Cam chain tensioner

[sworks]

I had my 06 Busa in for its first service today ( 600 mile ). About a week ago a buddy of mine and I were talking about RPM's on different bikes and I was screwing around, and reved the crap out of the engine at idle ( 10000 or so ). I went for a ride a few minutes later and noticed a clacking noise from the engine. It is only noticable up until about 4000 RPM and it is not valve a valve. If you crack the throttle very slightly, slowly bringing up the RPM, the engine goes up but the frequency of the noise stays the same. If you give it any amount of throttle above that the noise goes away. The dealer listened to it for quite a while, even with a stethiscope thingy?? and advised that it was the cam chain tensioner. They said that sometimes the ratchet in the mechinism gets stuck. Sometimes you can get it to go away by reving the engine up and then slamming the throttle closed. Someone else tells me that the tensioner in the Busa is hydrolic and this will not work. The noise is less now but still there. I know that Busa motors are noisy, top end mostly, and mine was no exception. But this came on suddenly and is too much. To to it all of driving home I heard somthing new, I think with the clutch, but i'll save that for another post...

The gave me the good ol, "ride it, and if it's still there when you come in for the 4000 mile service, we will replace to part."

Any thoughts or ideas from those more mechanically inclined than myself?

 

[Sloto200]

I have a new 05 busa and this is my 3rd bike...i know for fact that one of the noises i hear from my bike is the CCT...i had a 02 F4i before the busa and hondas stock CCT's are notorious for that "clacking" sound...the only way i've seen anyone get rid of it is by installing a manual CCT...i helped a friend install a manual one on his F4i which is the only reason i didnt install one on mine...it was a pain in the arse! I have no idea how hard it is to install one on the busa but i'm sure its easier than the honda was...i can hear the same clacking sound that my honda made especially when i blip the throttle on my busa...

 

[frisbee]

 

[moondog]

Most likley what it is....my '03 started making the same noise at about 4500 miles. The day I was going to take it in, like magic, it quits. Now, the bike has 11,000 on it and the noise comes and goes like clock work. I just ignore it. Seems like the tensioner adjusts after awhile and no more noise. The dealership lead mechanic is also a busa rider and a good friend, he says it's the cct. Unless it fails all together, fails to adjust, it is not covered under the warranty. If they get in there and it looks good, ya gonna pay the bill...so he says. Still, it's little stuff like this that makes me think the extended service plan was a good idea. Your bike is new enough if the sound doesn't go away, I would throw a big old fashion hissy fit, they'll fix it.....

 

[Gary Evans]

In case you haven't followed the sorted history on the Busa tensioner DO NOT INSTALL A MANUAL version. Many engines have been destroyed from cam chain failure with the early OEM and the manual design and Suzuki has done a lot of engineering on the current oil dampened dampener. It is possible for it to make noise when its between ratchet teeth but it will go away when the chain wears some and it advances another tooth. If that bothers you it is possible to loosen the two screws holding the tensioner slightly and pull it out to engage the next tooth but your better off leaving it alone unless your a mechanic.
I'm not even going to ask why you would want to rev the engine to 10000 at rest.

 

[nitrousjunkie]

Note to self: Self never let sworks near my bike while it running.What were you thinking revving it like that,its one thing while under a load,but in nuetral?

 

[05LEBUSA]

I have 5800 miles on my 05, and finally this week the chain tensioner is going to be replaced. its been rattling for about 2000 miles, dealer said it was nothing to worry about. for the past 500 miles it has been getting louder. I took it back last friday, and they called me today and said the tensioner was in.taking it in thursday.

 

[rubbersidedown]

Zooks are notorius for cam chain tensioner issues,and the Busa is no exception. The Busa is on its 3rd generation tensioner now.The first one was junk,the second a little better,and now a third try. There's nothing wrong with a manual tensioner...BUT you have to be prepared to adjust it.I had an APE manual on mine for 50,000 clicks,no probs. Its the only way to have it run quiet. To me,if you can hear it slopping around in there then ...

its sloppin' around in there. Someone wondered how instal was. Not bad. Right side plastics,raise tank,etc. A bit of a tight enviroment.

RSD.

 

[Deadeye]

Hey - I've got 12K on my 06 and started hearing the clicking ... took it to a dealer and he said CCT ... and the rest is in this thread (same comments) ... as in its not really hurting til it goes ... could replace with a manual or stock ... The clicking goes away after the engine warms up and you drive it a couple miles. Any thoughts on how hard it is to replace yourself with "basic" skills? Is it just pull and replace or can you screw it up and require special tools and/or adjustments? I looked in the service manual and it shows a few pics in the "engine removal" section ... Would appreciate some thoughts re cost, do it yourself vs "the shop" ... Thanks in advance ... Deadeye