VTEC cam chain tensioners!

Discussion in '6th Generation 2002-2013' started by Gweglez, Feb 1, 2015.

  1. Gweglez

    Gweglez New Member

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    I suspect my vtec of having failing CCT's. (I get quite a rattle, normally between 55-80 degrees Celsius on the coolant) this goes away when the engine is warmed up.

    Anyways I told my dealer that I need new CCT'S and they ordered 14510MCW003 & 14515MCW003. (tensioner blades) The part that everyone seems in the guides online to be replacing is 14520MCW003. (which is described as the lifter assembly)

    I'm just hoping that this is the correct parts that they have ordered! Can anyone offer an expert opinion?
     
  2. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    Cam chain tensioner? Wazzat?

    A typical symptom would be a knocking at idle that diminishes away as you increase the RPM.
     
  3. zombie

    zombie New Member

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    That's what mine is doing, I was going to get mine from the dealer too. I haven't been able to find any aftermarket ones.
     
  4. Gweglez

    Gweglez New Member

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    It does that too but goes away when the engine is warmed up
     
  5. Gweglez

    Gweglez New Member

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    Anyone offer more advice on this?
     
  6. stewartj239

    stewartj239 Member

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    I can't answer your question, but am wondering how many miles / km you have on the engine.
     
  7. Gweglez

    Gweglez New Member

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    49,000 miles verging on 50k. The service history is all there but doesn't go into detail about what was done So I can't see if/when they've been replaced previously
     
  8. RodRides&Wrenches

    RodRides&Wrenches New Member

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    There is an alternative to replacing the tensioners. You can take them apart and add tension to the spring inside.

     
  9. wiremanjon

    wiremanjon New Member

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    It sounds like the spring is worn out to me. I've heard that this trick rarely works for more than a month, then you have to do the job again. I think I'll just look at the tensioner as a wear item every 30,000 miles or so. To each his own though.
     
  10. wiremanjon

    wiremanjon New Member

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  11. mello dude

    mello dude Administrator

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    Asshole alert! (Me)

    Seems like RRW is posting only to promote his videos on YouTube, and is not necessarily an expert tech guy ..... a full time YouTuber......he's on both VFRD and VFRW....

    He s not interested to say here's my bikes and wanting to be part of the community and trade posts, and possibly befriend people......

    Go pound sand dude........
     
  12. Ron0777

    Ron0777 New Member

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    You can get manual tensioners for about $60 each. If you think they are the culprit I would replace them.
    I’ve done it to a few bikes. CBR 1000, a couple Superhawks, a R6 to name a few. It better to replace it when it’s just a suspect than after it fails. I’m working on a Pioneer 700 that it failed on right now. $70 for the tensioner. Upwards of 2G for all of the damage caused.
     
  13. Cogswell

    Cogswell New Member

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    There's at least one other video on youtube about rewinding ("rebuilding") a CCT. Rebuilding to me is a misleading term - implying that new parts are being substituted for worn components. The videos are not about replacing (or truly "rebuilding") anything. The steel in a CCT's spring has a limit to being stretched - a failure point. When the spring has lost tension from time / operation, it's getting closer to its failure point - it's stretched some. Just like a paper clip that's bent back and forth repeatedly, it will have some limit to the stress it can take. By winding it even more, the metal is again being stretched past its original design specification. How far can that go? I have no idea. But I do find it interesting that Honda never says anything about undertaking this to re-tension a CCT. It may be possible to take these apart and wind them tighter for as long as anyone would ever care to or could ride these 6th gens (and 8th gens and Crossrunners) - possibly hundreds of thousands of miles. On the other hand, if the spring finally fails, the results will be almost immediately catastrophic. Not only in the cam drive components, but pistons will hit valves and the motor will be junk. If just the springs were available separately I'd be very much in support of taking CCT's apart - but they're not. For my $.02, I want my ride to be reliable and trouble free - I don't want to be the one to test the limits of a CCT spring to save a few bucks. To each their own however and as always YMMV.
     
  14. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    From what I hear...tensioner failures on VFRs are annoying and noisy but not catastrophic for the engine. Same applies to in-line fours. I happen to own a VTR1000F and those definitely have a reputation for making valve to piston contact when the front tensioner spring breaks (always the front, something to do with orientation allowing oil to run away from the area). First thing I installed was a set of manual CCTs. There's some useful online stuff about adding a length of rod to the tensioner as a back-stop; that way you can keep the auto CCTs but not destroy a motor when they let go.
     
  15. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

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    Experience with FJR's.... the original design in 2003-2007 was a weakish spring that over time just got weaker, a rattling noise would occur on the right side of the engine where the tensioner and cam chain are. The noise is chain slap, and several grenaded their engines. The tensioner underwent a redesign in late 2007, and a further tweak to that a couple of years later, new part numbers were issued and new tensioners identified with a paint dot. If you hear any noise from tensioner/cam chain, I'd replace the tensioner like yesterday.
    I too would not mess with re-tensioning the CCT, just get new ones or go with manual ones. Cheap insurance to save you some big bucks and inconvenience later.
     
  16. Krzysztof

    Krzysztof New Member

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    You can buy the spring for about $10 and replace it yourself. I don't know if it is available in the US :\.

    The original spring tension is set at 4-5 turns. I would be afraid to stretch it like in the video on 10 turns.
     
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