dcjens
Pro
Wet side of Washington
Posts: 1059
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posted December 22, 2008 04:21 PM
Cam chain mod
Has anybody had good results with converting the stock cam chain tensioner to mechanical? I saw this do-it-yourself mod on another site. I am looking for things to do during the winter with snow on the ground.
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Black 06
  
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SteddyTeddy
Pro
Posts: 1664
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posted December 22, 2008 04:49 PM
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted December 22, 2008 05:19 PM
use a stock one from a 12(modified to fit)
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01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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kawabunga
Expert Class
Cogswell Cogs Installed
Posts: 284
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posted December 23, 2008 04:34 PM
ZX12 cam chain tensioner with .120" milled off the face to be the same length as the 14's. Install and never hear the cam chain again and no worries at high RPM's when backing out of the throttle.
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted December 23, 2008 05:34 PM
What's wrong with the stock one??
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted December 23, 2008 07:34 PM
quote:
What's wrong with the stock one??
Not a single thing wrong with it .......
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Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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Ninja14
Pro
Posts: 1136
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posted December 23, 2008 09:48 PM
I don't like the oil powered thingie to I put in a manual - makes me sleep better :-)
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2006 Turbo ZX-14.
2005 V-max 20th Anniv.
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dcjens
Pro
Wet side of Washington
Posts: 1059
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posted December 24, 2008 12:37 AM
i dont like the start up rattle. sounds like an easy fix by doing this.
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Black 06
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Ninja14
Pro
Posts: 1136
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posted December 24, 2008 06:38 AM
Here is the APE manual cam adjuster - I got a PM asking about it
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2006 Turbo ZX-14.
2005 V-max 20th Anniv.
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Red1
Expert Class
Posts: 442
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posted December 24, 2008 07:10 AM
If it ain't broke don't fix it!
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Red12/Blue14
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NINJA12
Needs a job
Posts: 3310
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posted December 24, 2008 08:41 AM
Manual is a great fix, BUT can do more harm if you don't know what you're doing.
Stick with OEM or modded zx12.
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Ninja14
Pro
Posts: 1136
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posted December 24, 2008 10:57 AM
25yrs exp says I can adj a tensioner :-)
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2006 Turbo ZX-14.
2005 V-max 20th Anniv.
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APE Jay
Novice Class
Posts: 59
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posted December 24, 2008 03:38 PM
quote:
25yrs exp says I can adj a tensioner :-)
There you go.
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http://www.aperaceparts.com/
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KSPZ3
Expert Class
Posts: 334
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posted December 25, 2008 08:21 PM
So what is the maintenance requirements for a manual tensioner - specifically what need to be adjusted and how often?
Thanks
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Ninja14
Pro
Posts: 1136
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posted December 25, 2008 10:50 PM
You will get varying answers.
Maybe best to let APE Jay give his input.
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2006 Turbo ZX-14.
2005 V-max 20th Anniv.
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ninja12
Needs a job
Posts: 3310
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posted December 26, 2008 06:22 AM
quote:
25yrs exp says I can adj a tensioner :-)
Is that an offer to adjust them for the rest of us?
Kinda like shaving with a straight razer.
Works great if you know what you are doing, otherwise it going to get ugly!
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted December 26, 2008 08:35 AM
 Edited By: smokinZX14 on 26 Dec 2008 16:39
Ok lets put this to rest ....The zx14 uses a rachet type adjustor ... Oil pressure is used to push out the plunger into the cam chain guide ... The rachet holds the adjustor from backing off ...So at high RPMs backing off the throttle the adjustor does NOT back off ...
The reason you have start up rattle is the adjustor has not caught the first grove in the rachet ... With a few miles the chain will get a bit longer allowing the adjustor to to grab the first grove in the rachet ...I ride mine hard and the start up rattle stopped around 2500 miles ..If you ride easy it may take a few more miles but the start up rattle will stop at some point .. The point is there is NOT a problem and i have yet to hear of someone having a problem with the cam chains on the zx14 ..
My 09 zx14 does NOT have the start up rattle and that leads me to believe they did a little fine tunning on the 09 adjustor so it would rachet to the first grove without waiting for the cam chain to get longer .. It makes no sence to mod a zx12 adjustor to fit a zx14 ..Unless you have a full out drag bike with a built motor i see no need for a manual tensioner either..
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Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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Ninja14
Pro
Posts: 1136
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posted December 26, 2008 12:04 PM
Like I said..........I just like it.
It's not for everyone - or anyone not willing or able to adj it.
And YES - I'll adj if you come to SoCal and stop by my shop.........
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2006 Turbo ZX-14.
2005 V-max 20th Anniv.
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dcjens
Pro
Wet side of Washington
Posts: 1059
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posted December 26, 2008 04:33 PM
My 06 has over 11,000 miles on it now, and it rattles every cold startup. I'd like it not to... so that's the reason for reading up on it. Maybe an 09 adjuster fits other years? If your bike isn't a chitty-chitty-bang-bang with steam and all, KHI changed something about the imaginary qwirks.
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Black 06
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KSPZ3
Expert Class
Posts: 334
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posted December 26, 2008 10:30 PM
The reason I ask is because when mine had head, cam and valve work - there was also a mechanical adjuster installed - and I am not familiar with the maintenance requirements
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KSPZ3
Expert Class
Posts: 334
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posted December 28, 2008 01:23 PM
Edited By: KSPZ3 on 28 Dec 2008 21:24
any thoughts appreciated?
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Ninja14
Pro
Posts: 1136
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posted December 28, 2008 05:31 PM
Basically you can put it on....run the motor... turn it in until the noise stops . Go back out until the noise returns and then back in - to be sure you are hitting the spot.
I do mine w/o running...just by feel and looking into the hole at the chain.
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2006 Turbo ZX-14.
2005 V-max 20th Anniv.
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MJ
Zone Head
Posts: 560
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posted December 28, 2008 07:18 PM
quote:
quote:
25yrs exp says I can adj a tensioner :-)
Is that an offer to adjust them for the rest of us?
Kinda like shaving with a straight razer.
Works great if you know what you are doing, otherwise it going to get ugly!
LMAO...so funny but so true 
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KSPZ3
Expert Class
Posts: 334
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posted December 28, 2008 11:13 PM
quote:
Basically you can put it on....run the motor... turn it in until the noise stops . Go back out until the noise returns and then back in - to be sure you are hitting the spot.
I do mine w/o running...just by feel and looking into the hole at the chain.
Thanks for the reply - how often do you need to adjust?
KEvin
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Ninja14
Pro
Posts: 1136
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posted December 28, 2008 11:20 PM
When you hear the noise again....or just redo it now and then - so you can sleep better.....
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2006 Turbo ZX-14.
2005 V-max 20th Anniv.
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