General topics » Cam Chain Tension Tool Broken?

I recently tried to check the cam alignment on my 2016 R1200RS, but I could not get the cam chain tension tool to click. Has anyone had any experience with this? I screwed the tool and the aluminum collar into the cylinder head. Then attached the 3 pronged knurled nut and started turning. Using finger pressure I threaded it in as far as it would go but could not get it to click as the instructions state.

Am I doing something wrong? Or do I have a defective tool? The tool put quite a bit of tension on the cam chain and like I said I could not get it to click using just my fingers. How much force do you have to use to turn it?

Thanks for any help.

Not used one but I'm interested. When you say, checking cam alignment do you have a concern the timing it out? I'm not sure why you're using it.

Is there a YouTube video?

Peter

This doesn't show much detail

https://youtu.be/7L_kwX4yNEE

And this helped me understand what you are trying to do.

https://youtu.be/JzzHMZuqCWQ

Zitat von Sanemancured im Beitrag #2

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Not used one but I'm interested. When you say, checking cam alignment do you have a concern the timing it out? I'm not sure why you're using it.

Is there a YouTube video?

Peter

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Hello, All. I had no special reason for checking the cam timing. I had the cylinder head covers off to check valve clearance and I thought I would to the cam timing at the same time.

There is a fellow on YouTube named "Boxflyer" who has done a pretty good job of explaining how to do the cam timing check and why you should do it. Mostly it seemed it is a check to account for normal wear on the engine. He suggested that you shouldn't do the check until the bike has 12,000 or more miles on it. Anytime before that and not enough wear would have occurred to make a difference.

A poster on another forum thought more force on the tool might be required to get it to click.

Thanks for your interest and posts.

Yes, I can see how the cam chain could get "stretched" with age and eventually need some adjustment of the cam timing.
BTW the 1250 has a different type of cam chain than the 1200. The 1250 has what I think they call "link plate" chain as opposed to roller chain on the 1200.
I would expect the 1250 chain to be less prone to wear.

Backyard, where are you based?

My bike is 40,000 miles in and I’d like to check mine.

I’m struggling to obtain a tensioner tool. Boxflyer won’t post outside the US.

Peter

Zitat von Sanemancured im Beitrag #7

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My bike is 40,000 miles in and I’d like to check mine.
Peter

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Sanemancured, I'm in central Florida, USA.

The first YouTube video in comment no. 3 above shows the mechanic using a wrench to thread the cam chain tension tool. I guess that answers my question. I don't know why I thought you should use your fingers to thread the tool in. I can't find that written anywhere.

Zitat von Backyard im Beitrag #9

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Sanemancured, I'm in central Florida, USA.

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Zitat von Backyard im Beitrag #10

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The first YouTube video in comment no. 3 above shows the mechanic using a wrench to thread the cam chain tension tool. I guess that answers my question. I don't know why I thought you should use your fingers to thread the tool in. I can't find that written anywhere.

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Yes, there are two sleeve sizes. I just measured mine and the 1200 engine uses a 10 mm sleeve. The 1250s use a longer sleeve, I think its 15 mm. The BMW part no. on my 10 mm sleeve is 83 30 2 339 885.

And you need to use sleeve to get the right tension on the cam chain.