Excited to show some things off! but first a Question!

[DrDankNuggs]

So I'v posted before about painting my GS Engine and had set on straight black, I then decided to pull off all the covers and shine them up to a mirror finish (pics to follow) I not have everything taped off and ready for paint EXCEPT one last step.

I want to pull off the chain tensioner and clean it up. I've looked at the Suzuki & clymer manuals and both detail the mechanism & how it works however those steps are gone over in complete disassembled phase/section.

(SKIP TO HERE FOR THE ACTUAL QUESTION)
Can I removed the entire tensioner assy from the block with everything still attached cams head everything. I think as long as I'm careful and I don't have the chain fall off the lower sprocket I should be ok but I don't want to do anything wrong in the very final stage before painting. my thought is as long as the chain stays on the both cam sprockets none of my timing adjustments should come out of wack.

I look forward to posting pics with the engine all back together!

[rphillips]

Can say I've removed & replaced several & never had, or heard, of any problem. "BUT" I've not worked on any GS650, can't imagine it would be different, just say'in I've not worked on a GS650.

[Steve]

You will have to remove the carbs to get enough room to access the tensioner, but there is absolutely no problem removing the tensioner.

When you put it back together, be sure to read ALL the steps in the instructions.

.

[ddaniels]

You will have to remove the carbs to get enough room to access the tensioner, but there is absolutely no problem removing the tensioner.

When you put it back together, be sure to read ALL the steps in the instructions.

.

Yes, ditto on reading all the instructions first. Very bad things can happen if you install a cam chain tensioner incorrectly.

[chuck hahn]

Once you remove the tentioner do not move the crankshaft.

[bwringer]

You've, uh, you've seen this, right?

https://www.bwringer.com/gs/camchaintens.html

But yes, you can remove and reinstall it without losing timing. I've done it many times.

1) DO NOT rotate the crankshaft while it's out. Not even a little. Safest to set the engine to TDC first, too.

2) The tensioner is sort of a one-way valve; once you start to remove it, it needs to come all the way out so you can reset it before re-installation.