BEWARE of the pesky MANUAL cam chain tensioner!

Support us by grabbing your parts and accessories from AOMC.MX!
aomc.idevaffil...
BEWARE of the pesky MANUAL cam chain tensioner!
If you decide to go backwards and use one of these, don't forget to keep up with it!
Thanks for checking out my video! Please subscribe, like, or comment, and check out our gear below!
Merch is live guys! www.teespring.com/TheMXGuru
www.Facebook.com/TheMXGuru
Instagram @TheMXGuru1
Also, check out our other channel / rtipowersports
Send me something to review / test!
The MX Guru
PO Box 240
Winfield WV 25213
CHECK OUT MY KIT ON AMAZON : www.amazon.com...
My gear!
Handlebar Phone Holder: - amzn.to/2tvR4el
Action Cams
GoPro Hero 7 Black
Primary Action Cam amzn.to/2TXInSt
GoPro Hero 5 Black
Secondary GoPro Action Cam : amzn.to/2ADAJ6M
Waterproof Housing : amzn.to/2B0Xt3n
Mount Kit : amzn.to/2kx6YAA
Battery / Charging Kit : amzn.to/2TVYYGg
Dango Designs Mount : amzn.to/2Naxom2
Yi Lite Action Cam
Secondary Action Cam Yi Lite : amzn.to/2kvHjYW
Yi Cam WaterProof Case : amzn.to/2kvbn7a
Selfie Stick / Tripod : amzn.to/2AWnfpp
Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer : amzn.to/2BJbord
Drone
Primary Drone DJI Mavic Pro : amzn.to/2AXNXxB
Mavic Pro Battery Multi-Charger: amzn.to/2BDn3Jk
SD Cards : amzn.to/2DcU3Zn
Vlogging
Vlogging Cam - Canon M50 : amzn.to/2Ee9brW
Vlogging Mic : amzn.to/2CmzRnH
Vlogging Camera Adaptor: amzn.to/2zN3N9L

[@Gregamz]

Thank you for the tips. Much appreciated.

[@mxgryan]

Thanks for watching bro!

[@my-max-media7621]

Recently bought a used 2019 YZ250F and in my search for one I heard of the cam chain tensioners failing and causing lots of damage. Came across two out of four that I found that this happened to. I just got in today my Tokyomods manual tensioner. SAME ONE THD FACTORY RACE TEAM USES. I'd rather keep an eye on a manual one than play Russian roulette with my bike and life

[@my-max-media7621]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ima0eKKcncl7itk

[@mxgryan]

Interesting story, but absolutely baloney. You may hear about the 2 this happens to, but you sure don't hear about the other 2 million it hasn't happened to. I've seen one auto tensioner fail in 15 years, on an early Honda. No thanks.

[@my-max-media7621]

@@mxgryan I'm not going to argue with you. I was service manager head wrench at a Honda yamaha dealer 1986-1999 and maybe saw one bad. But, those were NOT the same engines. These are quick reving and more hp so the transition from rev to off rev obviously creates an issue. Don't really care if you believe it because it's happening. If the stock tensioner is flawless then why does the factory race guys dump it🤔

[@mxgryan]

@@my-max-media7621 same reason they add an OIL cooler lol. Do the stock bikes we all ride need those too? Factory teams tear down the motors before the chains ever even need adjusted. Auto cam chain tensioners are vy FAR the best setup for the average rider.

[@my-max-media7621]

@@mxgryan Oil coolers, yupp. They would be better to also add. You think the factory boys use them just to add weight or feel cool (no pun intended). Whether it's a manual cam chain tensioner OR an oil cooler, these are MODS with a specific purpose. Now the point of average rider vs pro is another thing all together because of the point you make of maintenance. The normal person isn't going to keep up on maintaining and failure will be eminent BUT they are not going to be pushing their equipment to the max like a fast/pro rider. The recommended cam chain replacement interval is like 12 hours. Does that sound like a problem or do you suggest people just let it go and ride 🤔

[@markmiller4220]

Have never seen a timing chain hold a shape unless it was ran without oil. A loose or worn chain will flop like a wet noodle not hold a shape. Are we sure we have found the entire problem?

[@MK-hb3xc]

Clearly whomever had or worked on that motorcycle has no idea how to adjust a manual tensioner. Once adjusted properly it will hold for thousands of miles or hundreds of hours of off road use. But one has to actually understand the concept of a properly operating cam drive, how to initially adjust the tensioner, then what to listen for. Seems once adjusted and the drive is right, it is virtually quiet. Adjustment is only needed if there is a ticking coming from the cam drive. It's not a high maintenance thing. Yamaha used them on the old XT/TT500 series and still uses them on the SR400/500 series street bikes. I have manual cam chain tensioners in my bikes. I have 10,000 miles on my street bike without adjustment. My KLX650 has 50,000 miles, having two OEM automatic tensioners fail in the first 14,000 miles. The next 35,000 miles with a manual tensioner was trouble free with 4 adjustments, the first two as the cam chains seated in. In other words I have had four minor adjustments (engine made a slight ticking from the cam drive) versus two trashed out near $100 automatic ones. Because I had problems with my own bikes when I made the tensioners I needed I made extra and sold them. That was over 12 years and several thousand kits ago. I have had only one returned to me. It is a simple device that locks in the adjustment. With seated in cam drives the adjustment interval can be well over 10,000 miles. Once adjusted properly the cam drive will be quiet and cam timing held properly, from there adjustment is only needed if one hears light ticking from the cam drive when fully warmed up. Even if it is clicking it is only around .006-.012" loose on a properly adjusted set up. You clearly have no mechanical clue about manual tensioners and really none about why tensioners fail. You should go read about the problems with KLX250 tensioners if you think the automatic one is so good. I happen to have an engineering degree and with a bit of looking I figured out why the tensioner goes bad and just how easy the manual one was to live with. A seated in cam chain will have minimal wear, after all with the proper adjustment the slack is near zero and it runs in a sealed oil bath.

[@mxgryan]

ask your mom about my knowledge

[@motov8-garage832]

I've been on the fence about my cct, about to pull my hair out. I have a 05 kawasaki ninja 636 that I'm about to do my first valve clearance check on, 21,000 miles(yea about 5k late) runs great, I now have a oil leak on my valve cover gasket so that prompted me to say it's time to do the clearance check, most likely shim some valves, fix that gasket, stress over pulling out my cams, stress over reinstalling them..lol. Also while I'm in there I'll be pulling out the oem cct, so I've been reading forums for 2 weeks and 98% of everybody is saying GET THE A.P.E MCCT, so I'm like ok, then I see this other 2% of people saying absolutely do not go mcct. Now my thought is ok, I'll just replace the spring in my oem cct while I'm there(or just buy a oem new cct) and call it good. I'd kinda feel better about that..but I'm still here debating 😅 obviously

[@klyetry2527]

Yamaha is on it's 4th, that's right 4th, revision of the CCT in the 2014-2015 FZ-09 (MT-09). Proof that the factory auto adjust CCTs are not always the way to go. The customer was obviously not keeping up with maintaining correct adjustment on the CCT in this vid.

[@mikakey55]

I will have to see if the same is true for my 2020 MT09. 😳 I didn't know about this

[@faraway3032]

He said it sat for a long time. Would make since that most of the chain was not in oil for a period of time. Most likely a loose chain, I dont agree with the MCCT being an issue. People dont ride enough to have to keep adjusting it, it is probably fine.

[@mxgryan]

You think the chain loosened up from sitting? lol

[@user-zo6xg8bx4l]

GREAT video!! I learned about something that I was totally unaware of. Is there a way to easily determine whether an owner has replaced the auto chain tensioner with a manual one? Thanks again!! (I know of a guy who has replaced the chain tensioner on a 2013 Super Tenere with a manual one, and has included this info in his ad. Thankfully. Knowing what I know now, I would never buy that bike at any price.)

[@mxgryan]

Sorry for the delay in response. Usually, an aftermarket manual tensioner will be a nice shiny or anodized color, so a quick glance and you can tell they aren't stock. Also, usually a large bolt will be protruding from the back instead of just a bolt head being used as a cap. Thanks for watching bro!

[@DieselNDirt_]

Serious question. Have you heard anything about the early DRZ400 auto cam chain tensioners failing? I have one and would like to avoid that. I’ve heard great things about DRZs all around but the one thing I’ve heard that fails is the ACCT. hence why it’s recommended to switch to a MCCT on that bike

[@mxgryan]

Ive never seen one fail on one of those. Ive only seen ONE fail in 20 years and that was on an 04-05 Honda generation.

[@handyman7297]

Yes either is too tight or too loose, i think it fails, have heard manual is better than the acct as they came from factory

[@mxgryan]

@@handyman7297 false!

[@handyman7297]

@@mxgryan kzbin.info/www/bejne/moezk56waMaLiJo

[@geofox9484]

Get a MCCT

[@MrDingaling007]

And if you have a Honda and the second Auto cam chain tensioner has failed?

[@mxgryan]

Then you would be quite the anomaly! Ive only seen one fail in 20 years and I work as a tech 40 hours a week!

[@chriscs9080]

@@mxgryan they rattle after a while thats the problem .. for some reason the spring cant keep the tension and spins backwards .

[@formeolosuslasvenators1777]

05crf450x OEM cam chain tensioner failed twice on me too

[@harrymananus5380]

Oops. Good to know.

[@mxgryan]

High maintenance things, they are! haha

[@xdlyon_lyonxd]

Wow love the green neon

[@mxgryan]

Thanks King!

[@daveyt4802]

Yep, they take more maintenance. Is there a hour or mileage reference to recheck tension?

[@mxgryan]

That's a good question, there probably is but I don't know what it is.

[@MikesBikes66H]

nihilo concepts recommends to check it every time you service the bike (oil change, etc.)

[@eaglescout5816]

Will that classic rattle sound cease upon acceleration and is more apparent just when idling? I'm trying to diagnose a rattle that I have, which ceases once the throttle it turned.

[@strongjohnful]

So is adjusting it, tightening it? If so, you’re basically stretching it more and more as it wears (and already stretched the first time before adjustment). Sounds like a bandaid fix until it fails.

[@mxgryan]

Thats all any cam chain tensioner or chain tensioner does, yes. The automatic just does it consistently.

[@strongjohnful]

@@mxgryan but don’t the manual tensioners extend further past the point an auto would? Sounds rough for someone that doesn’t know how to use it.

[@mxgryan]

@@strongjohnful if they do, they shouldn't. The automatic extends plenty far enough. The chain should be replaced long before automatic is even extended all the way.

[@chriscs9080]

@@strongjohnful if you buy the correct manual tensioner for your bike it should extend as far as the automatic .Even if it doesn't you can mark it.

[@mrjaybennett80]

I have a ape manual cam chain tensioner that when backing Out it will tighten up making it impossible to dial in. Also your exhaust cam is on the right your intake on the left as you have it facing unless this differs with dirt bikes. Anyway manual CCT is garbage IMO

[@bigleftlcn]

I have a 2000 drz400s, I bought from original owner, it's all original stock and has the acct from 2000. Runs absolutely perfect, do I leave it or change it to the newer acct from Suzuki? If I should change it, I cannot find a video of a acct install just the mcct. I do not ride hard just dirt road fun stuff. Ty in advance for your help

[@mxgryan]

I'm sure its fine. As far as installing a new one, you just make sure it's wound up and set (I have videos on that), then you gently install it without tripping it, then you stick a small flathead inside after its bolts up to "trip it" and you put on the l3rd bolt that covers up the hole, and you're done!

[@bigleftlcn]

@@mxgryan ty for the quick response, obviously now I'm paranoid after all the forums about the 2000 acct lol. I'll look through your vids to see if I can find the install video. Ty again

[@bigleftlcn]

@@mxgryan can't find your video, sorry to bug ya, but, if I get the updated ACCT from Suzuki can I just swap it without moving the bike or do I have to set the bike to TDC?

[@tedmagnum6968]

Nothing wrong with manual tensioners. But manuals are not for amateurs. They're great for tuners when you can't afford any cam movement with tight clearances between pistons and valves. If you only set your manual tensioner using the "rattle" test, then DON'T use one. You need to be removing your cam cover and checking the chain deflection between the cam gears with the guide (tunnel) removed at different rotations of the motor.

[@stewart8127]

Manual cam chains tensioner are to prolong the last bit of wear of the chain.

[@mxgryan]

NO. lol.

[@stewart8127]

@@mxgryan ya cause they will push past where a auto will stop with a worn out chain.this was a thing with F2

[@stewart8127]

Most bikes made before 1980 had manual cam chain tensioner from the factory

[@enoz.j3506]

Looks to me like this bike has been run without correct oil level (too low) ,chain looks dry?

[@mxgryan]

Bike had been sitting for a few months at this point

[@enoz.j3506]

@@mxgryan Fair enough.

[@BbyFaceG202]

Can some help my bike like that & cuts off once I go in gear &

[@brysono3652]

would a loose cam chain make sort of a ticking noise from the head (that’s where it sounds like it’s coming from my bike) i have a 02 crf450r and it just started making a this ticking noise

[@felixb.59]

yes

[@felixb.59]

remove your cam chain tensioner. if it's automatic and all the way out you definitely have to replace the chain

[@brysono3652]

@@felixb.59 i ended up selling that bike haha, but it was sort of a metal clanging noise and i ended find out that the metal bushing inside the exhaust (where the slip on fits) it had come lose, fixed it and never heard it after that

[@carlosbarragan6729]

so i just switched to mcct thinking i did the right thing (06 crf250r). will maintaining the mcct enail mostly tightening it slightly every 5rhs or so so get ideal "sound" = no rattle ? any tips r great. thx 4 d video

[@mxgryan]

There's no problem, as long as you keep a close eye on it.

[@johnlampe3]

Just listen to your motor it'll tell you what you need to do with your cam chain adjuster

[@JayDeeFrm7400]

Those auto’s from kawi are junk bought one for 110$ just for it to start failing 3-4 hrs on the bike once the chain started to stretch it could put enough pressure on it and started making the “can of bolts” loose cam chain noise when a 30$ eBay manual one would’ve saved me a headache a week of waiting and 80$ lol

[@mxgryan]

No way.

[@stewart8127]

The sprockets are also trash

[@mxgryan]

And?

[@geopioneergsxr5357]

Or just get a 2 stroke, and never have to worry about it. You'll also have a lighter bike with about twice the hp per cc, which also costs next to nothing to fix pretty much no matter what goes wrong with it.

[@mxgryan]

Absolutely 100% disagree! :)

[@geopioneergsxr5357]

@@mxgryan You CAN'T disagree with FACTS; what are you a democrat!?😆

[@mxgryan]

@@geopioneergsxr5357 definitely not a fact. Just a cult myth.

[@jakeyfz3078]

Lol 4 strokes are so much better all around. 2 strokes are annoying and you also have to mix gas every time you ride. I also prefer the power delivery of the 450s because they have torque and wheel speed consistently. I just would want something I can have fun on.

[@geopioneergsxr5357]

@@jakeyfz3078 2 strokes have MORE TORQUE per cc than a 4 stroke FACT. I've been riding them for 35 years, and have never blown an engine either, but I have bought some that were blown up. $100 later they're good as new. How much would that cost you on your fart can sounding heavy ass 4 stroke? Ask any 4 stroke MX racer, they'll tell you when they jump on a 2 stroke to have fun in their off time, that the 2 stroke is WAY MORE fun! Dirt bikes are made have fun on and to be laid over while you're having fun, but a 4 stroke can be damaged by running while laying over, a 2 stroke can run perfectly upside-down. There is literally nothing better about a 4 stroke, except for lazy people with their lazy girl's power band.🤷‍♂️