Cam Chain

[RossHarper]

Evening..

I've searched forum and found a few threads but none seemed to ever get finished (ie all questions answered)

last couple hundred miles, bike has started a rattle, its just over 12000 miles so my initial assumption would be cam chain, this is my first bike with an automatic cam chain that's controlled by oil pressure.

So, to anyone who's had the problem.

1. did fitting a new OE automatic one fix the 'bag of spanners' noise?
2. what was the cost of OE from BMW?
3. has any one fitted an after market Manual? (i can get a slingshot racing one for £30+P&P or an APE for £80)
4. (hopeful) has anyone replaced with OE automatic and then a manual later and if so which one helped the rattle the most?

 

[cally1066]

my bike is back at the dealers for exactly the same problem ross il let you know what they do to fix it when I get it back

 

[RossHarper]

Okay cheers Cally, look forward to knowing

Out of interest, what mileage when it started?

 

[cally1066]

the bike is on 5800 now its been making a little rattle on start up for a few months but then goes after about two seconds but this last two weeks if I rev it hard at standstill the rattle comes back so ive taken it back to the dealers

 

[DJUK]

I always thought these bikes was meant to sound like a bag of nails on start up? If not then mines got a problem... And I don't know what it is. Seems to run fine when I'm on it.

 

[cally1066]

They do a bit on start up untill the oil pressure builds up as I belive the cam chain tensioner is oil pressure operated , but my bike started to rattle after start up

 

[DJUK]

Hhhmmmmm.... All my friends comment on it. How long we talking after start up? Because I'm sure mines rattled whilst I've been moving off, but that could be the radiator and oil guards I've put on recently.

So roughly how long after start up?

 

[RossHarper]

Spoke to BMW today, they actually make 2 Cam Tensioner bolts, the standard factory fitted and a new one to be fitted at 18,000 mile service which is longer.

Obviously they don't recommend a manual but also said they don't recommend fitting the longer bolt in mine until closer to 18,000. Been told to put up with it sounding like a bag of *****.

 

[cally1066]

Just had a phone call from the dealers and its not my cam chain but a rattley exhaust ,probably the exhaust butterflies, so check that out first lads

 

[RossHarper]

Not alot you can do with the butterflys on manifold end. My rear butterfly was removed when i cut cat off.

I am going to strip it today and check manifold is tight, was taking off 1500 miles ago, so with a few heat cycles there might some play in the nuts.

 

[bananaman]

Fitted an ape on mine at about 12k cured it.

 

[cally1066]

What's a ape ??

 

[RossHarper]

What's a ape ??

ape is a manual cam chain tensioner.


banana, how do u find the adjustments ? cant be assed if it needs doing every 500/1000 miles

 

[DJUK]

Too worried about over tightening it...

 

[bananaman]

You SHOULD make sure the cams/crank are lined up before removing the old one. I left mine sitting for a few days to remove all compression and then took the old one out by feel, ie no resistance. Fitted the new one, adjusted till it 'nipped' up and backed it off quarter of a turn. There's always a chance the cam will jump on the chain if they are not locked in. Never needed adjusting after that

 

[RossHarper]

You SHOULD make sure the cams/crank are lined up before removing the old one. I left mine sitting for a few days to remove all compression and then took the old one out by feel, ie no resistance. Fitted the new one, adjusted till it 'nipped' up and backed it off quarter of a turn. There's always a chance the cam will jump on the chain if they are not locked in. Never needed adjusting after that

So you didn't make sure it was all lined up then... just winged it abit

 

[Niven770]

You SHOULD make sure the cams/crank are lined up before removing the old one. I left mine sitting for a few days to remove all compression and then took the old one out by feel, ie no resistance. Fitted the new one, adjusted till it 'nipped' up and backed it off quarter of a turn. There's always a chance the cam will jump on the chain if they are not locked in. Never needed adjusting after that

Should you make sure it's lined up ? Why.
Surely nothing will move out of alignment unless cam or crank jumps a tooth ?
Davy

 

[bananaman]

That's exactly why, if it jumps when the chain is total slack then you don't have too far to re-align.

 

[bananaman]

So you didn't make sure it was all lined up then... just winged it abit

Correct, educated winging ....

 

[Garbo1986]

Had my s1000 since july, It had a rattle from day one its 2010 bike 10,500 miles after listening to a few lads saying its a common noise I took it too Coopers BMW Sunderland who said its my cam chain or tensioner , Was wondering if anyone knows any decent lads who do a bit of work and could sort this for me as I begrudge paying BMW Labour prices bit pissed off as warranty ran out last month