Cam Chain Tensioner

Good for them! And good for you, too. I hope that's the last trouble you have for many, many miles!
 
Well, my NT is a 2010 with 28k miles on the clock. Not too noisy... until 2-1/2 weeks into my son riding it around and to work. Now this (audio file extension not allowed?!) it clatters all the time, no wavering with revs. Seems like rear cylinder cam chain slap. Same as my old KIA when it failed. Gonna pull valve cover, change oil and filter and maybe tensioner. Hope not directly valve related. She deserves better. But you'd think that the engine revving 5k rpms at 70mph would never have that specific problem. Sounds like an engineering flaw.
 
Miles2, it sounds like you are on top of it but if you suspect a tensioner issue don't delay.
Long, long ago I let a Honda 350 twin go too long and the cam chain broke. When it broke it got more complicated (and of course more $$).

Arknt
 
Thanks, she's not being run at this time. Ran only enough to try and locate source of sound. Tried to upload a wave file of the clatter but no luck (another thread). Is only time and money. I have another bike, but it's sad my son and I can't ride together right now.
 
All, This is an update on the clatter from my 2010. Finally had a free weekend in October to open her up and poke around. Started with the rear cylinder and valve cover. Found nothing out of whack, valve train, chain and tensioner all good and all lashes within spec. Later I moved on to the front cylinder, removed the valve cover and WHAM... found a scary scene. Short version is the far right side intake valve's jam nut had somehow backed-off the rocker arm adjuster stem's base and was "captured / caught" between the valve towers, just tight enough to not get jarred into anything below and the adjuster turned enough to have quite the open lash space to the top of the valve. This has been the scary hammering sound. Glad I never ran it after I heard all the commotion.
I've not taken the valve covers off to check the lash because the engine's always been fairly quiet and has too few miles. So, what could have happened? 1. It was an oversight at the factory during assembly (never have I ever)? 2. The dealer's servicing (before I bought it used) of the vehicle... possibly the tech. moving too quickly to make the time deadline? Don't know, but other than waiting 6 mos. to really have time to do any work on it myself, no harm - no foul. Very happy it was an obvious fix and no apparent damage, she's quiet again and back to her happy self. Lucky, lucky, lucky!
I had to apologize to my son, not so much for him not noticing the racket (he'll learn to listen to an engine), but for me getting angry and blaming him for any of it. I've just never experienced this on a (any) bike before. Have a few pics attached of what I found after opening her up.

2023-10-15 NT700 Valve Train Fix 005.jpg2023-10-15 NT700 Valve Train Fix 009.jpg2023-10-15 NT700 Valve Train Fix 008.jpg
 
MrSinator said:
I haven't been able to find any posts, even on the UK forums regarding this issue: Around 1k miles ago I noticed a slight ticking noise from the front cylinder. I just went to my usual mechanic for some service and asked him to have a listen. He and another mechanic both said that it sounded like the cam chain. The noise goes away when you blip the throttle or are under load, it only does it at idle. They informed me that the bike has automatic chain tensioners and that at this point it shouldn't be anything to worry about unless it gets louder or more frequent. He believes that it may just be things stretching out a bit now that the bike is close to the 8k mileage mark. This mechanic has always done good work for me so I trust his judgement. I was wondering if anyone else had noticed this on their NT. The bike runs the same as when I first got it, no drop in RPM's at idle or load, no change in temperature, no change in fuel mileage. I bought the bike used with about 700 miles on it and the warranty had fallen off by the time I bought it so I'm hesitant to take it in to the dealer if it's not something that actually needs repairs. Again, I trust my mechanic 100% but every time I hear that noise it just bothers me.
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Hello i know its bee. Many years since this post but my bike has developed this issue. Did you hsve to replace the tensioner or did ut reaxjusf itself
 
baddroid1 said:
Hello i know its bee. Many years since this post but my bike has developed this issue. Did you hsve to replace the tensioner or did ut reaxjusf itself
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Did you read thru whole thread? Nothing wrong with tensioner. Just him thinking it was too noisy.

I had 2 NT700, one rode to 201,111 miles, then sold it. 2nd one 129,063 miles before a wreck. No work on cam tensioner at all. Just valve checks, and those were just to bring gap from near limit back to center. These engines are very good, a little noisy
 
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