Cam Chain Extenders -----DONE

desertdog · 04-20-2013, 07:20 PM

Was going for a ride this morning, but as the wife is getting ready her allergies start kicking up because of the dust and pollen, so she decides to rest instead.

So I take the bike and run a couple of errands, (not too bright, I will explain that in a minute).

Come back and its either go for a ride, or tackle the cam chains, I bought the extenders a couple of months ago and have put off doing it because I know its going to be a pain.

So I decide I will man up and get at it, garage is nice and cool, and I have all weekend if I screw something up. I have read up on the various accounts of how to do it so have a pretty good idea of how to do it. But I have been dreading getting at it.

I started about 9:30 and had both sets in and done by noon. Went alot smoother than I had thought it would. When I do a project it usually takes 4 times as long and 4 times as much money as I originally plan for.

I put a rag in the spark plug hole and bumped the starter till the rag blew out. Then took a piece of curved wire and inserted it thru the spark plug hole to determine where the piston was sitting. After a couple of tries I was sure it was at the top of the stroke.

First problem I ran into is hot screws. Them cylinders get rather warm and toasty even if its was just a short run of a couple of miles before I started.

I waited a half hour before starting, and first thing I did was burn my index fingers and thumbs trying to get the piping hot screws out of the front adjuster. My but them damn things were %$##@@$ hot.

It took alot of fiddling to get the top allen screw out, when I got the adjuster out, I checked the travel, it had 4 clicks left, it was almost fully extended.

Putting it back together was not hard, other than that damn top allen screw and that damn stock cross over tube. Front adjuster took me about an hour and a half.

Back cylinder took about 30 minutes. Definitely easier to get at. The rear adjuster had 3 clicks left.

I used my Idaho jack adapter and jacked the bike up so when I was sitting on my shop stool working on them, I was not bending over, which made things easier on my back.

After I got it all put back together, I put all the tools away, hit the starter and she fired right up. Was noticibly quieter, and seems to idle and rev just fine.

Looks like in spite of myself I got it right. I will find out tomorrow, I'm going to take it out for a good run.

**BudMan** · 04-20-2013, 07:50 PM

Good deal. It's nice when a project goes smoothly.
Like you, mine usually take longer than I planned.

Sin City Stan · 04-21-2013, 03:38 PM

duneseven · 04-21-2013, 04:21 PM

Well done!

chuckster131 · 04-22-2013, 06:12 AM

Great job well done.

1mackdog · 04-22-2013, 03:11 PM

Good job. I plan on doing mine soon so its nice to hear it can be done with min. trouble. Congrats....

tinman1 · 04-22-2013, 04:42 PM

Good job! It ain't so bad.

josh · 04-22-2013, 06:45 PM

What kind of mileage should you start worrying about these at

**Rasta** · 04-23-2013, 08:46 PM

Way to go!

**a340driver** · 04-23-2013, 11:48 PM

Inspiring!!

HurtSoMuch · 04-27-2013, 12:14 PM

anyone made a video of this??

BobaLloydBiker · 04-27-2013, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by josh

What kind of mileage should you start worrying about these at

I am also wondering at what mile marker should you start thinking about putting these on.

tinman1 · 04-27-2013, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobaLloydBiker

I am also wondering at what mile marker should you start thinking about putting these on.

My bike had 28000 on it and was down to only two clicks left. I have read others that had the same at 50k. So, I would say your best and safest bet is to check the easiest to get to, and make an informed decision from there.

**Rasta** · 04-29-2013, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinman1

My bike had 28000 on it and was down to only two clicks left. I have read others that had the same at 50k. So, I would say your best and safest bet is to check the easiest to get to, and make an informed decision from there.

Did mine about a month a go at around 26500.

HurtSoMuch · 04-30-2013, 04:35 AM

mine has about 56000km on it..havent done it yet..

04-20-2013, 07:20 PM	#1
desertdog Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Goodyear AZ Posts: 331	Cam Chain Extenders -----DONE Was going for a ride this morning, but as the wife is getting ready her allergies start kicking up because of the dust and pollen, so she decides to rest instead. So I take the bike and run a couple of errands, (not too bright, I will explain that in a minute). Come back and its either go for a ride, or tackle the cam chains, I bought the extenders a couple of months ago and have put off doing it because I know its going to be a pain. So I decide I will man up and get at it, garage is nice and cool, and I have all weekend if I screw something up. I have read up on the various accounts of how to do it so have a pretty good idea of how to do it. But I have been dreading getting at it. I started about 9:30 and had both sets in and done by noon. Went alot smoother than I had thought it would. When I do a project it usually takes 4 times as long and 4 times as much money as I originally plan for. I put a rag in the spark plug hole and bumped the starter till the rag blew out. Then took a piece of curved wire and inserted it thru the spark plug hole to determine where the piston was sitting. After a couple of tries I was sure it was at the top of the stroke. First problem I ran into is hot screws. Them cylinders get rather warm and toasty even if its was just a short run of a couple of miles before I started. I waited a half hour before starting, and first thing I did was burn my index fingers and thumbs trying to get the piping hot screws out of the front adjuster. My but them damn things were %$##@@$ hot. It took alot of fiddling to get the top allen screw out, when I got the adjuster out, I checked the travel, it had 4 clicks left, it was almost fully extended. Putting it back together was not hard, other than that damn top allen screw and that damn stock cross over tube. Front adjuster took me about an hour and a half. Back cylinder took about 30 minutes. Definitely easier to get at. The rear adjuster had 3 clicks left. I used my Idaho jack adapter and jacked the bike up so when I was sitting on my shop stool working on them, I was not bending over, which made things easier on my back. After I got it all put back together, I put all the tools away, hit the starter and she fired right up. Was noticibly quieter, and seems to idle and rev just fine. Looks like in spite of myself I got it right. I will find out tomorrow, I'm going to take it out for a good run. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-20-2013, 07:50 PM	#2
BudMan Join Date: May 2009 Location: Greenwood, Ark. Posts: 4,736	Good deal. It's nice when a project goes smoothly. Like you, mine usually take longer than I planned. __________________ Dave Jesse 2012 1700 Gray/Black Voyager 2006 1600 Nomad Green/Silver Sold VBA #1108 2010- Eureka Springs - Antlers - 2011- Maggie Valley - Antlers 2012- Margaritaville Ride - Van Buren - Antlers - 2013- Estes Park - Antlers 2014- Mountain View - Antlers - 2015- Eureka Springs - Antlers 2016- Salem - Antlers - 2017- Eureka Springs - Lake George - Antlers - 2018- Custer - Antlers
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04-21-2013, 03:38 PM	#3
Sin City Stan Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 3,746	__________________ Oldest Saloon In Nevada http://www.pioneersaloon.info/ "Sin City Stan" Henderson, NV VBA #01004 VROC #29365 2004 Nomad 1500L5 +100 "The Bike" 2009 Nomad 1700 (past) 2004 Vulcan Classic 800 (past) 2010 Cortez - 2011 Crescent City - 2012 Kanab - 2013 Estes Park
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04-22-2013, 06:12 AM	#5
chuckster131 Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Jackson, Michigan Posts: 1,367	Great job well done. __________________ Joe (Chuckster) Norris Jackson, Michigan 2007 Goldwing 2010 Voyager (Blue/Silver)sold 2001 Nomad (gone, but not forgotten) www.chucksterscustoms.com Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-23-2013, 08:46 PM	#9
Rasta Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ankeny Iowa Posts: 3,697	Way to go! __________________ VROC#34321 VBA#01867 2012 NCR Rally Savanna. IL. 2013 National Rally Estes Park, CO 2014 NC/SC Rally in the Ozarks, Mountain View AR 2014 NE US/Eastern Canada Rally,Lincoln NH 2015 VBA/VRA Eureka Springs AR 2015 Antlers Rally, Antlers OK. 2016 SCR Rally Salem MO. 2016 NCR Rally Hillsboro WI 2017 Eureka Springs AR 2017 National Rally Lake George NY 2004 Blue and Silver 1500 Nomad(RIP 9-26-19) 2000 Red and Silver 1500 Nomad 2012 Pearl White 1700 Voyager
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04-21-2013, 04:21 PM	#4
duneseven Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: spokane WA. Posts: 535	Well done!
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04-22-2013, 03:11 PM	#6
1mackdog Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: CHATTANOOGA,TN. Posts: 78	Good job. I plan on doing mine soon so its nice to hear it can be done with min. trouble. Congrats....
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04-22-2013, 04:42 PM	#7
tinman1 Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Kingsland, Georgia Posts: 89	Good job! It ain't so bad.
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04-22-2013, 06:45 PM	#8
josh Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 221	What kind of mileage should you start worrying about these at
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04-23-2013, 11:48 PM	#10
a340driver Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Langley B.C. Posts: 516	Inspiring!! __________________ JET-LAG
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04-27-2013, 12:14 PM	#11
HurtSoMuch Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Norway Posts: 127	anyone made a video of this?? __________________ HurtSoMuch Vulcan Nomad 1500 '99 VBA #02163
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04-30-2013, 04:35 AM	#15
HurtSoMuch Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Norway Posts: 127	mine has about 56000km on it..havent done it yet.. __________________ HurtSoMuch Vulcan Nomad 1500 '99 VBA #02163
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