I couldn't really tell if it was the front or the back tensioner making the noise from the engine, I hope it is the tensioners. the bike has about 70,000 KM on it, I've only had it for the last 15 KM and as far as I can tell, they have never been changed. So, I just bit the bullet and bought 2 chain tensioners from Milton Honda here in Ontario Canada. I was Florida in March and was quoted about $120 each. I thought they would be cheaper if I got them in the States but only paid $156 Canadian plus tax buying them here. I tried a few dealers when I was in Florida because I thought the pricing was high but it was the going rate for them. I've read many posts about it and have a Honda manual. Shouldn't have too much trouble I got the part number: 14520 - MCW - 013, the newer style. Planning on changing them later this week or weekend and having the bike on the road as soon as they are done, and the oil change, and changing the plugs, and checking all the connecters, and the leaking fork seal, and cleaning / adjusting the chain, and, and, and..... Well, I hope to go for a ride later this weekend... Any last minute suggestions or advice would be appreciated.
I finally got around to changing the tensioners, life and family obligations got in the way as usual. It went well and was a lot easier than I expected, didn't have to remove the carbs as suggested in the manual. I didn't run into an issue until I was hooking the vacuum lines up. There is one that I just can't find the receiving end for. 2 hoses come off the black connector on the right just under the gray electrical connector, one of them has the number 15 on it and the other one goes into the brown valve and splits off to the right and up (in the picture). The longer of these 2 goes to the top of the air box, the shorter of them goes somewhere else. Anyone know where the somewhere else is? I was working on it late last night and decided to come back to it tonight with fresher eyes and try to figure it out. I took a bunch of picks as I went but somehow didn't get one of that hose. I found this pic online at least to help with the description. Other than that setback it was a lot easier than I had expected, it was also a good thing that I did it as the local wildlife had used the top of the air box as a food storage location and there sure wouldn't have been a lot of airflow. Both of the tensioners I took out looked fine and seemed to move the same as the new ones so what exactly is the problem with them? Can they be rebuilt? I would rather do that and reuse them in a couple of years when they need to be replaced again. I think I will also spend a few minutes and make some kind of grill to stop the wildlife getting back in next year.
I'm waiting on a check so I can get two new tensioners as well. I know that the front is bad, as it is easy to hear it. I think I am going to also replace the back. I have about 51,500 KM on my bike, or about 32K miles and I knew it needed done for some time, but I put it off. I'm going to park it until I get it fixed, I don't want to risk a chain breaking, then having to replace the engine. It's pretty loud, especially in the upper RPMs.
