Cam sprocket bolt loose

[simon_w]

Hello,

I have a GS850 and while riding I began to notice a knocking noise, which became worse quickly. I stopped and was rescued by my wife. This turned out to be one of the bolts on the exhaust cam sprocket, which had unwound and was hitting the aluminium. There is some wear on the bolt head and a couple of aluminium shards are visible on the side of the cam chain.

The fix seems simple but what do I need to do to clear out these shards and prevent further damage? I have done some work on this engine but taking the head off and refitting pistons would be first time for me. I don't have a piston ring compressor.

Advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks
Simon

[Guest]

Hello,

I have a GS850 and while riding I began to notice a knocking noise, which became worse quickly. I stopped and was rescued by my wife. This turned out to be one of the bolts on the exhaust cam sprocket, which had unwound and was hitting the aluminium. There is some wear on the bolt head and a couple of aluminium shards are visible on the side of the cam chain.

The fix seems simple but what do I need to do to clear out these shards and prevent further damage? I have done some work on this engine but taking the head off and refitting pistons would be first time for me. I don't have a piston ring compressor.

Advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks
Simon

Not sure how much aluminum you're talking about, but I don't think some small slivers of alum will be an issue...

If it were me, I would drain the oil & flush the cam chain tunnel with clean oil several times & see what comes out. You can drop the oil pan too & clean out the sump screen as well if your inclined - lot easier than pulling the jugs off again.

Fill it with fresh oil & filter and run it for a few miles, then change the oil & filter again - done.

I would loctite those cam sprocket bolts too...

[Guest]

Blue (medium) Loctite.

[rapidray]

Cam bolts get RED Loctite! They will still be removable without issue but blue is NOT strong enough for cam sprocket bolts. Sorry Bill, you should be using RED.
Ray.

[LoyalSons]

Red Loc is some serious stuff... If you ever want to take it apart again you most likely would need a torch to heat it up. Not that you shouldn't use it, but just FYI. I've used red Loc on crank sprocket bolts on autos before.

[blowerbike]

i'm sure ray is right but i have always used blue with zero failures...

[simon_w]

OK, thanks for the advice, I'll set about it one or two evenings this week. I don't think I'll ever be wanting to take out those bolts so I'll put the stronger lock-seal on.

Can the oil pan be removed with the engine in the frame?

Simon

[blowerbike]

these engines can digest aluminum quite well in small amounts.
i wouldn't spend the time on the pan removal myself and yes the pan can be removed with the exhaust removed from the bike.

[rapidray]

Red Loc is some serious stuff... If you ever want to take it apart again you most likely would need a torch to heat it up.

NOT true! I use it on EVERY motor I build after degreeing the cams & have NEVER had to use heat to remove the bolts. Just so you have correct information.
Ray,