CCT (1300 cam chain tensioner)

[kawager13]

I've been reading about the dreaded CCT. At what mileage do you need to worry about changing it out? How do you know it needs replacing? Does it make a certain noise or something? What are the signs and symptoms? My bike has 16,000 miles on it and I'm hearing a" rattling" noise at low rpm. It goes away as rpm increases. Is my concern premature? Any help is appreciated.
Andy

[Me Again]

It will not give you warning of any kind.
It may go out tomorrow it may last for another 20 years or 2 million miles whichever comes second.
The problem is the cam chain moving against it may cause a groove to wear in the housing effectively disabling it .one day the chain pushes it back,the chain goes slack and jumps taking out the top end and anything else it hits.there have been instances were an engine has been trashed because of it.I also know people who have nearly 200k on there original tensioner.
The best advice is to change it and never have to worry about it again.

[kawager13]

Thanks for that info. I'll try to find one. Which one do i get ? KZ1300?

[Me Again]

I don't have the number off hand but the best replacement is a tensioner for a ZX-11, and it is a pretty simple fix.

[kawager13]

Okay, thanks. Is there any trick to replacing it or is it a simple remove and replace?
Andy

[Me Again]

Just make sure you spray your favorite bolt loosener on it a little ahead of time.
Other than that it's a matter of finding were your hand fits best.Use a 6 point socket (#10 metric I think) or you may have a round bolt.
In case your wondering if the one thats on the bike is black , It's already been changed.

[kawager13]

When changing out the old CCT to the new one (ZX11), is there a catch or is it simply remove and replace. What are the steps involved? Thanks.
Andy

[Pure Pork]

When changing out the old CCT to the new one (ZX11), is there a catch or is it simply remove and replace. What are the steps involved? Thanks.
Andy

Go to this page:
http://www.kz1300.com/techarticles/z130 ... ioner.html

[kawager13]

Thanks. That makes things clearer.
Andy

[Me Again]

Just make sure you put your favorite penetrating oil on a little in advance.
25 years of heat and cool can make bolts a little snug.

[kawager13]

Just make sure you spray your favorite bolt loosener on it a little ahead of time.
Other than that it's a matter of finding were your hand fits best.Use a 6 point socket (#10 metric I think) or you may have a round bolt.
In case your wondering if the one thats on the bike is black , It's already been changed.

Just changed my CCT. I used the ZX11 ratchet type replacement. It only ratcheted out 4 clicks from the compressed position. I hope everything stayed in the right place when I R&R'd this thing. I read that it should go about 5-9 clicks. Is 4 clicks too few? I guess I'll just have to fire it up and hope for the best.
Andy

[Lucasind]

....My 30 year old 1300 has only 20 k on the clock, so obviously it has spent most of it's time
PARKED . The P.O. told me that the guy he got the bike from,had a old house with a set of outside
double cellar doors,a ramp was built,and for whatever reason ,the bike was put in the cellar of this old house, and there it remained for nearly 20 years....= No mileage.
I certainly have seen the damage a bad cam chain tensioner can cause to a engine, and even though my bike is running and sounding fine... I believe in "better safe than sorry".
I have always chose manual things ,as opposed to automatic , cause I like to be in control,and find doing maintenance a pleasure rather than a chore.... I plan on riding my 1300 alot this year,cause of all the bikes I've owned, the fuel injected six cylinder has never been one of them ! So I decided to order this APE manual tensioner ,as opposed to the Kaw ZX automatic one. I have installed the APE on other bikes, and find them to be a great product, too simple to ever fail .
The part # on the one that fits the 6 cyl. is KT 1300, and you can find one on ebay shipped to your house for around $50 bucks.

[trikebldr]

OK, now you guys have me worried! I understood that the part that breaks was the sprocket inside. Did I misunderstand that? Is it just the adjuster that mounts from the outside? Shoot, that's a really easy job!

Could you guys edumacate me on this problem? Is it more of a time issue than a mileage issue? My old '83 Voyager 1300 had 214,000 miles when it was t-boned and I finally sold it. I never had to do anything to the engine (other than basic maintenance) after re-setting the valves at around 5,000 miles and it ran beautifully.

Tony, that part looks easy to whittle up on a mill and lathe.

[Lucasind]

....You are right trike....If a guy had a machine shop, and the skills,this manual tensioner would be a fun little project ! I remember replacing alot of tensioners 30 + years ago cause Kawasaki had a recall on the stockers, and made a up-dated one that all dealers were to change out. They were not holding proper tension,and as already stated above....some never had a issue.....and others did . For fifty bucks ,it's a no brainer.....................tony