Yesterday I spent a lazy morning installing a couple of sensors inside the airbox (more in another post) and with the tank propped back in place, fired the Capo up to check the fuel lines…….
…… and just for a second or so after she fired up there was a distinct rattle from the rear cylinder and frankly it didn’t sound too special as the bike warmed up. To be honest, I’d heard it before on a couple of occasions but couldn’t pin down which cylinder it was. With the tank lifted and stood in just the right position, it was obviously the 
rear. As it was lunch time, I decided to have a look a bit later – and promptly forgot! Well I got back to it in the evening and pulled the cam chain tensioner out. Soggy as a knackered bed spring! 🙁
So it had a thorough flush out and re-charge with fresh 15/50w oil and firmed up nicely (phew!) …. it looked as though contamination had built up in/around the ball that seals the oil in, in this case letting it out just as easy. Buttoned it all back together, fired the motor into life and revelled in a quiet(ish) Capo motor – just in time for a cold beer and MotoGP on the box, bliss! As I sat watching the race I kept having a niggling thought … what if the front one is the same?
Tomorrow feels like a let’s-check-the-front-one day ……….. 😕
Hi; I have to replace cam chain tensioners on my RSV1000 my 2004. I would ask you an advise about the correct way to proceed: do I have to set piston(s) to TDC or it’s not needed?
thank you
claudio
Hi Claudio,
On the Caponord I just removed one plug from each cylinder and turned the motor until I could see the piston was up and valves closed – somewhere near TDC but without installing the TDC tool! This worked fine for me, but with the RSV’s more agressive valve lift and different timing it may well pay to be more accurate and use the TDC tool just to be on the safe side …… either way, have fun!!