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Hi all, I'm new to this site I've owned my firestorm now for 2 years and loved every minute of riding it. I stumbled onto this site whilst looking for inspiration as on my way home the other night the engine started to sound like a bag of marbles so I stopped it and now the engine won't turn over.

welcome in mate. I wonder if your cct has failed?

Hello and welcome :
Front cam chain tensioner has failed and bent some valves by the sound of it .
Don't try to start it again .
You need to inspect what's gone wrong .

Welcome to the fold my friend. Don't want to be the bearer of bad tidings but it sounds like you are the latest victim of the famous disintegrating VTR cam chain tensioner. Have a look in the workshop section.
Best of luck.

I have read a lot about the tensioners collapsing I am going to look at it myself as a project for next year I think

John lister wrote:Hi all, I'm new to this site I've owned my firestorm now for 2 years and loved every minute of riding it. I stumbled onto this site whilst looking for inspiration as on my way home the other night the engine started to sound like a bag of marbles so I stopped it and now the engine won't turn over.

well it just happens i have a nice shiny front cyl head with unbent valves up for grabs

it will most definately be the front cct has let go - like they do.
you need to strip off the head - follow the guide to removing and fitting new tensioners - in the workshop section.

they cyl head is easy enough to refit. its about £30 for a new gasket though.

Welcome to the forum.

Some links regarding the Cam Chain Tensioners (CCT's)

CCT's can go at any time, it's a gamble!
You can either go for the stop mod http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 31&t=19416 Which is the Honda auto CCT's that are converted to a fail safe. So when it does fail, it don't send the valves crashing.
Or
You go for the full manual conversion, your options are here http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 16&t=22720

Then with regards to fitting View Topic View Topic http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=8326

(:-})

Thanks everyone for the info. If it is the tensioner that's gone and if it has bent the valves does it do any damage to the bottom end?

John lister wrote:Thanks everyone for the info. If it is the tensioner that's gone and if it has bent the valves does it do any damage to the bottom end?

not usually - it'll usually just bend a pair of valves, or all 4 in the extreme.
not seen one yet where theres been damage to the piston or crank/ shells

the oly thing that will damage the bottom end is running the oil low.
if it gets to the point where the oil light is on its probably too late lol!

first thing you notice is a rumbling through the pegs under load and a scary knocking under load and accel.

Welcome aboard buddy

welcome to the Forum, shame it is under such bad circumstances

Welcome to the forum John Sorry it took your bike to break down before you found us, but I don't think you're the first or will be the last to do that.
Once you get your bike sorted I'm sure you'll feel a lot happier,

Chris.

Welcome

Hiya

Hi John,
Sorry to hear of your engine failure, hope you get it sorted.
Post up your location, you never know, someone may be able to help you who lives close by.