Cam Chain Tensioner Guide...reuse or replace?

[Stahlgrau333]

Chuck and I were putting the engine for my '82 GS1100 GLZ (8v) back together today, and noted this wear on the rear cam chain tensioner guide (large images for detail):

The grooves have a depth of approximately 0.53mm.

The material appears to have some fine 'cracking' in it, but does not seem to bend, and (gentle) attempts to do so do not spread the cracks wider.

I have checked the FSM, and while it goes into great detail on operation of the tensioner assembly, I found no reference to inspection procedures, specifications, or wear limits of the guide.

Does this look to be normal guide wear, and is the part reusable?

 

[rapidray]

It is a cheap part to replace while you already have it apart. I wouldn't use it in an engine of mine, let alone a customer's engine.
Ray.

 

[chuck hahn]

First i saw it was today and it instantly got my attention too. Friggin $86.00 from Suzuki. Theres 22,583 miles on the clocks. Seems a lot of wear for such low miles to me.

Wonder if a stuck tensioner at one time could have made it press excessively against the chain and cause that wear???

 

[Stahlgrau333]

Thanks for the input, Ray. Our initial thought was also that it should be replaced, but like Chuck said it isn't exactly a cheap part, not to mention having to wait another 2 weeks for it.

The more I think about it, the part doesn't do anything other than press against the cam chain. With the grooves in it, the tensioner rod has to extend an additional .53mm to exert the same pressure as it would with a brand new unit. It seems to be plenty strong still, and doesn't want to deflect at all. What is the actual danger of reusing it?

 

[Fjbj40]

Sometimes it's not about the miles on a part. That is a rubber type chain guide. The cracks are from AGE, I would replace it, I did on my current build. What happens if it starts to break up? Timing changes, pieces of **** causes other problems for the oiling system and etc.

Do you think it ONLY pushes on your cam chain, which only turns your cams which have to stay in time with your crank so the valves and pistons don't kiss each other?

Just something to think about.......

That type of wear is typical.

 

[Grimly]

I haven't taken an 850 lump apart that doesn't have that wear. Mileage isn't much of a factor, as high mileage engines seem to have the same amount as that one there. However, that was 20 years ago, and as mentioned, age is a major factor now. I wouldn't re-use any of them now, though I have in the past, with no troubles from them, but they were only a decade or so old.
At some point I'll have to lift the cylinders to replace the base gasket on my current lump. If there's any cracking on that guide, it's getting heaved and I'll just bite the bullet for a new part, painful though it is.

 

[JTGS850GL]

Replace them now while it's apart or you next post will be "Why do I have a lot of debris in my oil".

Seriously, do you really want to risk having to take the engine apart again for $85 worth of parts? It would be piece of mind to me.

 

[1_v8_merc]

Ebay, $30, make an offer
http://www.ebay.com/itm/82-SUZUKI-G...ash=item1c5cd3a51c:g:5gwAAOSwNSxU9c~q&vxp=mtr

 

[Guest]

^^^It amazes me that people won't take a few minutes to clean something up before they sell it. I bought a pair of case savers on Ebay and they arrived with oily dirt on them. How easy would it be to take some carb cleaner to that part?

 

[tkent02]

Wow, the same part for the 550/675 I'm putting together is $260. Crazy talk.
Good thing I have three parts engines to choose from.

 

[reved.bonnell]

These don't seem too expensive. I wonder if the GN250 uses the same part.
http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale...SB_20160221142212&SearchText=gs1000+cam+guide

 

[GSXR7ED]

Replace, replace, replace. $86 is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Ed

 

[Guest]

http://gszone.biz/sprockets.html

 

[Big T]

Don't forget the front one is just as old

 

[craz1]

This is an old thread, but has anyone used the APE rear guide. Jay posted his link for the guide. The original post was from an owner of a 1982 GS1100GLZ which is a 8 valve engine. I have the same bike and don't want to put that 40 year old part back in. Well I have talked to APE and they claim that the guide is only for the 16 valve engine. Been all over the internet for one of the OEM guides with no luck except for 1 in Germany which would cost over $200. The Suzuki part # is 12810-49051. Funny thing is when I go on to https://www.z1enterprises.com/ape-hd-cam-chain-guide-gs1100-gs1150.html they list all the 8 valve GS models. APE has no idea where they got that info so i'm at a loss. There are a few companies that sell the rear guide for the GS bikes but they don't mention anything about being for 8 or 16 valve engines and they have not got back to me. The last resort would be to just order one and check for dimensions.
Any input would be great.

 

[bwringer]

The part numbers are different, and the bracket bit at the bottom looks different on the fiches.

However, the APE part is just the blade, not the metal bracket. I'm wondering if maybe the blade part is compatible with the 8V and 16V engines, and just the bracket is different. No idea, but it is possible. And Suzuki is the company most prone to re-using parts in this way.

Z1 is usually pretty responsive; if you email or call you might get an answer.

Or buy one and see; you could probably sell it with little loss if it's not compatible, and thus the world's GS lore could be enriched... FOR SCIENCE!

 

[craz1]

My thoughts exactly. I will probably buy one if no one can give me a definite answer.

 

[rphillips]

I did a search & found it seems all of them look like yours, unless new. But found nothing about one causing any kind of problem. Surely someone can find where one has caused problems. I like what Ed implied, is the peace of mind worth the $$$?

 

[craz1]

I have an APE unit from Z1E coming so we will see. I also have an email for these guys. Again they don't mention 8 valve or 16 valve engines. You think they would. There are a lot of 8 valve engines out there.