Alternative fix

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davebrannigan
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Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2019 6:58 pm
Location: Newport S. Wales

Alternative fix

Post by davebrannigan »

So I’m new to the bike, just got it sorted for MOT and the next thing to scare the bejesus out of me is the risk of cam tensioner failure. This is well documented and I am erring toward the stopper mod as I don’t like the idea of not allowing for thermal expansion which the oem design compensates for. What does bother me though is that anyone who replaces an oem unit is paying a lot of money for a spring. That’s the only bit thats broken.
Has anyone approached a spring manufacturer or engineering supplies company to see if they can supply a replacement spring for £2 instead of £70 for an assembly?

I’d still fit the stopper afterwards but it sounds like there’s a market for springs...

Dave
tony.mon
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Re: Alternative fix

Post by tony.mon »

There was a company able to provide them years ago- my memory says "Woods" or something like it- it'll be in the Workshop Knowledgebase stickies somewhere.

Ideally you'd use a stainless spring, but they don't hold their temper for ever and so would potentially get weaker over time.

Using a stainless spring with a stopper would be safe enough, though. You could just change the spring if it got a little rattly.
It's not falling off, it's an upgrade opportunity.
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Wicky
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Re: Alternative fix

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It may be that your whole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

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davebrannigan
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Re: Alternative fix

Post by davebrannigan »

Close! I Found a post by a David Greenwood back in April 2008. Says he has springs. Thing is I cannot pm him as I haven’t earned the right to pm yet. Given its 11 years ago he may no longer visit the forum. Could someone with pm rights give him a shout?
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Wicky
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Re: Alternative fix

Post by Wicky »

david greenwood Last active:Fri Sep 19, 2008 3:54 pm

http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/memberlis ... 3668dbcea2
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Wicky
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Re: Alternative fix

Post by Wicky »

Just needs a CCT / spring (esp. a broken spring) sending to a spring specialist company for their examination and recommendation of a suitable replacement.

There's plenty of spring firms centred around the Midlands

http://www.morrissprings.co.uk

https://simpsonsprings.co.uk

http://www.lancashire-spring.co.uk

https://www.southernsprings.co.uk

http://www.goss-springs.com

https://www.skegsprings.co.uk
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8541Hawk
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Re: Alternative fix

Post by 8541Hawk »

davebrannigan wrote: Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:33 am So I’m new to the bike, just got it sorted for MOT and the next thing to scare the bejesus out of me is the risk of cam tensioner failure. This is well documented
Well what you will not hear is that there is another side to this "discussion" and while not popular here is what Mr Ditchfield had to say about the tensioner issue: http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 8b#p456868

For me it covers two things, first auto tensioners are not as bad as they are made out to be and also the whole idea of putting in manual tensioners and then never needing to do anything ever again is also quite wrong. The last paragraph says it all.....
Roger Ditchfield wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 7:43 pm Hi Guys,
The question of CCTs is multi-faceted and complex one and sadly there are no definitive answers. Here are my experiences for what they are worth!
All the Revolution Racing VTR1000f Firestorms (ST2 and ST3 raced using OEM CCTs without issue. As they were being raced also under the banner of Honda Britain and partially supported by HRC it would have been impossible to change them for an aftermarket product but we have allowed to modify the OEM part had we found it necessary. It must be remembered the engines were all brand new and were rebuilt after every BSB Supercup weekend. Also the engines were fired with the bike standing level on front and rear stands and subjected to a twenty minute warm up procedure from cold whereas street bikes tend to be fired up on the sidestand while the rider puts on his helmet and gloves before driving off.
My workshop experience of street VTRs CCTs is extremely varied. The highest mileage I have had to CCT failure was 97,000 miles on a bike used every day by a London courier. The lowest was less than 30 miles on a bike that had been run from new for two days after it had been stored for three years. I have had failures at every mileage in between! Therefore mileage is not a factor but types and regularity of usage possibly may be. I am always an advocate of Preventative Maintenance but in the case of CCTs I cannot give any sort of replacement schedule based on mileage.
Although all the Revolution Racing bikes of other models (R1s, R6s, CBR 900s, CBR 600, GSXR 6s and GSXR 1000) raced under our own banner used Manual CCTs I never felt comfortable in recommended their use by DIY riders. The reasoning for this is that setting up is “by ear”, feel and experience and these qualities often in short supply by private riders. The long term and extensive damage that can be caused by incorrect adjustment often outweighs the damage caused by CCT failure in the majority of cases. All our MCCTs were adjusted before every track appearance.
It cannot be denied that there is an issue with some OEM CCTs I believe that the fear of it is greater than the reality and there are relatively few major engine failures due to CCTs. I am therefore generally in favour of retaining the CCTs on normal mileage street bikes.
I am really sorry that I cannot give more definitive or less controversial advice based on known facts instead of opinion.
Good Luck guys
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