Life expectancy of the t/chains, guides & tensioners?

ST1100Y

ST1100Y

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60
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Vienna, AuSTria, Europe
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ST1100Y, ST1100R, NT700
G'Day...

as ze GF is riding the wheels off that thing, we quickly approach the 100,000km mark on that '07 NT700VA...
And during the last valve clearance check, I saw the wear indicators on the tensioners are raising towards the [replace] mark...
No noises yet, but I like to be prepared...
Will consult the w/shop manual on the w/e to see if I'll have to knock the engine out and apart for this (thus need a full gasket kit), or if its an "in the frame" treatment...
Gonna be a winter project...
Anyone been there yet? Any hints, dos and don'ts?
 
ST1100Y said:
G'Day...

as ze GF is riding the wheels off that thing, we quickly approach the 100,000km mark on that '07 NT700VA...
And during the last valve clearance check, I saw the wear indicators on the tensioners are raising towards the [replace] mark...
No noises yet, but I like to be prepared...
Will consult the w/shop manual on the w/e to see if I'll have to knock the engine out and apart for this (thus need a full gasket kit), or if its an "in the frame" treatment...
Gonna be a winter project...
Anyone been there yet? Any hints, dos and don'ts?
Click to expand...
Such a great question! Didnt know there were wear points on the tensioner but it makes sense. I would have thought it would go past 62,000 miles. Never heard of a failure but I would ask the European Deauville forum.
 
I had a certified Honda mechanic working from his garage would check the valves, never told me about tensioners getting close to limit on 2 NT700. 201,111 & 129,063 miles. So where they are at probably will not wear anymore
 
Woodaddict said:
I had a certified Honda mechanic working from his garage would check the valves, never told me about tensioners getting close to limit on 2 NT700. 201,111 & 129,063 miles. So where they are at probably will not wear anymore
Click to expand...
Could well be. Modern hy vo chains used as cam chains have a very long life in cars....
 
Woodaddict said:
I had a certified Honda mechanic working from his garage would check the valves, never told me about tensioners getting close to limit on 2 NT700. 201,111 & 129,063 miles. So where they are at probably will not wear anymore
Click to expand...
Well, I observed them raising for +1mm over the years/miles (~1mm @ 36,000km when we got the NT, to >2mm @ 90,000km now... IIRC are 2.4mm protruding the wear limit indication...)
So I'll keep an eye on that...

IMG_20240310_183643_365.jpg
 
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A whole different animal but I did have a cam chain let go on a 1970's Honda CB350 twin. It had been rattling some but I didn't check, and it broke.
Not really something you want to happen. Not catastrophic but bent a couple valves. prevention is important stuff.

Arknt
 
ARKNT said:
A whole different animal but I did have a cam chain let go on a 1970's Honda CB350 twin. It had been rattling some but I didn't check, and it broke.
Not really something you want to happen. Not catastrophic but bent a couple valves. prevention is important stuff.

Arknt
Click to expand...
Back then, I had a 350 scrambler I rode to Colorado. If you remember the cam chain tensioner, you loosened a bolt of questionalbe quality and let the adjuster go forward. Then tightened the bolt. I twisted the bolt in two! Got a new assembly when I got home
chris 2.jpgs-l500.jpg
 
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