Cam chain guide problems

[Pork Chop]

Finally took the topend off my 81 xs250. The plastic on the top "T" of the cam chain guide fell apart when I removed the guide & I only just stopped a piece falling into the transfer case. Brittle piece of sh!t.

Now will the exposed metal "T" hold it in place or should I replace with a new one?

The tensioner looks ok but I fear if the guide was brittle then the tensioner could be ready to come apart too.

What do you guys think?

Posted via Mobile

 

[XS-Time]

Listen to your feelings. I would be worried about the rest of the tensioner falling apart.
Try to find a new one.

 

[Arclight88]

Listen to your feelings. I would be worried about the rest of the tensioner falling apart.
Try to find a new one.

Both plastic pieces of the chain tensioner are available for about $50. Compare that to the mess,expense, and potential personal injury if it fails at speed. I would replace it and then celebrate that I did not get hurt over it.

 

[drewpy]

do now or later!

 

[Pork Chop]

Both plastic pieces of the chain tensioner are available for about $50. Compare that to the mess,expense, and potential personal injury if it fails at speed. I would replace it and then celebrate that I did not get hurt over it.

Good point Arclight. It could have been alot worse & watching it break made it pretty easy to identify the problem. the new parts will cost alot less than an,engine rebuild. Had it broke while riding (and I survived) then I highly doubt that I could of diagnoised the cause of the problem too.

I am just suprised that the subject has not been brought up on this forum before.

thanks again from a newbie for more good advice.

Posted via Mobile

 

[drewpy]

its not normally a problem, none that I've encountered before

 

[Greasey Fingers]

Mine was in perfect condition when I removed it. How many k's on your bike?

 

[Pork Chop]

Mine was in perfect condition when I removed it. How many k's on your bike?

it has done about 60,000km.

I just bought a tensioner & guide off a supposedly 6,000m xs400 from same year so hopefully they should fit.

 

[Greasey Fingers]

Cool sounds good, did you get them cheap? Just on a side note hows your 400 conversion coming along, i really hope you pull that off because that would be great to know someone who has done it.

 

[Pork Chop]

Cool sounds good, did you get them cheap? Just on a side note hows your 400 conversion coming along, i really hope you pull that off because that would be great to know someone who has done it.

Cost $48 shipped from Ohio.

I wouldn't call I am doing a "conversion" more like a mutant love child of a 250 & 400.

If I just chuck in the 400 jugs & pistons the compression ratio will be really high so i looked at machining the pistons to lower compression but there is not enough meat in the crown. Machining the head will cost close to getting a head shipped from the US. There is a bit of slack in the cam chain so I am going to try a copper cylinder base gasket & only use 98ron fuel (& keep my fingers crossed that the cam timing isn't too out of whack).

I was planning on doing some painting this weekend but there has been so much rain that I will probably have to postpone it - anyway, I can't complain as 2/3 of the state is now under flood!!

Posted via Mobile

 

[Greasey Fingers]

its been pissing down here too mate! wtf happened to summer, i am in melbs though