CCT/SPRING/RATCHET

[tommo1968]

hi folks,im new to this site,bought my first storm yesterday which is a 99 model 7550 miles,love the bike.ive had a good read on some of the cct topics which is a little worrying,ive come across this problem before as i own 2 old z1300 kwaks and the big z1300s all had big problems with the cct,the problem with them was they kept backing off which was a ratchet problem.the fix was to use a zzr110 cct which has a completely different spring inside.what you do with the spring on the zzr unit is just simply cut 10mm of it as it is a stronger spring.if the storm problem is the spring and not the ratchet then why cant we just put in a better spring in our units and just slightly shorten them ?

[benny hedges]

you can, but the issue with the vtr front cct is that it doesn't get oiled because of where it's situated.
as a result of this, condensation can build up in the cct and rot the spring away.

you would probably have to find a stainless steel spring?

there's a few ways around it - fit new ones, fit a stopper to stop it retracting fully if it does break, or fit manuals.

on the big 4s - and 6s in your case, ther cct is constantly getting splash lubed by the chain.

if you look on the front, lower side of the vtr front cyl, there's a cct hole blanked off, unused.
to me, a good mod would be to open up & tap that hole and fit a 3rd cct to act on the chain return...
that would get the same lubrication as the rear pot, which rarely fails (though not unheard of...)

[bazza696]

From my experience of stripping Hondas CCT, there was some rot but mainly lack of oil causes the spring to be heat treated during the cycling from hot and cold, which causes the spring to fail. All failures I have seen have snapped one coil down. so I would consider not bothering with a replacement spring, imo.

[tommo1968]

oh right,if thats the case,then obviously the manual one is the way forward,when you fit the manual one do you just tighten them up finger tight then.

[benny hedges]

theres a damn good guide on here to fitting manuals / timing cams etc.
follow it to the letter & you will not go wrong.

suggest before you do anything you remove the cam covers, stuff bogroll down the chain tunnel and remove the top guides to get a feel of what the tension should be.
with the guides off, between the cam gears, you have about 5mm of play up & down in the middle.
well, i did anyway & that's how i set my apes

you might want to have a look at the TT manual tensioners - better than the apes by miles.

[bazza696]

When I have fitted them, I lock the CCT with the little key shown in haynes, measure this length, and set the manual to that length or a little less. start the bike once all back together and adjust as needed. My front squealed for a second after start up, retracted it out one flat till she quieted down, loctite the lock nut. There you go Fanny your mothers sister.

Pm me If you want a set, I have one set left of converted Honda autos to manuals.