New here what is all this about the Cam chain Tensioner

[tony.wilde1]

ok mate thats cool..waiting with bated breath!!

[DD]

I tell you what I heard from old Honda guys why CX500 was a failure in Western Europe - people were spoiled by then No, no, seriously, look - what was in kitty in Germany for examle? CB750, then CB900, Kawa Zed's etc. - and then Honda had a go at MotoGuzzi
I am not saying it was not reliable bike, I am saying with this engine scheme you can not expect any suprises in power delivery... and we had to change camshafts in 4 of 6 CX-s (3 CX500 and 1 GL)

Emmm... I here ya blue, but I'm sticking to my beliefs about the CX series one of which I rode for 300km's at speeds up to 160kph with a blowen water pump the poor thing was in the red (temp) all the way and the only damage was the rear casing warped due to the heat, and as for Guzzi well attached is the bike I sold for my Storm...... yeah I know I have a very wierd and sick fetish for transverse V twins

Ps: sorry bout the thread hijack, some how this is still about CCT's

[Iwantafirestorm]

say thanks to our italian or spanish friends, who assembling bikes for Honda, and it is warranty matter.

Are you saying that the Firestorm is made in Italy or Spain then? I was always under the impression that Honda bikes were made in Japan and only their "cheap" bikes (125s etc) were made in Spain etc.

(I have a Honda ANF125 Innova that is apparently made in Malaysia or some far eastern country)

[Iwantafirestorm]

However, I will now recognise the distinctive noise I heard a few days before it finally went, and will fix it before it goes plop.

Kingster

For the good of Firestorm owners everywhere, any chance of describing that deadly, unwanted noise so we have an idea what to listen out for.

Cheer Kingster

[bluesman]

say thanks to our italian or spanish friends, who assembling bikes for Honda, and it is warranty matter.

Are you saying that the Firestorm is made in Italy or Spain then? I was always under the impression that Honda bikes were made in Japan and only their "cheap" bikes (125s etc) were made in Spain etc.

(I have a Honda ANF125 Innova that is apparently made in Malaysia or some far eastern country)

Well, yes, I know for sure that loads of Honda models assembled in Italy and Spain. And not cheap only.
As an example: Hornet 600 (budget bike) and Hornet 900 (not really budget bike)assembled in Italy. Dunno exactly about Firestorms nowadays, for sure VTRs been assembled in Japan originally, but Firestorm do not fall into category of really expensive models - CBRs made in Japan, Varadero certainly not, but do not know where, VFR I think in Japan, Valkirye assmebled in US, Transalp assembled in Italy, Deauville in Spain etc.
I assume, that older models assembly always moved to Italy or some other place. I will try to search for information (Honda always keeps it a big secret), but judging by fact that Storm has not changed for ages - it must be in Italy now...

[kingster]

Oops, looks like I broke the gallery, err sorry moderator types...

Anyway, here's a link to the pic of my old and new ccts...

http://www.digitalized.co.uk/vtr/CCTs_compared.jpg

Kingster

[tony.wilde1]

hmm..not convinced with the new ones mate.same as the old.no locking device..no ratchet...useless.and thats with what honda say"5 updates"????my butt!!the only thing thats updated is the part number by the looks of things..oh well..cheers for the pics!!

[cupasoop]

You have an orange spot on it instead of a pink one, must be loads better because of that

[Iwantafirestorm]

The only possible difference is the quality of the metal and it's treatment (heat treatment etc), which is obviously not noticeable to the naked eye.

Let's hope Honda are not liars and there is some improvement in there somewhere.

I think carb balancing certainly might help with this problem.

[bluesman]

so, if we want to be sure problem will not occur: all needed is to combine that automatic CCT with manually adjusted one, right?
I mean - if to put long threaded piece instead of small bolt on CCT flank, so that you can adjust maximum retract distance limit - it will not prevent spring from failing, but it will exclude possibility for CCT to retract so far, that chain slack will allow it to jump teeth on sprocket.
Am I wrong?
BTW - how much is CCT? it sound interesting to experiment with..unless it is too much money...

[kingster]

For the good of Firestorm owners everywhere, any chance of describing that deadly, unwanted noise so we have an idea what to listen out for.

Cheer Kingster

Difficult to describe sound using words, but noticed it in first gear, pulling away under load (that'll be my belly). It was a sort of slapping sound - a bit like piston slap - and it went away as soon as the bike got moving. If you hold front brake on and let clutch out in first, you'll have a chance to hear it. It's the sound the camchain makes when a bit loose, slaping against the engine.

I reckon it was just after the spring snapped, but before the CTT had unwound all the way from the vibration. In my opinion (and I could be way out here!), the CCT will hold for a bit without the spring, as it uses a worm gear. Then it will work loose a little, making the noise, and THEN suddenly unwind all the way when CCT isn't under load anymore, but when the engine is.

I first heard the sound a good 50 miles before it went tits up, so next time I will fix it BEFORE it goes (I hope!).

Personally, I am going to treat the CCT as a sevice item and replace every year, while keeping carbs balanced to iron out the vibes. Plus it's a doddle to check the CCT, by undoing the little bolt on top and twiddling the worm drive with a screwdriver! If it springs back, it's OK.

Mine went when pulling up a hill in second or third going about 30mph. A few weeks earlier I was blasting round Croft circuit at silly speeds, and will do it again without worrying about CCTs.

Kingster

[kingster]

BTW - how much is CCT? it sound interesting to experiment with..unless it is too much money...

£26.00 each from http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk

Must be a reduced price due to volume of sales

Kingster

[bluesman]

OK, that sounds cheap....will check with my dealer today
Now, that sounds like if you put in another little bolt instead of original one - one that will be length of gap between CCT ...well, that worm thing top and flank - it will not be able to retract back even if spring broken , but it will not be "pushing" it, so will work like a ratchet....
Nah, I need to buy one to see for myself...

[RQ]

WRT the photos. The CCT is supplied without the metal cap. It is a seperate order item. You need to, or should anyway, whip off the cap of the old one and clip it on to the new one!!!! I'm sure it's not disasterous if you don't though.

The only mod that could, or needs to be made to the CCT is the spring. It needs to be beefed up a bit, or made from something stronger than cheese, either that or a complete redesign of the part.

Del did a few mods at one stage about a year ago with a CCT, and then investigated the manual ones from APE parts. The conclusion seemed to be that there was too much of a chance with the manual ones, as how exactly do you know when to adjust. Do you wait for the tick, for some that could be too late.........

Be careful when Twiddling!!! If you release the tension on the blade / guide at the chain, and the chain is under pressure from the valves, then theoreticaly it could slip a tooth on the cogs!

[kingster]

Cheers M8, didn't know about the metal cap, and I'll only twiddle at TDC from now on!

Kingster