glance at the front tyre, which was fine at the MOT in June, and noticed that the surface has started to crack. I suppose I can’t grumble as I’ve got 10,000 miles out of it. The previous one was good for 15,000 miles. All the magazines I’ve read say that they should last only 5,000 miles. Having it replaced is now next Saturday’s task.