Quick Guide To Cam Chain Replacement

fenbrancis

fenbrancis

XS650 Addict
Messages
116
Reaction score
130
Points
43
Location
Washington DC
Hey all,

My 82 xs has 18000 miles on it and figured time for a fresh set of rings. Top end is apart and while the cam chain looks all clean and the guides look good I figure why not replace the chain while I have the motor apart. I’ve done some reading of some hacking away at chain guides to get an endless chain in.

Am I stupid? (Rhetorical) but why not purchase chain, pop a link out, feed it through and replace link and rivet back “endlessly”. Is there an issue in this?
 
fenbrancis said:
I’ve done some reading of some hacking away at chain guides to get an endless chain in.
Click to expand...
Contrary to popular belief, there's no such thing as an "endless chain." You can let the "factory" rivet the ends together... or you can. Either way, a chain is riveted together.
That's a snarky way of saying buy a chain and a master link. Rivet it together and there's your endless chain.... done.

Another consideration... to fit an "endless chain" requires splitting the case halves to fit the chain around the crank. Most definitely not worth it in my book.
 
When looking at these websites for “endless chains” I was like, well shit you’ll have to break it if you aren’t splitting cases.

Reading through my manual I don’t see a spec to test a chain which I guess makes sense because how would you do that to begin with.

Any thoughts on a good mileage estimate for chain replacement? As mentioned I’m at 18000 miles, is it work buttoning it back up or should I feed this machine a new chain?
 
By 20K miles, many times the chain is stretched out. It's not because it's a bad part but simply because it wasn't maintained well enough, not checked and kept properly tensioned enough. I think the manual calls for tension checks every 4K miles but that's too long. You should check it about every 1000 miles.

Do you have points? If so, a good sign of the chain being stretched out is running out of adjustment on the points plate.
 
5twins said:
By 20K miles, many times the chain is stretched out. It's not because it's a bad part but simply because it wasn't maintained well enough, not checked and kept properly tensioned enough. I think the manual calls for tension checks every 4K miles but that's too long. You should check it about every 1000 miles.

Do you have points? If so, a good sign of the chain being stretched out is running out of adjustment on the points plate.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure how attentive the prior owner was.

Sadly no points all black bock magic for me. Will go ahead and replace a chain while it’s apart.
 
5twins said:
Most of us use the Tsubaki chain, it's supposed to be a little better than the D.I.D. one. About the best price at the moment is from YamahaXS650.com .....

https://yamahaxs650.com/product/tsubaki-bf05m-x-cam-chain/

It's supposed to come with a master link but the last one I ordered didn't. I contacted them and they promptly sent one.
Click to expand...
I have a question as I'm about to buy something. I disassembled my engine, and this is my first time doing it. I removed the master link on the previous chain, assuming it's the original. The question is, what cam chain and links do I need for a '79 xs650SE engine?

I took a look at the link you've posted here, and it claims that it fits the years 74-84. So, am I good to go? I guess I get confused by the BF05M model number and it makes me think there are more than one and I want to make sure I buy the correct one. Thanks.
 

Similar threads

Alexs650e
Cam chain tensioner removal.
Replies
14
Views
955
Alexs650e
Alexs650e
NP2650
Early Cam Chain Guide
Replies
8
Views
541
Jim
Jim
Tully
Engine that has ran hot. What I found when replacing timing chain and guide.
2
Replies
39
Views
3K
jpdevol
jpdevol
E
Clutch, cam chain questions,
Replies
2
Views
374
Wingedwheel
Wingedwheel
staf0s
Continue with top-end tear down?
Replies
17
Views
1K
Paul Sutton
Paul Sutton
Back
Top