Cam chain tensioner

just fitted a new head gasket, timed it up, put the cam chain tensioner back in and it puts the timing out slightly and tightens the chain so tight its difficult to turn the engine (by hand) where as it was easy before the engine was stripped, what am I doing wrong? What is the process?

You have to wind the tensioner in fully and lock it in place with the special key or a tiny screwdriver, then release it only when bolted in place. Did you do this?

jchesshyre wrote:You have to wind the tensioner in fully and lock it in place with the special key or a tiny screwdriver, then release it only when bolted in place. Did you do this?

all i did was take it out then bolt it back in after the rebuild, do you have to release the tensioner then re-tension whist its fitted?

Out of interest, how long a job was this? I ask because I may have a top end rebuild approaching - loosing coolant may mean the gasket is going, and it's probably time I checked the valve gaps anyway, so was thinking of killing two birds with one stone. But leery of how long my bike will be off the road, as it's my only means of transport besides bicycles.

head gasket change with a cup of tea and biscuits = 2 hours.

Tricky. wrote:

jchesshyre wrote:You have to wind the tensioner in fully and lock it in place with the special key or a tiny screwdriver, then release it only when bolted in place. Did you do this?

all i did was take it out then bolt it back in after the rebuild, do you have to release the tensioner then re-tension whist its fitted?

Yes, the idea is that before you replace the tension you use the tool (supplied with the new tensioner you haven't got! :)to wind it back in, thus avoiding the problem you describe.  Once it is fitted you remove the 'tool' and it unwinds into the normal position.

I couldn't quite work out why you were having a problem before, but jchesshyre's question prompted me into thinking - I had forgotten that I did the winding/unwinding bit when doing mine.

thanks guys for the info