Noisy 2104 Cam Chain Tensioner

dcstrom

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Hi all - anyone have a lot of miles on your 2014 or later bike, or on an earlier model with the '14 CCT?

The original on my '12 failed at 75,000 miles (fortunately with no damage) and I have 62,000 on the new '14 version. It was dead quiet compared to the old version, and stayed quiet till a recent valve check. (Maybe I wasn't really listening for it, until I listened to the motor after the valve adjustment?). Since the adjustment it has been noisy starting from cold - nowhere near as noisy as the old one, but noise lasts for a longer period. Maybe 2 seconds on the '12, 5 seconds now. Something like that.

Cam chain was checked at the service and declared ok. So I'm wondering - is this an early sign of troubles with the '14 tensioner as well?
 

Dogdaze

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dcstrom said:
Hi all - anyone have a lot of miles on your 2014 or later bike, or on an earlier model with the '14 CCT?

The original on my '12 failed at 75,000 miles (fortunately with damage) and I have 62,000 on the new '14 version. It was dead quiet compared to the old version, and stayed quiet till a recent valve check. (Maybe I wasn't really listening for it, until I listened to the motor after the valve adjustment?). Since the adjustment it has been noisy starting from cold - nowhere near as noisy as the old one, but noise lasts for a longer period. Maybe 2 seconds on the '12, 5 seconds now. Something like that.

Cam chain was checked at the service and declared ok. So I'm wondering - is this an early sign of troubles with the '14 tensioner as well?
From what I understand the CCT is a wear item, so although a new revised unit, it would still need replacing after high milages .........
 

RCinNC

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My 2014 is at 47,000 miles, with no indication of any issues from the CCT. I've been bouncing the idea around of changing it during the next valve clearance check as a preemptive measure.
 

tallpaul

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How do you differentiate between cct noise and "other" noises on this engine? My '16 plate has 11500 miles on it and compared to my vstrom it is a very clattery engine. I'm ignoring it up to now as it has been regularly serviced. Maybe I should be more concerned!
 

RCinNC

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The giveaway is that at first the cam chain noise will go away shortly after the bike starts up, when the CCT is starting to go (assuming of course that you get some kind of noise warning at all and the CCT doesn't just spontaneously fail). Correct me if I'm wrong, any members who know more about this than I do.

I agree it's a noisy engine compared to my old DL650. I consistently wear earplugs with this bike, 'cause I really don't want to hear how the engine sounds :) ..........
 

dcstrom

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tallpaul said:
How do you differentiate between cct noise and "other" noises on this engine? My '16 plate has 11500 miles on it and compared to my vstrom it is a very clattery engine. I'm ignoring it up to now as it has been regularly serviced. Maybe I should be more concerned!
The CCT noise I'm talking about is the one it makes on cold startup - the '12 version would really clatter while the oil reservoir charged. The 14' is not so much a clatter as a loud tinkle, so doesn't sound as bad but lasts longer than on the older version.
 

2daMax

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5 seconds noise is a bit too long for the oil pressure to build up to get that hydraulic force. Would it be the oil has thicken up (perhaps time to change ??) or a clogged oil filter? Just throwing in ideas based on symptoms.
 

dcstrom

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2daMax said:
5 seconds noise is a bit too long for the oil pressure to build up to get that hydraulic force. Would it be the oil has thicken up (perhaps time to change ??) or a clogged oil filter? Just throwing in ideas based on symptoms.
I'm probably wrong about the 5 seconds - just SEEMS like a long time since cam chain problems are something I really do not want (having been through it before). But it definitely lasts longer than the clatter of the old version. Plus it stands out because the old version would clatter from Day 1, and just get worse over time. The '14 was silent on startup from Day 1, and now is making some noise so is noticible.
 

Checkswrecks

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Seems to me the official line is that they should be replaced if the start-up rattle persists for more than something like 68- seconds, so technically you would be OK.
HOWEVER -
With the plans you have, I'd suggest replacing it and preferably with a mechanical one. You're an old-school guy bike-wise, so occasionally checking a mechanical tensioner should be easy-peasy.
 

SilverBullet

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My Gen 2 CCT has about 70k miles on it. Still quiet as a church mouse, no startup noise whatsoever.

Only issue similar to yours I have heard about also came after a valve check and owner suspected he reset or released the CCT improperly.

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
 

dcstrom

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Cycledude said:
62,000 miles sure ain’t what I would call high miles.
The 2012 tensioner failed (without engine damage) at 75,000 miles. So at 62k it's getting into the ballpark of the same mileage as the original when in failed... So what I'm really wondering is if anyone has replaced or had a failure of a '14 CCT?
 

Ultim8pc

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My 20k miles '14 plate ZE sounds like a bag of spanners. Local Yamaha dealer had a listen and said they are noisy engines, but nothing to worry about. I do worry though...
 

scott123007

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dcstrom said:
The 2012 tensioner failed (without engine damage) at 75,000 miles. So at 62k it's getting into the ballpark of the same mileage as the original when in failed... So what I'm really wondering is if anyone has replaced or had a failure of a '14 CCT?
I have not heard of any Gen 2 tensioners failing. There was one poster a while back that claims he bought a Gen 2 tensioner for his Gen 1 and it was defective from the start. That "could" have been installer error though.
 

dcstrom

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Ultim8pc said:
My 20k miles '14 plate ZE sounds like a bag of spanners. Local Yamaha dealer had a listen and said they are noisy engines, but nothing to worry about. I do worry though...
Totally normal :D :D Only when the cold startup spanners get noisier do you have to worry...
 

jbrown

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Since I notice no difference between cold startup noise and warmed up idling noise, It's little comfort to me to "pay attention to the cold startup noise lasting longer". :) Maybe it's normal, or maybe it's always been close to grenade-ing. I have changed the cct on my 2012 to the 2014 cct, with no noticeable difference in noise.
 

dcstrom

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So I ended up taking the bike to a dealer I trust, in Athens, Greece. He had a listen and agreed, probably better to change it than risk it, especially given that I never know where I'm going to be if I have a more serious problem. So the bike now has a '17 tensioner in it.

In case anyone questions the motives of the dealer ;) he charged me cost price for parts, and no labour... so there was no incentive for him to change the tensioner other than that he thought it needed changing.
 

Boris

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Hi DC

How big a job was this at a Yamaha dealers? Was it just tank up, clutch cover off and change? Or did the cam cover need to come off?

TIA
Boris
 

dcstrom

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Not sure exactly, but I know they did it without lifting the cams. However unless you have an urgent problem, I'd say it makes sense just to wait until your next valve service to change it. Or if you are worried about the rattle, just do the service early.
 
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