Cam Chain Tensioner

[ebincia]

Moshe Levy has a nice article in MCN on cam chain tensioner replacement. It is a very nicely written piece of information on the R1150R. However, I was unaware that this issue leads to catastrophic failure. I have read a ton of posts about the annoying noise on start up, but I
did not know that it may lead to major problems. Perhaps I've been naive and a little deaf, but I seldom hear this clacking at start up. I guess that is why I have not bothered to do the upgrade yet!
My question... Has anyone on here had catastrophic failure due to the left side cam tensioner?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

[owldaddy]

Not me. I almost feel guilty, my bike has been pretty much trouble free. The only failure was with those fuel QD's Now where is that piece of wood I keep around for knocking on when I make these kinds of statements
Don

[ebincia]

Hey Owldaddy, how many miles so far? Just curious, but do you hear the clatter at start up?

[owldaddy]

I have 32,000 miles on mine, and ya I hear some clatter at first, once the oil starts moving around though it quiets down. Only takes a few seconds for that to happen. Mine is an 04, so I think it already has the upgraded tensioner, someone please correct me if I am wrong.
Don

[spoon]

I would like to know when the upgraded tensioner was installed by the factory. Anyone have an idea??

[challey]

Has anyone on here had catastrophic failure due to the left side cam tensioner?

One of the guys in my local BMW riders group had catastrophic engine failure on his R1150RT directly attributable to the left cam chain tenisioner failing. I should mention that his bike had something like 125k on the clock when this happened. And that two years before he rode his RT it from Philadelphia to Pt Barrow, AK and back in 11 days with no serious engine problems. So I guess it can happen but it looks like it's pretty far down on the list of things that can lay an oilhead low.

Full disclosure: I changed out the cam chain tensioner on my bike a couple of weeks ago. It's a realatively cheap fix and one less thing to worry about.

Charlie

[ebincia]

Owldaddy said,
"Mine is an 04, so I think it already has the upgraded tensioner, someone please correct me if I am wrong."

I was unaware that BMW a had upgraded the tensioner. Mine is a 2004 (build date 2003) as well with 31K miles , maybe that is why I do not hear the clatter. Maybe my hearing is OK after all

[ASQTec]

...... Mine is an 04, so I think it already has the upgraded tensioner, someone please correct me if I am wrong.
Don

Mine is an '04, and it had the old tensioner. It's much quieter with the new one.

[boxermania]

The cam tensioner upgrade was phased in durng the 04 year run, however there might ne som early bikes with the old style and even some manufactured late in the o3 run that were sold as o4's with the old tensioner as well.

Chains do strehc and a bike with 125K miles and the old tensioner would be prone to skipping a tooth on the sprocket, sending the timing off and resuling in the ultimate close encounter of a valve with the piston.....Ouch.....$$$$$

[boxermania]

The cam tensioner upgrade was phased in durng the 04 year run, however there might be some early bikes with the old style and even some manufactured late in 03 run that were sold as 04's with the old tensioner as well.

Chains do strehch and slap around and a bike with 125K miles with the old tensioner would be prone to skipping a tooth on the sprocket, sending the timing off and resuling in the ultimate close encounter of a valve with the piston.....Ouch.....$$$$

[jm1515]

I have 32,000 miles on mine, and ya I hear some clatter at first, once the oil starts moving around though it quiets down. Only takes a few seconds for that to happen. Mine is an 04, so I think it already has the upgraded tensioner, someone please correct me if I am wrong.
Don

My 04 did NOT have the upgrade. Built in June '04.... I thought it did but.....
Even tho the left CCT head was 15mm as opposed to 17 for the right side. The upgrade has a 15mm head on the 'bolt' and Internet lore has it that if your left CCT is 15mm, this was supposed to indicate you had the upgrade....but you may not.
I noticed this when I was doing my 30k service...the left tensioner was very much like the right, only the plunger had a groove down it's length. Now, I've never had any outrageous noise from the left side, but I was seriously PO'ed because
I MUST have the latest/greatest and for ~30k miles I was running with an inferior CCT!
You probably don't have the upgrade on your 04, bc BMW started putting them in the1200 motor first...

Anyway...it's a FIFTEEN MINUTE JOB on your R to r&r the left cct, because unlike that article in MCN or the pages of threads on AdvRider or anywhere else.... YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMOVE ANYTHING on an 1150R ....but the left oil cooler cover, to do this mod.
Something like that MCN article has been on AdvRider for years, and when I first saw it I said NFW I would want to remove all that stuff on my bike.

All you need is a ratchet, a 15mm socket (because you probably have a 15mm head on your left CCT) a shorty ratchet extension (2"), a small magnet-on-a-string of some sort and 2 Universal Ratchet joints of the proper drive size. The 2 UJs are the key...you probably already own 1....so go spend 8bux and buy another....
For my magnet I found the perfect tool...an LED on a 3"gooseneck flashlight w/ a 1/2" diameter magnetic base. Found it in the flashlight section of Meier....a WallyWorld clone here in OH.
Bottom line...if you remove the oil cooler cover, put the 2"xtension on the ratchet, then both of the UJs , you can negotiate behind the Telelever strut down to the socket which you will have pre-installed on the CCT. Pretty easy...
Remove the OE CCT, fish out the spring & plunger if necessary (they may come out w/ the sleeve) and replace with the upgrade....

[owldaddy]

Thanks for the info jm1515, that is good to know, when I do my yearly tuneup next month I will have the CCT on hand for a swap.
Don

[boxermania]

I believe Boxer had a pictorial of the swap, with a minimum removal of ancilliary components. Check it out.

[ASQTec]

[quote="quote="owldaddy"]...... YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMOVE ANYTHING on an 1150R ....but the left oil cooler cover, to do this mod.
[/quote]
The less-than-five minutes it takes to remove the throttle body instead of the oil cooler cover is well worth it. That is why most people do it. It allows you to work like a gentleman.

[challey]

You can get the replacement parts from Tom Cutter at Rubber Chicken Racing Garage in Yardley, PA for $80 plus about $5 for shipping.
http://rubberchickenracinggarage.com/chain.html
No affiliation other than being a satisfied customer of the RCRG.

Charlie