Super Tenere Cam Chain Tensioner Failure

[Checkswrecks]

All you clever folks, why not post a picture of removing and installing the CCT in sequence?

You can stop asking now:
http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=13292.0;topicseen

 

[airheadpilot]

I picked my bike up from the dealer today, exactly 13 weeks to the day after I dropped it off. My total cost was a little over $1,600, which included a new Yuasa battery and $350 for the machine work on the cylinder head. Apparently my fancy Shorai Li-Fe battery was toast after being so deeply discharged. The parts that Yamaha is covering came to just shy of $1,300. In addition to all the normal gaskets and o-rings, I have new pistons, rings, wrist pins, valves, valve springs, valve seats, cam chain, CCT and damper, etc. Basically an entirely new top end with a new break-in period. After 13 weeks of commuting in Bay Area traffic on my 1983 R80ST, it sure felt good to have power, quality brakes, good lighting, and weather protection for the ride to school today. Assuming that the new CCT fixed the problem with the old ones, I guess I'm back to my previous plan, which was to ride the snot out of this bike for the next seven years. I will be listening carefully, however, and any sign of clattering on start-up will prompt me to respond quickly! Here's to putting this little episode behind me.

 

[Clevermonkey]

After reading this thread I figure I will just get the cct replaced at the first valve inspection .... Seems like a good time for it.

Sounds like Yamaha did pretty good by you. For 1600 ( really 1300 plus the battery) you got a brand new motor.

 

[GazGaz]

I have read alot about what everyone had done in regards to changing the CCT on the 2012 + models. Now can anyone tell me if the APE cct will fit the 2010 model? Can't find any info. Thanks

 

[itlives]

I have read alot about what everyone had done in regards to changing the CCT on the 2012 + models. Now can anyone tell me if the APE cct will fit the 2010 model? Can't find any info. Thanks

If find out it does, I have one with only 800 miles on it. I changed to a Graves.
PM if you want it.

 

[Zepfan]

Mine took a dump today.
Noisey at start ups.
Today was even noisier and then stopped after 2,seconds of running. A big puff of smoke came from air box.
Wot wear and tear on the battery no start.
I kind of was thinking the chain might have skipped and finding this thread confirms. Hope I didn't bend anything.
Better get your tensioner fixed before you have this happen.

I had just solved a head lamp issue, now this.

 

[EricV]

Mine took a dump today.
Noisey at start ups.
Today was even noisier and then stopped after 2,seconds of running. A big puff of smoke came from air box.
Wot wear and tear on the battery no start.
I kind of was thinking the chain might have skipped and finding this thread confirms. Hope I didn't bend anything.
Better get your tensioner fixed before you have this happen.

I had just solved a head lamp issue, now this.

Sorry to hear. Gen I? Yes, you're probably screwed on the bent bits after WOT and starting attempts. I made that error as well.

Do you still have YES warranty? Regardless, ask the dealer for some love, once they diagnose the issue.

 

[Nikolajsen]

::010:: ::010::

 

[Zepfan]

My warranted expired in May!
Took her in for V adj. last APRIL, dealer mentioned tensioners why they didn't fix is a bummer.
My bad I herd them, it always went away and on some starts it wasn't there.

Take her in today. At least I can point them in that direction unlike the author of this thread.

 

[EricV]

Be aware that Yamaha updated the cam chain tensioner and superseded the old part number. They did this because of failures, so they are aware of the weakness. They may or may not acknowledge this and may or may not offer to cover some of the cost of the repair, but it doesn't hurt to have the dealer ask the regional rep or Yamaha warranty manager.

Because of the very long cam chain it's more prone to slipping than other engine designs. That said, the general rule is to replace the CCT before 50k. Nearly all the failures have happened after that. Mine was at 82k.

What's your mileage now?

 

[Ramseybella]

My new updated CCT was trashed out of the box..
I replace it with a manual and never looked back, sorry but the New one seems to be a POS as well.
I give it a check every third oil change to make sure it's tight or if the chain starts chattering, so far over 20k and had to give it a little turn once.

 

[EricV]

My new updated CCT was trashed out of the box..

That's a bit overstating your situation. :

To my knowledge no current part number CCT has failed. There have been some owner installed ones that were questioned, but there isn't enough info on those to rule out other factors.

 

[OldRider]

I put the 14+ CCT on my 13 model and I think it's still a little too loud at startup. My warranty runs out in June next year so when the warranty is over I'm putting a manual CCT on for sure.

 

[Checkswrecks]

For folks who are replacing the Gen1 tensioners after accumulating a number of miles and especially for those hearing the rattle for a while, I'd STRONGLY suggest replacing the chain at the same time. These chains are long and thin. If you hear a rattle, it means they are being beat, rather than smoothly sliding, so they are wearing extremely fast. A new chain is only about $80-90 and you will already be at a point of disassembly where removal is straight forward.

 

[mebgardner]

::017::

 

[EricV]

No timing chain has ever broken on a Super Ten. That said, the chain is cheap. Adding the labor to replace it might not be so cheap if no other damage is present.

There are no specs on the chain. Not for wear, stretch, free length, etc. Wear is not a warranty issue. If the chain shows no damage, I would not bother to replace it at under~60k unless the engine was being torn down for other repairs.

I did replace mine at 83k, when I suffered CCT failure with piston/valve damage.

 

[SilverBullet]

Is there a method for auto CCT's to determine how far extended they are? Fully extended CCT would be an indicator of cam chain stretch. Also would be curious how a fully extended Yamaha CCT compares to a manual Ape or Graves.

My Gen 1 CCT starting making noise at 13K miles. Got progressively worse until it was replaced at 42K miles with a Gen 2 CCT covered under Y.E.S.
52K miles later and it has yet to emit any noise whatsoever.

_

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[mebgardner]

Would someone please point me at the "How To" thread, for replacing / switching to the manual CCT? Thanks...

 

[EricV]

Is there a method for auto CCT's to determine how far extended they are? Fully extended CCT would be an indicator of cam chain stretch.

I very much doubt the extension of the CCT is an issue. I have seen several failed Yamaha CCTs over the years and not one was fully extended when it failed. (the springs broke, or other issues occurred that caused the CCT to stop extending or it was failing to lock as it moved out, allowing the CCT to move in and out w/o keeping tension on the chain.) And chains don't stretch. Ever. What occurs is wear on the rollers and teeth of the gears that makes a chain appear to 'stretch'. At 82k miles no one that looked at my cam chain could identify damage or wear, (after the CCT failure). I was replacing a variety of other parts, so paid for the replacement of the cam chain on my dime, just because. I have put over 100k on various bikes w/o every replacing a cam chain or having issues with it, despite replacing multiple CCTs.

Yes, there are some bikes known for cam chain failures. Ours are not among them. When the chain is slapping, it's against plastic guides, not against metal, and in a specific area of the chain run. I used to have the guides from my 82k bike as they were replaced under warranty. They were not particularly chewed up. You could see wear, but not what you might expect after a failure at that mileage and extended running with noise on start up during the month I was on the Alaska trip. Only the last 2 weeks, (4k miles or so), of which I noticed what I would call excessive cold start cam chain noise. The one guide is around 10-12" long and run most of the distance between the upper cam gears and the bottom gear.

All I'm saying is if you're doing a major tear down and repair, sure, might as well replace the chain for peace of mind. Everyone else can NOT worry about it. There is no replacement interval on the chain.

 

[SilverBullet]

Of course it is wear that allows the chain to lengthen, "stretch" is common term used to describe that as in the overall length is stretched out longer.

I saw a couple photos from emsreno showing his old cam chain "stretch" maxing out his manual CCT adjustment. So if left unchecked it would surely start getting noisy in time as unable to adjust further. I would have to believe a Yamaha CCT would eventually do the same. Instead of waiting to hear cam chain slap would be nice to have some guage for that pending occurrence. This is different than cam chain jump due to CCT failure. Preventive/predictive maintenance .

_

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