Quality cam chain guide source?

[Kevin Kruse]

I’m preparing for a cam chain guide replacement job and would like to ask if anyone knows of a reputable aftermarket source? I was planning on making Jim’s modified SR500 guide but would be nice to just drop something in. I see 650Central’s guide they offer but it matches the part number for the MikesXS guide, which I would like to try and avoid. Thanks!

The carnage..

 

[Its been a long time]

I have that feeling, I suspect that wherever you buy the parts from they're all from the same factory in Taiwan? It's a shame you can no longer buy a Yamaha one.

 

[zrx1100]

email gary hoos, he likely does not ahve any, but worth checking: gary@hoosracing.com
also email 650central: vinbrake@goldrush.com

 

[Jim]

@gggGary
@GLJ
@5twins

 

[Kevin Kruse]

Emails sent.. Thank you

It's a shame you can no longer buy a Yamaha one

Even if I could find a NOS OEM guide it would most likely not last considering its age right?

 

[GLJ]

I have that feeling, I suspect that wherever you buy the parts from they're all from the same factory in Taiwan? It's a shame you can no longer buy a Yamaha one.

I believe he is correct. I've used Mikes and Gary Hoos's, they looked to be identical. Both have work just fine.

 

[Its been a long time]

Emails sent.. Thank you


Even if I could find a NOS OEM guide it would most likely not last considering its age right?

At ~50 years old, who knows? I don't think there's an easy answer to that.

 

[Jim]

If you strike out all around, Kevin, let me know. I'll send you the hardware to roll your own per the thread you mentioned earlier.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Was it said that the latest from MikesXS was corrected? Or, did I imagine that?

 

[5twins]

I still wouldn't buy it from them, their price is too high. I'd get it here .....

https://xs650direct.com/products/front-cam-chain-guide

The bits of rubber you found in the sump are the side "rails" from the front guide. That's what usually breaks off first. The rest of the rubber may still be there but do plan on changing it soon. When I did mine, I found it about 2/3 of the way detached. Most of the side rails were gone too.

Only a small section was left of the side rail on one side (marked with green) .....

I think the reason the sides come off so readily is because the guide gets mounted crooked or "cocked". Most old ones I've had show evidence of this ......

 

[Ratranger]

There is always the option to modify the stock piece with the SR chain guide. https://www.xs650.com/threads/cam-chain-guide-mod.51730/

 

[Its been a long time]

That's kind of interesting. The SR500 camchain guide is still available as a Yamaha part.

 

[jetmechmarty]

That's kind of interesting. The SR500 camchain guide is still available as a Yamaha part.

View attachment 354507

Yamaha was still building the SR in 2021.

 

[Its been a long time]

Yamaha was still building the SR in 2021.

Yes, I guessed that's why these parts are still available. SR400 might even still be in production somewhere in the world too.

 

[grouchie77]

One wonders if there is a certain type of hi-performance plastic one could use to re-engineer an obsolete item.

Machining the aluminum part would be a cakewalk, but getting the right abrasion-resistant material to interface with the cam chain and to get that material to adhere to the aluminum is the question I have.

 

[Kevin Kruse]

Just ordered that SR500 guide last night, I’ll be modifying the stock guide. If I screw it up I’ll buy that 650direct guide, which also has the same part number as the MikesXS/650central guide, #05-0006.

 

[Its been a long time]

Just ordered that SR500 guide last night, I’ll be modifying the stock guide. If I screw it up I’ll buy that 650direct guide, which also has the same part number as the MikesXS/650central guide, #05-0006.

It's an interesting proposition, attaching an SR500 guide to the original XS650 aluminium casting. I have just been reading the detailed thread which is excellent.

I have one thing I would change if I ever have to do this. I will swap those two fancy threaded screws and nuts that are joining the parts for two countersunk rivets. A rivet has the big advantage that there's no nut to loosen, no matter how unlikely that might be. Good luck with the repair.

 

[gggGary]

Yeah we bought a slug of hoos guides later he said they were the same as mikes. I think the manufacturer improved the guides after the first batch' issues. Which were mostly just poor QC, threading.

 

[Melnic]

I got the Mikes. There was a discussion about the casting being wrong and the angles of the mounting screws. The casting is "wrong" but they angled the mounting screws correct. It just looks funny but still works. I only have < 1000 miles on my new front guide so can't speak much to it. Mikes claimed hundreds sold and no complaints worth noting. (if you take their word for it)

 

[Kevin Kruse]

@Its been a long time That’s a good point, I’ll consider it.

@gggGary I read some of your posts about that..

https://www.xs650.com/threads/new-front-stops-cam-chain-guides-beta-test-sale.56305/

https://www.xs650.com/threads/gary-hoos-just-announced-it.63844/post-787229