AboutBill Silver Expertise Need help with vintage Hondas from the 1960s? I am an expert with 250-305cc bikes in particular and most all of the other pre-91 models, in general. I do NOT claim to have a great deal of experience on Gold Wings, Cruisers, ATC/ATVs and dirt bikes.
Experience I have owned/ridden/maintained Honda motorcycles for 35 years. I have written five books on Honda repairs and collecting. I was a service manager for two Honda shops back in the 1980s.
Organizations VJMC (Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club) of North America
Publications VJMC newsletter, as editor for two years and as contributing editor currently.
Question Hi Bill, I have a rattling cam chain on my CBR600fh 1987 and have bought a new adjuster. Do I have to set the timing marks before I remove and replace it or can I just fit it in.
thanks Bry.
Answer Bryan, it should just go right in w/o any additional concerns.
If you turn the engine over slowly, there should be a spot about 15 degrees after TDC compresion on the left side (#1) cylinder where all the valves are momentarily closed. If you have a good sense of "feel" with a wrench, you can feel the motor kind of stop right there as there is no more force with cams trying to open valves. This is where the camchain would be most relaxed and allow for proper adjustment, if it was a manual adjuster.
Otherwise, it should still install w/o the above procedure and the self adjustment should initiate immediately, as long as the camchain isn't excessively stretched beyond the limits of the adjuster to compensate for.
I found this link on the web, which is for a later model, but may prove to be of some assistance for you:
