Bill Dennes Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Wow! The left-side cam chain tensioner upgrade is THE best tinker I have ever done to my R1150RT. Yes, even better than all that CCP swapping. Anybody who's interested in performance and improved rideability too should invest a hundred bucks and a couple hours of their time in this improvement. Link to comment
KMG_365 Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Awwwww c'mon Bill! You're gonna have to do better than that, you tease, you! What does it do exactly? How much does it cost exactly? Where do you get the parts? Where can we find it cheaper? How do you quantify the improvement to justify the cost/time? Did you take dyno readings both before and after at the same temperature and humidity levels? Does it increase the mileage? Does it reduce emissions? Does it kill the germs that can cause Bad Breath? What is your financial investment in/relationship to the company that markets this farkle? etc., etc., etc. Link to comment
lithoman Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Awwwww c'mon Bill! You're gonna have to do better than that, you tease, you! What does it do exactly? How much does it cost exactly? Where do you get the parts? Where can we find it cheaper? How do you quantify the improvement to justify the cost/time? Did you take dyno readings both before and after at the same temperature and humidity levels? Does it increase the mileage? Does it reduce emissions? Does it kill the germs that can cause Bad Breath? What is your financial investment in/relationship to the company that markets this farkle? etc., etc., etc. wow!!! what jamie said Link to comment
2wheelterry Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Thanks for the info Bill. Its on my list of stuff to do. I'd love to lose the warm engine "clack-clack-clack." Attached is a previous thread about the upgrade. http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/sh...&PHPSESSID= Link to comment
SWB Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Thanks for the info Bill. Its on my list of stuff to do. I'd love to lose the warm engine "clack-clack-clack." Attached is a previous thread about the upgrade. http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/sh...&PHPSESSID= Ignore the reference to the www.advrider.com 90 page discussion (other than maybe for the pictures). If you're like me, you want to know the whole context of the discussion, but trust me, the advrider posts will drive you to distraction. Just look at the bmwsporttouring post that 2wheelterry references, and page down "Clint"'s post. He does a nice job of summarizing the change, which ends in: And now the new (and cheaper) $200 flail damper. 11 31 7 688 629 . cylinder tensioner, left. . . $19.20 11 31 7 656 922 . piston left . . . . . . . . . $28.40 07 11 9 963 308 . gasket ring left A18X22-CU. . $ 0.50 And to answer the question "does it apply to my bike?". Yes. RS's and RT's, 1996-current, far as I can tell. And, only the left cam chain tensioner. My "planned maintenance" list just got even longer. Some day I'm going to have a whole lot of wrenching fun. That day was supposed to be the next two weeks (Christmas period), but I lied to myself, and it's not happening 'til later. Link to comment
Boxur Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Yes! I second that. Do it. I believe the '04s already have the upgraded tensioner. We've been running this one around for a few weeks over R1150R.Net There was an old upgrade that cost about $200 smackaroos but the new improved version has only the 2 parts (built-in spring)and the washer. You may need a new TB o-ring. Ahhh! I can now hear my fuel injectors. Link to comment
Joe Frickin' Friday Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 What does it do exactly? Some RT's have a noisy cam chain under certain operating conditions. This redesigned tensioner solves that problem. How much does it cost exactly? About $50 for a collection of small round things. And about $16,000 for the noisy cam chain and accessories. Where do you get the parts? A store. Specifically, one that sells funny-looking motorcycles that say "BMW" on the side. Where can we find it cheaper? Chicago BMW can get it to you for 20% less than your local dealer. You can probably get it for free if you have a gun, a ski mask and a valid passport. How do you quantify the improvement to justify the cost/time? On a scale of 1 to 10, this one goes to 11. Alright, alright, FINE, I CAN'T quantify it! It just makes me FEEL good, alright?!?! Isn't that ENOUGH?!?!? HAH?!?!? (seriously, the bike runs quieter; less clatter from the cam chain. People will stop staring. Or at least they'll stare for the right reasons.) Did you take dyno readings both before and after at the same temperature and humidity levels? Dyno readings? I can't read, so it wouldn't matter. Does it increase the mileage? I get 937 miles per gallon now. Does it reduce emissions? I sleep with the bike in my room, running all night. This used to leave me anxious and paranoid in the morning, but no more; the exhaust actually has a rejuvenating quality now. It's good for you. Does it kill the germs that can cause Bad Breath? No, but it bullies them and makes them feel bad about themselves. What is your financial investment in/relationship to the company that markets this farkle? Over the past seven years I've given them maybe $20,000 for no reason that most people would understand. They gave me a bike, some parts, and a couple of hamburgers. But they were good burgers. Link to comment
smiller Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Seems like a popular mod these days as the parts can be hard to come by unless you can find a stocking dealer (which is pretty unlikely.) I've been waiting since late October for my set from Chicago BMW, the plungers are apparently on backorder. Oh well, I've gone 70k on the original set am I'm sure the bike can wait a bit longer... Link to comment
eakins Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Yes! I second that. Do it. I believe the '04s already have the upgraded tensioner. We've been running this one around for a few weeks over R1150R.Net There was an old upgrade that cost about $200 smackaroos but the new improved version has only the 2 parts (built-in spring)and the washer. You may need a new TB o-ring. Ahhh! I can now hear my fuel injectors. from advrider site the TB gasket (o-ring) part #: 13541341797 THROTTLE BODY GASKET S 1 $2.48 as the TB has to come off to get to the tensioner you might find the TB o-ring needs replacing. best to have one instead of realizing you now need to order one and wait to get it all back together. Link to comment
eakins Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 my take on the first upgrade (at over $200) being discontinued then this new new upgrade being available (for much cheaper) is maybe a better design (but i have doubts) but more likely cost and the ripple effect of warranty replacement for people (who know about the upgrade) and head to their dealer to complain "about a noisey motor". guaranteed some bmw shop will warranty it if you complain, while others will just say "they all do that". if bmw redesigns a retrofittable (& better) part then they have to expect that the word gets out quickly (via the internet)and warranty claims will follow. Link to comment
Pilgrim Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 How do you quantify the improvement to justify the cost/time? On a scale of 1 to 10, this one goes to 11. Alright, alright, FINE, I CAN'T quantify it! It just makes me FEEL good, alright?!?! Isn't that ENOUGH?!?!? HAH?!?!? (seriously, the bike runs quieter; less clatter from the cam chain. People will stop staring. Or at least they'll stare for the right reasons.) So, am I to understand that you spend money and add complexity for the sake of reducing perfectly natural mechanical noise that does no harm? Hmmmm . . . Pilgrim Link to comment
smiller Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 So, am I to understand that you spend money and add complexity for the sake of reducing perfectly natural mechanical noise that does no harm? Hmmmm . . . Actually the new cam chain tensioner assembly is simpler than the old one, but I get your point and asked myself the same good question. What I couldn't answer was whether the noise really represented no harm or not, since it comes from the cam chain slapping on the tensioner arm. Maybe no harm being done by this even over a lot of miles, or... maybe not. Hard to know for sure. But I do know that you have to split the crankcase to replace the tensioner guide if it ever fails (which I have admittedly only heard of happening once, so yes, not exactly a glaring concern.) But since installing the updated tensioner is so easy... Link to comment
Joe Frickin' Friday Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 How do you quantify the improvement to justify the cost/time? On a scale of 1 to 10, this one goes to 11. Alright, alright, FINE, I CAN'T quantify it! It just makes me FEEL good, alright?!?! Isn't that ENOUGH?!?!? HAH?!?!? (seriously, the bike runs quieter; less clatter from the cam chain. People will stop staring. Or at least they'll stare for the right reasons.) So, am I to understand that you spend money and add complexity for the sake of reducing perfectly natural mechanical noise that does no harm? Hmmmm . . . Pilgrim What's next? "Loud Cam Chains Save Lives?" Link to comment
smiller Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 What's next? "Loud Cam Chains Save Lives?" Why not? My cam chain makes noise and I've never been in an accident, so that proves... oh, nevermind... Link to comment
Pilgrim Posted December 18, 2005 Share Posted December 18, 2005 How do you quantify the improvement to justify the cost/time? On a scale of 1 to 10, this one goes to 11. Alright, alright, FINE, I CAN'T quantify it! It just makes me FEEL good, alright?!?! Isn't that ENOUGH?!?!? HAH?!?!? (seriously, the bike runs quieter; less clatter from the cam chain. People will stop staring. Or at least they'll stare for the right reasons.) So, am I to understand that you spend money and add complexity for the sake of reducing perfectly natural mechanical noise that does no harm? Hmmmm . . . Pilgrim What's next? "Loud Cam Chains Save Lives?" A fair question, I guess. The answer is yes, of course. Just not as many as loud pipes. I'm probably conditioned over the years by the sound of the primary drive chain in my Harley slapping the shifter shaft that runs through the primary case. That makes the outer primary case resonate like a ten year-old's new drum. But come to think of it, a couple years ago I finally slipped a piece of garden hose over the shaft and the noise changed its tone to a more bearable note. Pilgrim Link to comment
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