I bought a 1983 GS550E and the cam chain rattles a bit.Is there any adjustement possibility or do I have to change the chain?

SOURCE: can a motorcycle cam chain be installed without

No not unless you split the chain(not reccomended),if your changeing the chain i would suggest new chain tensioners frt and rear cyl. they where known to go bad,i replaced mine in my interceptor and my v65 magna.

mike

• 112 Answers
• Posted on Jun 11, 2009

SOURCE: My valves are rattling. Is there a way to adjust the chain?

very simple fix! the valve lifters on that bike have adjustable tappets. but be sure to adjust them to factory specs!

SOURCE: GS 650 cam chain rattle

do you have manual or auto. cam tensioner sounds like the problem

SOURCE: can i adjust cam chain tensioner in kawasaki EN

no, it is automatic adjustment only, once it has reached it's end, you must replace the chain

SOURCE: there is a rattling noise coming from my engine

YES! nice bike by the way i wish i had one "blackbird" this happened to mine and another friends Hurricane we both had the noise and one day he sent me a text video saying listen to my bike and it sounded like **** ..what had heppened is that the chain jumped a tooth and the timing was way off it was amazing to listen too and it sounded like it was going to explode he found out that his cam chain tensioner was broken..so i decided to check mine and boy was i glad i did, when i took it out it was leaking oil past the seal, was wobbly side to side play, and was worn on one side more than the other..so i went to a salvage yard and picked up one that looked in decent shape and installed it and have put another 10k on it, the chain noise is still there but not quite as bad now..im sure that the chain is stretched especially the way i ride it...i race it at the track and put extreme loads on it. so you'd better have a look at the tensoiner and dont replace it yourself unless you know exactly what your doing..because the dealer will probably try and sell you an after market style, and these are a highly critical in the set up or adjustment if you want to call it that, and if you do it wrong..it will damge the engine..just try and get an original stock one.

Testimonial: "cheers Bud ! great advice, I'll get straight on to it."