Cam Chain Tensioner's (again no doubt)

[scrowe]

4 Days ago i bought a 1998 VTR Firestorm with 20k on the clocks.

The bikes last owner had it since 2001 (2 owners from new) but unfortunatly died a year ago. I bought the bike off his sister after it had been sat there and not turned a wheel for the best part of 11 months.

I don't have any real history of the bike but the engine has no rattles (as yet) and is aside from needing some basic TLC is tidy for the age.

My question is (aside for the new filters, plugs and oil) would it be worth just changing the CCT out of paranoia or, as its quiet leave alone for the time being.

Also, when i do do it, how hard is it to do? Is it something that someone with basic knowledge can do? If not how long would it take a garage to do? Is it expensive?

Pardon my ignorance but my heart kicked my brain out of the way and made me buy it without doing all my homework first!

All help appreciated.

[AMCQ46]

the CCTs wont have been hurt by standing for 11 months, but you should still fit the stopper and then forget about any risk and enjoy riding

[Wicky]

CCTs generally fail without warning on bikes with milage as low as 7K and then some haven't had a problem and go on for high milage.

However when they do fail, they mainly go without any warning and costs to fix the resulting top end damage can be £500+ inc labour.

The only positive benefit of not attending to the CCT problem is that it provides a regular source of bikes broken for spare parts as a result.

http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=31 > The Workshop Knowledgebase

See sticky on How to remove and refit CCT's on the Firestorm and Sirch's CCT (Cam Chain Tensioner) Fail Safe Mod. (aka Stopper Mod)

[lumpyv]

get it done. as far as i know mine was on its 3rd set at about 12,500 miles and when they went it was at tickover on a garage forecourt! it sounded sweet as anut up untill then.

[scrowe]

A mechanic i have used for 10 years said there is no point changing the CCT with out good cause as i may end up with one that goes anyway and that its a total lottery, regardless of weather its changed or not. using the "if it aint broke don't fix" methodology.

Also, a chap that i spoke to last night who's owned his VTR for 5 years said there most likley to go when youre down shifting hard through the box and few others were in agreement.

What are the "stoppers" people keep mentioning? Can anyone provide a link to where i'd get them in the uk?

To be honest, these CCT issues are allready p!$$!ng me off as not one person can give me consistant info as alot have never had a problem but others have. If i can't rely on a bike then its not worth having IMO so i may just get rid and buy something else like a falco.

[Wicky]

What are the "stoppers" people keep mentioning? Can anyone provide a link to where i'd get them in the uk?

Hi I posted a link in my earlier reply

http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=31 > The Workshop Knowledgebase

See sticky on How to remove and refit CCT's on the Firestorm and Sirch's CCT (Cam Chain Tensioner) Fail Safe Mod. (aka Stopper Mod)

And another useful link for the Manual CCT options from Krieger, APE or Bazza (+ RoS)

http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 16&t=22720

[VTRDark]

A mechanic i have used for 10 years said there is no point changing the CCT with out good cause as i may end up with one that goes anyway

That would be a good way for your mechanic to make some money replacing valves and stuff if/when the original fail whether they are old or new original autos. Unless you do the stopper mod or fit manuals. With the stopper they can fail but will not cause any damage as the stopper stops (hence the name) the chain slackening to the point of coming off the cam sprocket. Or fit manuals which just need adjusting approx 1/4 turn roughly every 20,000-30,000 mile or something. Basically at the service interval for changing autos.

(:-})

[scrowe]

I do not have the mechanical knowelge to do this and the "sticky" makes no sence to me because i don't have the knowledge in the first place. round and round i go.

I want diagrams or photos, materials and so on otherwise it moot!

And can i actually BUY the stoppers or MANUALS or is it something ive got to fabricate as i cannot out side this forum find anything in the Uk about these?

Sorry to be blunt but looking at a hand drawn digagram of what appears (to me) a random image dont help.

knowing what i know now, i probably would have just got the aprilia as this is more than i bargained for. after owning many hondas with never a day problem i get a VTR with all its bagage. i find it hard to belive that honda would release such a pile of crap.

has anyone got anything that can help a ludite please? i just want a bike to ride with out the paranoia.

[gissmo50]

Get them changed its the vtr's Achilles heel they give no warning and it's common knowledge they are a problem, listen to the guys on here over anyone else when it come to the vtr. And with the CCT on a vtr if it ain't broke then it soon might be....

Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk 2

[scrowe]

had the bike a week and with all this doom im gonna sell it.

i havnt got the time, patience or desire to piss about with something so tempramental.

i want to ride bikes not have one in bits every five mins!

[Wicky]

Fitting the alternative manual CCTs is a 3-4 hour job - Purchase them - print out the instructions in the workshop knowledgeable and give to your mechanic to install.

If you''ve got a pre 2001 with an unfinned R/R replace it with a later upgraded finned version

You'll have sorted out the two weaknesses of the VTR and you'll have a worry free bike for many miles - Tried and tested by many on these very forums.

[AMCQ46]

The VTR will be way more reliable than the Aprilia, you need to join their owners forum to find out all their weak points before you make that purchase.

as for the Cam tensioners, its a gamble there are many people who have more than 40,000 miles on the bike with untouched standard CCTs, but there are people who have had them go below 10,000..........its up to you what you want to do with that information.

if you think it is a big fuss over nothing then just ride the bike and enjoy it, but if it keeps worring you each day then get a mecanicaly minded person to follow the instructions and do teh stopper mod for you [they have to be made to a length to suit your specific engine, but it is just a length of 8mm bar cut with a hacksaw, so it is not hard to make], or buy the manuals and get them fitted using the instrctions on here.

[scrowe]

was that 3 to 4 hour job or 3 quarters of an hour?

where do i get manuals as they all seem to be in the USA.

[AMCQ46]

it is 3 hrs when its your 1st time.

you can buy them from "Bazza" and "rider on a storm on this forum", or "Phil the pont" [not sure of my spelling here] on e-bay

[scrowe]

so £150 plus VAT for shop time plus parts! quality!!

hmm, decision time stump up or sell up!