timing chains

[pcarrell]

I had to replace mine at 102,000.

Great empirical knowledge!

[greenbarn]

Just for you my green friend!  Ask and ye shall receive!  http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/camtensionext.html

Thanks, PC.  You are truly a wealth of knowledge...   No wonder I couldn't find it, I was searching for "timing", and that word doesn't appear in their title!! 
I'll be on the "lookout" for timing chain noise.  That looks like an easy fix.

[oldblindjohn]

I had to replace mine at 102,000.

[pcarrell]

So this is the first I've heard about this issue.  How common and how soon does this issue occur?  How big of a job is it to put in said timing chain tensioner extenders?

I wonder why there isn't more available on this (or maybe there is and I haven't looked in the right places)...  I've never seen a post here at VDR, or on Gadget's page.

Just for you my green friend!  Ask and ye shall receive!  http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/camtensionext.html

[greenbarn]

So this is the first I've heard about this issue.  How common and how soon does this issue occur?  How big of a job is it to put in said timing chain tensioner extenders?

I wonder why there isn't more available on this (or maybe there is and I haven't looked in the right places)...  I've never seen a post here at VDR, or on Gadget's page.

[pcarrell]

You can get the extenders from Chuckster ( chuckster1_31@comcast.net ) and I want to say they're like $35, which is cheap insurance.

[Bucko]

I've never read or heard anything about timing chain issues.   .......

There's always been timing chain issues with Vulcan 1500 engines (at least the 1500 engines of Drifter and similar vintage - maybe 1600 engines too).  The problem is the chains stretch prematurely (or perhaps, not 'as originally estimated' by Kawasaki) and the original OEM tensioners don't have enough linear movement to take up the increased slack.  The problem is fixed by swapping in thicker chain tensioner 'bosses' (for lack of a better term).  Somebody in the US was making and selling the bosses; in Canada, the extenders are available through Kawasaki Canada dealers (Part number 92027-1500-DE - I think) - that's where I got mine.

If the problem is not caught early enough, the slack chains will saw holes in the spark plug tubes.

In theory a problem with prematurely stretching cam chains is that they may break prematurely but that doesn't appear to be a reported problem once the extenders are installed.  Hopefully the chain stretch issue on these motors can be chalked up to bad tensioner design (rather than inherent week chain specs or other engine design problem).

[dougdrifter1]

yeah, I had to replace my clutch spring at about 34000. The spring is a real issue, and it is very common. I'm trying to figure out how often, serious, the slach timing chain wis an issue. I think that when I get to the drift in, Ill try to find someone who can show me how to check the tension.

[greenbarn]

I've never read or heard anything about timing chain issues.   On the other hand, I've heard/read dozens of instances of clutch problems - and mine is slipping with 20,000 miles.    On the list to fix.

[Troll]

Going on 87,000 miles on my '01 with the original everything...

[dougdrifter1]

I have a 99 drifter 1500 with about 38000 miles on it. How often is the timing chain tensioner an issue with these bikes? I'm not having a problem yet. I did have to replace the clutch spring with a mean streak type. thats all ive had to do to her so far.