I put a manual tensioner on before a 3500km trip because I was worried about this exact failure. The bike has over 10000km, 7500km with the manual tensioner and I've never needed to adjusted again. Highly recommend it
Yes a manual tensioner is much more reliable and consistent. The problem is a lot of people don't know how to tension them properly and over tension them causing damage to the engine.
Super helpful . I had bad noise in my 350 then it stopped, a year later I am rebuilding the top end I will put the dirt tricks cam tensioner in it now while its apart . Great video thanks so much
Although the stock KTM tensioner is ok I like the fact that the Dirt Tricks one has a ratcheting design and does not rely solely on oil pressure. My replacement Dirt Tricks tensioner has been going strong for 300 hours with no problems!
I am convinced 100% that this is the issue with my wr250r currently because of your vid here man. Thanks Doc!! Imma get my braaap fixed here very soon.
I've never owned a wr250 but I would assume this problem could happen to any motorcycle. I think that's why you can buy a manual chain tensioner for a lot of bikes. Hope it fixes your problem, it sucks when you can't ride.
Yeah I guess it was just bad luck that I got a defective tensioner from DirtTricks, it's been fine every since. Gold, does that mean the longer I ride the richer I will become lol!
Whoa! That could have been catastrophic and expensive if you kept on riding for long. Great information, I was looking out for this video. Nice tools/gadgets you got there...👍
There is the possibility of the timing chain jumping a tooth and having the valves hit the piston, glad that didn't happen to me. The little snake camera is fun to use but it wouldn't quite fit into the spark plug opening to get a closer look. I didn't think about it at the time but I should have put a thin awl down to the piston and seen if I could have scratched the gold pieces to determine what they were. Maybe the next time I check the valve clearances I'll try that.
@@devonnewkirk2229 That's not good. If it was a Dirt Tricks tensioner I would contact them and let them know what happened. They do stand behind their product.
I have the same camera, I am a Milwaukee fan boy. I ended up getting a multiple camera scope from amazon, huge upgrade. My 12 ktm 250 has had a tick for the last year. This weekend it abruptly changed to a bad noise and power loss. My first thought was timing chain tensioner. I shall find out tomorrow!!! Excellent video. Love the tone and overall good attitude, good stuff!!!
@@advsquared It’s a worn automatic decompression shaft. The failure mechanism is very interesting! I might make a video, I havent seen a single video/thread about this failure.
Two dirt tricks CCT failures on my '17 701 (both at about 25 hours) (both tensioners ate themselves internally). 701 is obviously not the same as a 350 but the DT tension is really not designed for the larger displacement bike despite what they advertise - the chain tension and slack force on the chain are too much for the mechanical pawls in the DT system. Caveat Emptor.
Actually the part that failed was not a KTM factory part it was a Dirt Tricks part that was not manufactured correctly. They forgot to harden the steel teeth inside their tensioner.
@@travisconover4762 Yeah I do wish KTM bikes would came more equipped so you wouldn't have to spend so much money on protection and performance to safely ride it on the trails.
Sorry to hear that. The Dirt Tricks should last much longer, I just happened to get a defective one. As a side note a viewer alerted me that some of the plastic oil pump gears have failed in some EXC-f engines. Something to keep in mind if you have more problems.
@@advsquaredI have the same noise on my 2022 fe350s. I suspect either a plastic oil pump gear failure or cam chain tensioner. All I know is that my 350 is making that same ticking noise now. I’ll know soon once my dealer take a look.
Hi thanks a lot for sharing this very informative vídeo. Did you loose power when that happened? When you pulled the throttle did you noticed it wasnt delivering the same power as before? Thanks
I did not notice any reduction in power, only an increase in noise. I guess if the timing chain jumped a tooth you might have a decrease in power but I'm not sure if that would be true or not. Best of luck finding the problem.
I thought about installing a manual tensioner but I will give the Dirt Tricks one more try. If I have ANY problems again I'll switch to a manual tensioner.
I’m just now starting to hear a bit of noise (not as bad as yours was) out of my exc-f. Am I safe to ride for a couple more rides before I install a new tensioner, or would it just be stupid? Just have a ride planned for this weekend but don’t have the time to order and install a new tensioner.
It is impossible for me to make a determination without really seeing and hearing the bike. But a noisy chain is quite common and normal for a lot of KTM's . I would be concerned if there was a sudden increase in chain noise as opposed to the chain slowly getting louder over time. Mine went from a normal noise to very loud in a split second on my ride so I knew something was wrong.
Same thing happen to my excf 350. But it has nothing to do with my cam chain tensioner. The plastic oil pump gears are warping on some '18 models. When that happens, the tensioner loses maximum tension, because they're fed by the oil pressure...something all owners need to be aware of.
if timing chain tensioners are failing - its uneven timing chain wear/defect at fault (slapping poor tensioner), change the timing chain ! 2 of them failed proves the point.
The stock tensioner never actually failed but just got to noisy for me especially at low rpm when there is not much oil pressure. KTM says that is normal but I didn't like it. The Dirt Tricks failed because of a manufacturing defect, they never hardened the ratcheting steel teeth so they wore off. I checked the chain for wear, stretch and binding but it was fine. Since replacing the faulty Dirt Tricks tensioner everything has been fine and haven't had any problems.
I’ve been waiting to find out what the noise was since your video with Till Death Dual us Sport. Why couldn’t they just use a simple spring inside piston design for the tensioner instead of relying on oil pressure and all that nonsense? Granted I’ve never seen this sort of tensioner and have no idea how it works, but I digress. Hope you find out what those gold nuggets are!
I don't know why they don't just use a manual tensioner as some other companies do. I suspect that owners would misadjust it by tightening it to much and destroy the chain. Don't know why I didn't think of it at the time but the next valve clearance check I will put an awl down the spark plug opening and see what those gold areas are. But I'm not too worried the bike is running fine now.
Good job. But that's why I ride a 2 stroke, they are a lot easier to work on and less parts to fail. Can't tell if it's only carbon, to get a better look you could pull the pipe off or take the head off. Ride safe my 2 wheel friends.
2 strokes are much easier to work on but here in California they are so restricted on when and where you can ride them it is not worth it for me. I think the next time I adjust the valves I will put a thin awl down to the piston and seen if I can find out what those gold pieces are.
There is no way of knowing what is wrong with your bike without actually having the bike to work on. It could be the tensioner but it could also be many other things. Best to take it to a mechanic to get it diagnosed.
Do you know if the tensioner you originally purchased and correctly have. Is that their version one or two. Its appears the part number has changed from "to to tc2"
Just bought duke 250. 245 km on it its rattling. Told me exhaust 😢. Willgo back today. I have old 150s one yamaha 30000 km 11yrs one pulsar 20 year old 91000 never had issues lol. Progress
There is no way for me to tell what is making the noise on your bike and whether changing it will help or not without actually listening to the noise myself. If you're not sure I would take it to a mechanic.
On my 2017 KTM 350 exc-f it is a 5mm allen wrench. You have to be very carful about loosening and tightening that cap as it is made out of soft aluminum and allen hole can strip very easily. After taking it on and off several times I had to buy a new one. You might want to buy a spare just in case as they are very cheap.
@@advsquared Thanks for the help, I have a 2017 Husqvarna Fe350, and have valve check/adjustment due. What did you use to unlock the tensioner after it is reinstalled? The manual calls for a special tool.
My husky fe350s is making the same noise, but before I noticed I lost power while riding back from the trail. I stopped the engine and when I started again it was doing the same noise. I’m gonna have a mechanic to check but could be my cam chain tensioner. It’s making the same noise. I have only 40hours on my husky
It's possible it might be the tensioner but it could also be something else. I hope your mechanic finds the problem and is able to fix it so you can get riding again!
I did line up the cam gears to make sure the timing didn't change. There is also a bolt towards the bottom on the side of the engine that you can take off it's thick washer and reinstall the bolt. This locks down the crank so it won't turn by mistake. It helps if you have the manual.
How many hours did you have on your bike when this happened? I bought a 2018 350 excf and I have about 20 hours on it. Twice I’ve heard a similar sound, not nearly as loud come from my motor and it has me a little concerned.
I noticed the stock tensioner making noise at around 55 hours. It was not bad enough to be replaced but I just didn't like the way it sounded. The Dirt Tricks tensioners are usually bulletproof but I just happened to get a bad one.
For a KTM 350 you need to take off the valve cover so you can see the timing gear marks and align them to each other, then lock the engine by taking out a thick washer on the bolt located down below the water pump so the engine will not move when you take out the timing chain tensioner. I have never worked on a Husky 701 so I don't know how the engine is set up but I would assume it would be similar. It would be best to get a service manual for the 701 that shows you all the steps.
@@advsquared I really don't see why you'd have to do all of that as taking the tensioner out and replacing it isn't going to do anything to the timing unless you start the bike without it in place of course
is it normal for your backwheel to start spinning when its not on the ground, i know my bike does it when i rev it hard but on idle it shouldnt? does that mean your clutch is slipping or need oil change
Even when the bike is in neutral and off the ground it is normal for the rear wheel to spin especially when the oil is cold. Once the oil warms up there is less drag but the wheel can still spin. This doesn't necessarily mean your clutch is slipping or that you need an oil change. If your clutch slips under load you probably need a new clutch and oil change is usually by hours or miles used.
It's possible but there is no way I could diagnose it without checking out the bike in person. KTM's do tend to be a bit noisy so it can be hard to tell if it's normal or not.
For a long time I had noticed small metal pieces in the oil pickup screen when doing oil changes. It wasn't enough to get me worry but I also didn't think it was normal. After I replaced the defective tensioner the screen is completely clean now so if I ever notice metal shavings I will know something is wrong.
Great video mate. Is there a camera you don't own? LOL. Glad your bike is ok you are lucky your cam didn't slip a tooth, your vids are very informative keep up the good work...
LOL, yeah the small snake camera is a fun toy but I actually bought it for work and not for working on my bike. Very bad things can happen when the tensioner fails but I lucked out. Good thing I didn't feel like rebuilding an engine. Thanks for the kind words!
@@advsquared i was riding my yz250f, and it made a ticking noise so i shut it off, and every time i put the kicker down slowly it makes a mean ticking noise, the sound is coming from the timing, please hit me with a reply
I wish I could say the same. I think it's hit or miss if you will have problems as it doesn't effect every bike. I just seem to be having some bad luck with it.
The noise did get quieter when rev'ed but didn't go away completely. It may be possible that the noise could stay the same even if the rpm changes but it could also be something else. The only why to find out is to start digging into the engine and checking things out.
When the tensioner goes bad they get noisy but don't usually cause the engine to quit, but it is technically possible. I would start by checking the usual engine no-start problems then take the valve cover off and see if you can find anything.
Although some stock KTM adjusters fail it is a very low rate and would not be considered an item for recall. My original stock tensioner never actually failed it just got noisy which is very common for a KTM. I thought I would 'upgrade' to the Dirt Tricks tensioner but had the bad luck of getting a defective one.
Off hand I don't know of any other companies that make tensioners for KTM. But I haven't had any trouble with my replacement tensioner from DirtTricks. From what I have heard the failure I had was very rare for a DirtTricks tensioner. It was just a small batch that had a problem.
Hi Mate, Glad that your scooter is running again. I'm sure you would have done this but I'll ask anyway. Given the metal particles you found from the tensioner, did you change engine oil and filter? Love your vid's, keep them coming. Dion.
I did change the oil and as usual there were metal particles and shavings in it which it has been doing since it was new. The metal shavings probably come from the gearbox. I thought the metal particles was just the engine breaking in but it could have been from the tensioner. I'll be curious to see what the oil looks like on the next service. Good to hear you are enjoying the videos!
The manual says 135 hours if you don't race the bike. But I have heard riders going many times that and never rebuilding the top end. I will have to see how it goes but I will probably start thinking about it at around 250 hours and see how the engine is doing at that time.
Interesting video. If you get bored a video on all the maintenance issues like this would be appreciated. you've had it for a while and your very good and detailed about your maintenance so if would be a great resource to have that practical info from "the guy on the ground"😎. As far as your gold flakes - titanium plating coming off the valves ? If your running hi test and heating up the system it might be flaking off/shaving it off and when it oxidizes it goes gold colored? Just guessing, but unless its off your plated spark plug if you buy those kinds? Hope it worked out. Tx4V 👏
Besides this problem this bike has been very reliable. My maintenance is just changing oil, air filters and checking for loose spokes and bolts. I did just change the in-tank fuel filter and rear chain guide at 250 hours but just as a precaution. Eventually I will have to do a upper engine rebuild but not until I start hearing noises, fingers crossed!!
@@advsquared Cool good to know, I know you did some nice mods to the bike and was wondering how they held up, glad it all worked out. Ever run with anyone with the new KTM500 ? Their weights are suppose to be similar to yours. Awesome seeing you run with the Tdub Tx for answering👍😎
@@ashmyrmidonsminions9271 All the mods I did to the bike have worked out great. I haven't had any problems with them and am happy with how they make the bike feel. I haven't ridden any other bikes so I don't have a comparison to mine but I have heard that the 500 is much more abrupt in how it makes power. The 350 I ride is much more linear in the power delivery so it''s easier for someone who's not a great rider to handle. It makes it much easier to ride on tight technical terrain. But I would assume a 500 would be more fun on the road, I guess it just depends on where you ride most and your ability. I always like riding with Nick, it's amazing how much he gets out of that Tdub!
Although I think that the stock KTM chain tensioner should have a ratcheting system design instead of just relying on oil pressure this failure was not KTM's fault. It was a Dirt Tricks tensioner that failed because of faulty manufacturing. The replacement Dirt Tricks tensioner has been going strong for 300 hours with no problems.
It now has 90 hours or 1470 mils on it since I installed the replacement. It is doing fine, no valve chain noise at startup or when the engine is running and no metal shavings in the oil. I think it will last a long time.
Wow! I have a 2014 KTM 350 exc-f with a 136 hours and no issues at all. Off-topic but would you buy the Wolfman daytripper smaller bags over the E 12 if you had to do it over again?
I don't know why the stock one failed and the Dirt Tricks failure was very unusual. Just unlucky I guess. I would buy the wider E 12's over the narrower Daytrippers as they are both the same size and shape. The E 12's are wider but you can always use the built in compression straps and make them as thin as the Daytrippers. This gives you the option of fitting larger items into the E 12 when you need to that would not fit in the Daytrippers.
@@advsquared my bike is a Husqvarna 701 so I have to check the primary drive nut. Assuming that checks then the timing chain tensioner would be my problem as I’m assuming it is stock at 10k miles and it definitely sounds like this all the time and never goes away. Seems to get marginally quieter when the clutch is pulled in.
If you already installed it there is nothing else to do. Once you start the engine it will self-adjust. But did you compress and lock the new tensioner before you put it into the engine? If you didn't the chain will be way to tight.
Oops, I forgot that once you install the body of the tensioner into the engine and before you screw in the small plug, you need to push a rod into the tensioner to release it and set the tension. If you are not sure what to do I would get a repair manual that explains it or take it to a shop, just to be safe.
okay my bike made the same noise, but when i let my kicker down slowly it makes the same ticking sound, and the sound is coming from the timing, please help me out
It's impossible to know what's going on with your bike without being there. But if you think the noise is coming from the timing chain area you might want to take off the valve cover and the timing chain tensioner and see if you can find something.
I'm going to put one on my CRF250L very soon too . I've heard bad stories about the automatic cam chain tensioner on my bike , and would rather not have it fail on me .
I thought about installing a manual tensioner but it's just more maintenance to worry about. But if I have any more problems with the automatic tensioner I will switch over to one. Hopefully the problem I had was just a fluke as the Dirt Tricks tensioners usually don't have any problems compared to the stock ones.
One negative of the manual tensioner is you need to ignore it once you have it set or it will drive you crazy wondering if it is too tight or too loose :-)
You would think after all these years they would have come up with something better. The scope is a Milwaukee M-Spector 360. It's about $200 and I originally bought it for work inspecting some sink drains in a building. It works fairly well but I wish it had a better quality screen for a sharper image or had a way to connect it to a laptop to view the image. I don't use it very often but when I do it comes in handy.
No I don't think this is very common. The stock KTM tensioner gets noisy but usually doesn't fail outright. The Dirt Tricks tensioner I had installed was from a bad batch where the steel teeth wasn't hardened. Just bad luck.
Just adding to this, same exact thing happened to my dirt tricks CCT at 20.6 hrs exactly. I just sent them an email and waiting to hear back. Have you had better luck with your replacement? I haven’t decided whether to go back to stock CCT or give dirt tricks another shot (found about 5 other people on the forums who had the same experience). Really glad I was close to the truck when this failed and not too far into my isolated mountain single track ride.
My replacement Dirt Tricks tensioner is still working great without any problems. When I contacted Dirt Tricks they told me they had a small batch of tensioners they made where the steel paws were not hardened. That's why it wore out so fast. I like their design better than the stock one and my new one has been reliable. I'm glad I made it back to the truck, breaking down always sucks.
Hi, good to know your bike is ready to go out again. I remember you said that you changed your Suzuki 400 due to the weight on trails! Reliability in KTM is proven to be not the same as your Old Japanese bike. Don't you think to go back to any other Japanese bike? Hope this tensioner last longer! Thanks for your videos!
I think Japanese bikes are more reliable but the KTM's aren't that bad. The Dirt Tricks tensioner failing was out of the ordinary as they usually last for years without any problems. For now I will stick with the KTM but if the Japanese ever build something as light and capable as the European enduro bikes I might tempted to switch over.
You are right, there are bikes that have a very light feel in handling even though they might be a little heavier in weight. But I have problems with my neck, shoulders and back so I need a bike that is light weight so I can pick it up easily without hurting myself. Either that or I just have to stop crashing so I never have to pick up the bike : O
Man, this is not confidence inspiring for would-be 350/500 exc-f purchasers. Reliability is paramount. I see a lot of fuel pumps go out in video's too. Especially if the fuel isn't good American fuel.
Yeah, the stock tensioner has a reputation for going bad but the Dirt Tricks unit is usually bulletproof. I just got a bad one so hopefully the new one will last for hundreds of hours. A manual tensioner is always an option as long as you remember to adjust it every 40 hours or so. I could see how these little fuel pumps would destroy themselves with dirty gas, would definitely make me leery if I was down in Baja.
If I have any more problems with the automatic tensioner I will be switching over to a manual one. As long as you don't forget to tension them they are bulletproof.
That's a whole story in itself. On my bike the magnet on the oil plug has always had metal slivers on it from when the bike was brand new. It has been pretty consistent with every oil change so I don't know where the metal is coming from. I alway thought it was from the transmission gears but some of it may have been from the tensioner. It would be impossible to tell.
Guess I’m gonna need to keep an ear out for this. Thanks for the vid! I’ve checked my valves, but haven’t needed to swap shims yet. Any chance you’ll be doing a video on it?😬
Although this is a problem on KTM's it's not a huge problem so you will probably be OK. But if you start to hear ticking on start up you'll know what it is. I have checked my valves a couple of times but only needed one shim. Oregon Dual Sport recently made a video on how to replace the shims that you should check out ruclips.net/video/FJWnENGfBiw/видео.html . Check out some of his other videos, he's got some great stuff!
I wouldn’t trust that bike if it’s eating tensioners like that, all those little metal fragments would of traveled around the engine, it definitely looked like some had fused to the top of the piston,
I don't know where your noise is coming from but if it is changing with engine rpm it could be the tensioner. It relies on oil pressure so a higher rpm can make the noise quieter and at idle it can be noisier.
I know there are manual tensioners but I think they are for the bigger KTM's than the 350 I have. I haven't had any problems with the replacement Dirt Tricks tensioner I installed, they are usually quite bulletproof.
Yes the stock ones do fail but luckily it's a low percentage of them. I have had two Dirt Tricks tensioners fail but I still think they are better than the stock ones.
wow good info. ''manual tension-er'' sounds best. also why no communication with KTM, THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE BIKE. SOME PEOPLE buy KTM replace new parts for better, again thats an expensive bike , should have ''better'' parts. I WILL STAY AWAY FROM KTM
Manual tensioners are bullet proof as long as you don't forget to adjust them. If I have any more problems with the automatic one I will switch over to a manual one. Every bike has their problems no matter what you pay for them. I could have contacted KTM but my bike was already out of warranty. The Dirt Tricks tensioner is a much better design than the stock one but I just happened to get a bad one. I didn't like it but it happens, it's just the nature of manufacturing parts, things can go wrong.
your choice , for me if kTM. fails to put the best ''tension-er'' , such a small part , for the price of the ''bike'' they are swindlers, and i would have contacted them and told them. the bikes that win races are not what you get,
Interesting. I'm still not sure if that was caused by the tensioner failing or it's just normal deposits. Since I replaced my tensioner my bike has been running great.
It is a shame that KTM doesn't change the design of the tensioner when people have been having problems with it for years. But other manufactures have their own problems that seem to never get fixed. Don't even get me started about software companies that never fix well known bugs in their software!
In defense of KTM (I own a pair of 2003 640 Adventures), as you mentioned with other manufacturers, Kawasaki has known for years that the KLR650 has needed a "doohicky" fix but hasn't invested in that, allowing aftermarket makers to create the "fix". Same with Suzuki DR650 and their transmission bolt (?) needing thread lock to keep the bolt from working loose and destroying your tranny (RMATV/MC has an informative video on the fix). Point is: every manufacturer has design flaws that require vigilance and maintenance. You want perfection? Buy a tricycle.
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I put a manual tensioner on before a 3500km trip because I was worried about this exact failure. The bike has over 10000km, 7500km with the manual tensioner and I've never needed to adjusted again.
Highly recommend it
Yes a manual tensioner is much more reliable and consistent. The problem is a lot of people don't know how to tension them properly and over tension them causing damage to the engine.
Super helpful . I had bad noise in my 350 then it stopped, a year later I am rebuilding the top end I will put the dirt tricks cam tensioner in it now while its apart . Great video thanks so much
Although the stock KTM tensioner is ok I like the fact that the Dirt Tricks one has a ratcheting design and does not rely solely on oil pressure. My replacement Dirt Tricks tensioner has been going strong for 300 hours with no problems!
I am convinced 100% that this is the issue with my wr250r currently because of your vid here man. Thanks Doc!! Imma get my braaap fixed here very soon.
I've never owned a wr250 but I would assume this problem could happen to any motorcycle. I think that's why you can buy a manual chain tensioner for a lot of bikes. Hope it fixes your problem, it sucks when you can't ride.
Whoa! What a pain, I never had an issue on my old 350. Glad you got it all sorted out. Gold nuggets!!! You could buy a whole new piston.
Yeah I guess it was just bad luck that I got a defective tensioner from DirtTricks, it's been fine every since. Gold, does that mean the longer I ride the richer I will become lol!
Whoa! That could have been catastrophic and expensive if you kept on riding for long. Great information, I was looking out for this video.
Nice tools/gadgets you got there...👍
There is the possibility of the timing chain jumping a tooth and having the valves hit the piston, glad that didn't happen to me. The little snake camera is fun to use but it wouldn't quite fit into the spark plug opening to get a closer look. I didn't think about it at the time but I should have put a thin awl down to the piston and seen if I could have scratched the gold pieces to determine what they were. Maybe the next time I check the valve clearances I'll try that.
Very informative! I'm sorry you had all the trouble with it, my friend, and happy to hear you've got it going right again ^_^
I'm glad I found the problem so I can trust the bike again. Hopefully everything is sorted out and I won't have any more problems with the tensioner!
@@advsquared i just had my dirt trix fail at 25 hours
@@devonnewkirk2229 That's not good. If it was a Dirt Tricks tensioner I would contact them and let them know what happened. They do stand behind their product.
I have the same camera, I am a Milwaukee fan boy. I ended up getting a multiple camera scope from amazon, huge upgrade.
My 12 ktm 250 has had a tick for the last year. This weekend it abruptly changed to a bad noise and power loss. My first thought was timing chain tensioner. I shall find out tomorrow!!!
Excellent video. Love the tone and overall good attitude, good stuff!!!
Glad you liked the video! There is nothing worse than having a sound in your engine that shouldn't be there. I hope you find out what's causing it.
@@advsquared It’s a worn automatic decompression shaft. The failure mechanism is very interesting! I might make a video, I havent seen a single video/thread about this failure.
@@borderm3 That is an odd one! I don't think I have ever heard one of those going bad before, but at least you found out what it was.
Two dirt tricks CCT failures on my '17 701 (both at about 25 hours) (both tensioners ate themselves internally). 701 is obviously not the same as a 350 but the DT tension is really not designed for the larger displacement bike despite what they advertise - the chain tension and slack force on the chain are too much for the mechanical pawls in the DT system. Caveat Emptor.
Well that doesn't sound good! Luckily I haven't had any more problems with mine.
Eureka! Very good to hear & see! The trails are calling 😁
It was nice to finally find the exact cause of the problem. Time to get back into shape after sitting on the couch for weeks. The dirt is calling me!!
nothing surprising to see here! KTM!
Actually the part that failed was not a KTM factory part it was a Dirt Tricks part that was not manufactured correctly. They forgot to harden the steel teeth inside their tensioner.
Ya, but after you dump 5 grand of after-market parts, these bikes are bulletproof.
@@travisconover4762 buy a japanese bike and save the 5 grand!
@@travisconover4762 Yeah I do wish KTM bikes would came more equipped so you wouldn't have to spend so much money on protection and performance to safely ride it on the trails.
Great vid! Mine just failed today on my 2017 KTM 350EXC-F at 62hrs.. had a Dirt Tricks on hand, hopefully it lasts more than 20hrs.
Sorry to hear that. The Dirt Tricks should last much longer, I just happened to get a defective one. As a side note a viewer alerted me that some of the plastic oil pump gears have failed in some EXC-f engines. Something to keep in mind if you have more problems.
@@advsquaredI have the same noise on my 2022 fe350s. I suspect either a plastic oil pump gear failure or cam chain tensioner. All I know is that my 350 is making that same ticking noise now. I’ll know soon once my dealer take a look.
Nice job, and that's one clean garage lol!
Thanks! What you didn't see was the other side of the garage that looks like a tornado went through it.
Hi thanks a lot for sharing this very informative vídeo. Did you loose power when that happened? When you pulled the throttle did you noticed it wasnt delivering the same power as before? Thanks
I did not notice any reduction in power, only an increase in noise. I guess if the timing chain jumped a tooth you might have a decrease in power but I'm not sure if that would be true or not. Best of luck finding the problem.
@@advsquared thanks a lot. I'll share once i find out whats happening.
The cylinder topside marks are perfectly aligned with your spark plug hole.
Could be from a screwdriver being used to double check TDC?
You might be right about that. I guess I'll never know until I have to take the head off, which hopefully won't be for a long time.
A manual cam chain tensioner is the best route to go .
I thought about installing a manual tensioner but I will give the Dirt Tricks one more try. If I have ANY problems again I'll switch to a manual tensioner.
I'm not sure about the KTM's but on my DRZ a manual tensioner is a must !
My bike is ticking sound wt can i do
Wouldn’t be a KTM without major engine problems
I’m just now starting to hear a bit of noise (not as bad as yours was) out of my exc-f. Am I safe to ride for a couple more rides before I install a new tensioner, or would it just be stupid? Just have a ride planned for this weekend but don’t have the time to order and install a new tensioner.
It is impossible for me to make a determination without really seeing and hearing the bike. But a noisy chain is quite common and normal for a lot of KTM's . I would be concerned if there was a sudden increase in chain noise as opposed to the chain slowly getting louder over time. Mine went from a normal noise to very loud in a split second on my ride so I knew something was wrong.
Great video! Thank you.
You're welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful.
Thanks for posting!
You're welcome!!
Same thing happen to my excf 350. But it has nothing to do with my cam chain tensioner. The plastic oil pump gears are warping on some '18 models. When that happens, the tensioner loses maximum tension, because they're fed by the oil pressure...something all owners need to be aware of.
Interesting. I had not heard of the gear problem before but I will keep it in mind if I should ever have another problem. Thanks!
if timing chain tensioners are failing - its uneven timing chain wear/defect at fault (slapping poor tensioner), change the timing chain ! 2 of them failed proves the point.
The stock tensioner never actually failed but just got to noisy for me especially at low rpm when there is not much oil pressure. KTM says that is normal but I didn't like it. The Dirt Tricks failed because of a manufacturing defect, they never hardened the ratcheting steel teeth so they wore off. I checked the chain for wear, stretch and binding but it was fine. Since replacing the faulty Dirt Tricks tensioner everything has been fine and haven't had any problems.
@@advsquared me would have changed it none the less, its not a pricy thing compared to everything else... But maybe you're right :)
Hi, do you remember what oil brand did you use ? Nice video btw.
I usually use Motul 5100 in 10w-40 or 10w-50.
I’ve been waiting to find out what the noise was since your video with Till Death Dual us Sport. Why couldn’t they just use a simple spring inside piston design for the tensioner instead of relying on oil pressure and all that nonsense? Granted I’ve never seen this sort of tensioner and have no idea how it works, but I digress. Hope you find out what those gold nuggets are!
I don't know why they don't just use a manual tensioner as some other companies do. I suspect that owners would misadjust it by tightening it to much and destroy the chain. Don't know why I didn't think of it at the time but the next valve clearance check I will put an awl down the spark plug opening and see what those gold areas are. But I'm not too worried the bike is running fine now.
Good job. But that's why I ride a 2 stroke, they are a lot easier to work on and less parts to fail. Can't tell if it's only carbon, to get a better look you could pull the pipe off or take the head off. Ride safe my 2 wheel friends.
2 strokes are much easier to work on but here in California they are so restricted on when and where you can ride them it is not worth it for me. I think the next time I adjust the valves I will put a thin awl down to the piston and seen if I can find out what those gold pieces are.
Hi, loved the video just wondering what model it is? Exc400?
No, it'a a 2017 350 exc-f.
Thank you, my bike is making a rattle sound even while riding...could it be the same issue? My valves are adjusted correctly.
There is no way of knowing what is wrong with your bike without actually having the bike to work on. It could be the tensioner but it could also be many other things. Best to take it to a mechanic to get it diagnosed.
Do you know if the tensioner you originally purchased and correctly have. Is that their version one or two. Its appears the part number has changed from "to to tc2"
No I don't know what version I installed. I also wasn't aware they changed the part with a different version. I wonder what changes they made.
@@advsquared im curious also, I just installed one on my xcf and the package said "version 2"
My 14 Husaberg 450 has a ticking noise at start-up and after start-up - i'm thinking tensioner. It only has 114hrs on it.
Just bought duke 250. 245 km on it its rattling. Told me exhaust 😢. Willgo back today. I have old 150s one yamaha 30000 km 11yrs one pulsar 20 year old 91000 never had issues lol. Progress
Very informative video!
Thanks! Hope you found it useful.
So if I just changed out the whole timing change tensioner the ticking sounds will stop
There is no way for me to tell what is making the noise on your bike and whether changing it will help or not without actually listening to the noise myself. If you're not sure I would take it to a mechanic.
What size Allen wrench did you cut down to remove the front plug on the tensioner?
On my 2017 KTM 350 exc-f it is a 5mm allen wrench. You have to be very carful about loosening and tightening that cap as it is made out of soft aluminum and allen hole can strip very easily. After taking it on and off several times I had to buy a new one. You might want to buy a spare just in case as they are very cheap.
@@advsquared Thanks for the help, I have a 2017 Husqvarna Fe350, and have valve check/adjustment due. What did you use to unlock the tensioner after it is reinstalled? The manual calls for a special tool.
I used a small pin punch but any small rod will work. When you take the tensioner off the bike you can easily see what size rod you will need.
My husky fe350s is making the same noise, but before I noticed I lost power while riding back from the trail. I stopped the engine and when I started again it was doing the same noise. I’m gonna have a mechanic to check but could be my cam chain tensioner. It’s making the same noise. I have only 40hours on my husky
It's possible it might be the tensioner but it could also be something else. I hope your mechanic finds the problem and is able to fix it so you can get riding again!
Did you need to put your bike in TDC or do anything to keep timing? doing this for the first time later today…
I did line up the cam gears to make sure the timing didn't change. There is also a bolt towards the bottom on the side of the engine that you can take off it's thick washer and reinstall the bolt. This locks down the crank so it won't turn by mistake. It helps if you have the manual.
How many hours did you have on your bike when this happened? I bought a 2018 350 excf and I have about 20 hours on it. Twice I’ve heard a similar sound, not nearly as loud come from my motor and it has me a little concerned.
I noticed the stock tensioner making noise at around 55 hours. It was not bad enough to be replaced but I just didn't like the way it sounded. The Dirt Tricks tensioners are usually bulletproof but I just happened to get a bad one.
Hi I have the 701 Husky 2018 , my question is did you have to remove the Valve cover to replace the timing chain tensioner?
For a KTM 350 you need to take off the valve cover so you can see the timing gear marks and align them to each other, then lock the engine by taking out a thick washer on the bolt located down below the water pump so the engine will not move when you take out the timing chain tensioner. I have never worked on a Husky 701 so I don't know how the engine is set up but I would assume it would be similar. It would be best to get a service manual for the 701 that shows you all the steps.
@@advsquared I really don't see why you'd have to do all of that as taking the tensioner out and replacing it isn't going to do anything to the timing unless you start the bike without it in place of course
is it normal for your backwheel to start spinning when its not on the ground, i know my bike does it when i rev it hard but on idle it shouldnt? does that mean your clutch is slipping or need oil change
Even when the bike is in neutral and off the ground it is normal for the rear wheel to spin especially when the oil is cold. Once the oil warms up there is less drag but the wheel can still spin. This doesn't necessarily mean your clutch is slipping or that you need an oil change. If your clutch slips under load you probably need a new clutch and oil change is usually by hours or miles used.
I have a 2020 650 and I hear this noise only when I’m accelerating. It’s kind of a “swishing-ticking” noise.. I’m guessing it’s the CCT as well?
It's possible but there is no way I could diagnose it without checking out the bike in person. KTM's do tend to be a bit noisy so it can be hard to tell if it's normal or not.
What do you think happened to all the metal that was sheared off the bad tensioner?
For a long time I had noticed small metal pieces in the oil pickup screen when doing oil changes. It wasn't enough to get me worry but I also didn't think it was normal. After I replaced the defective tensioner the screen is completely clean now so if I ever notice metal shavings I will know something is wrong.
Great video mate. Is there a camera you don't own? LOL. Glad your bike is ok you are lucky your cam didn't slip a tooth, your vids are very informative keep up the good work...
LOL, yeah the small snake camera is a fun toy but I actually bought it for work and not for working on my bike. Very bad things can happen when the tensioner fails but I lucked out. Good thing I didn't feel like rebuilding an engine. Thanks for the kind words!
Was the sound when you start the bike? Then it stopped after a few seconds? Maybe if you run for a while it appeared again a little bit?
The noise was constant but was loudest at idle. That's because the tensioner works of oil pressure which is lower at idle.
@@advsquared i was riding my yz250f, and it made a ticking noise so i shut it off, and every time i put the kicker down slowly it makes a mean ticking noise, the sound is coming from the timing, please hit me with a reply
Great info. Thank you for sharing.
You are quite welcome!
I’ve got an ‘07 250xcf and still running factory tensioner with no issues.
I wish I could say the same. I think it's hit or miss if you will have problems as it doesn't effect every bike. I just seem to be having some bad luck with it.
Did the noise go away as you reved up the bike? Cause I have the same issue but the sound stays the same throughout the entire rpm range
The noise did get quieter when rev'ed but didn't go away completely. It may be possible that the noise could stay the same even if the rpm changes but it could also be something else. The only why to find out is to start digging into the engine and checking things out.
mine sounded the same for a few minutes then died and wouldnt start up again.any ideas what that could be
When the tensioner goes bad they get noisy but don't usually cause the engine to quit, but it is technically possible. I would start by checking the usual engine no-start problems then take the valve cover off and see if you can find anything.
Good heads up- would this be a factory recall?
Although some stock KTM adjusters fail it is a very low rate and would not be considered an item for recall. My original stock tensioner never actually failed it just got noisy which is very common for a KTM. I thought I would 'upgrade' to the Dirt Tricks tensioner but had the bad luck of getting a defective one.
Any good brand for tensioner. I might not go with dirttrick
Off hand I don't know of any other companies that make tensioners for KTM. But I haven't had any trouble with my replacement tensioner from DirtTricks. From what I have heard the failure I had was very rare for a DirtTricks tensioner. It was just a small batch that had a problem.
I have that same problem or something similar, I was gonna’ change all the timing chain sprockets and I didn’t think of the tensioner
I think it is rare to have the chain and sprockets fail but it can happen. There is a limit as to how much the timing chain can stretch.
Hi Mate,
Glad that your scooter is running again. I'm sure you would have done this but I'll ask anyway. Given the metal particles you found from the tensioner, did you change engine oil and filter? Love your vid's, keep them coming. Dion.
I did change the oil and as usual there were metal particles and shavings in it which it has been doing since it was new. The metal shavings probably come from the gearbox. I thought the metal particles was just the engine breaking in but it could have been from the tensioner. I'll be curious to see what the oil looks like on the next service. Good to hear you are enjoying the videos!
When will you do a top end (piston/rings etc) on this bike?
The manual says 135 hours if you don't race the bike. But I have heard riders going many times that and never rebuilding the top end. I will have to see how it goes but I will probably start thinking about it at around 250 hours and see how the engine is doing at that time.
Interesting video. If you get bored a video on all the maintenance issues like this would be appreciated. you've had it for a while and your very good and detailed about your maintenance so if would be a great resource to have that practical info from "the guy on the ground"😎. As far as your gold flakes - titanium plating coming off the valves ? If your running hi test and heating up the system it might be flaking off/shaving it off and when it oxidizes it goes gold colored? Just guessing, but unless its off your plated spark plug if you buy those kinds? Hope it worked out. Tx4V 👏
Besides this problem this bike has been very reliable. My maintenance is just changing oil, air filters and checking for loose spokes and bolts. I did just change the in-tank fuel filter and rear chain guide at 250 hours but just as a precaution. Eventually I will have to do a upper engine rebuild but not until I start hearing noises, fingers crossed!!
@@advsquared Cool good to know, I know you did some nice mods to the bike and was wondering how they held up, glad it all worked out. Ever run with anyone with the new KTM500 ? Their weights are suppose to be similar to yours. Awesome seeing you run with the Tdub Tx for answering👍😎
@@ashmyrmidonsminions9271 All the mods I did to the bike have worked out great. I haven't had any problems with them and am happy with how they make the bike feel. I haven't ridden any other bikes so I don't have a comparison to mine but I have heard that the 500 is much more abrupt in how it makes power. The 350 I ride is much more linear in the power delivery so it''s easier for someone who's not a great rider to handle. It makes it much easier to ride on tight technical terrain. But I would assume a 500 would be more fun on the road, I guess it just depends on where you ride most and your ability. I always like riding with Nick, it's amazing how much he gets out of that Tdub!
Nehilo concepts manual tensioner.. zero errors.
I had though about using a manual tensioner but decided not to.
Ktm ought to sort that issue out!
Although I think that the stock KTM chain tensioner should have a ratcheting system design instead of just relying on oil pressure this failure was not KTM's fault. It was a Dirt Tricks tensioner that failed because of faulty manufacturing. The replacement Dirt Tricks tensioner has been going strong for 300 hours with no problems.
How long has the dirt trucks tensioner lasted you now?
It now has 90 hours or 1470 mils on it since I installed the replacement. It is doing fine, no valve chain noise at startup or when the engine is running and no metal shavings in the oil. I think it will last a long time.
Wow! I have a 2014 KTM 350 exc-f with a 136 hours and no issues at all.
Off-topic but would you buy the Wolfman daytripper smaller bags over the E 12 if you had to do it over again?
I don't know why the stock one failed and the Dirt Tricks failure was very unusual. Just unlucky I guess. I would buy the wider E 12's over the narrower Daytrippers as they are both the same size and shape. The E 12's are wider but you can always use the built in compression straps and make them as thin as the Daytrippers. This gives you the option of fitting larger items into the E 12 when you need to that would not fit in the Daytrippers.
I’ve been trying to figure out what was making my bike sound like this. And I think this is it! I hope so.
The KTM engines are a bit noisy and it can be hard to tell where the noise is coming from. I hope you find the problem!
@@advsquared my bike is a Husqvarna 701 so I have to check the primary drive nut. Assuming that checks then the timing chain tensioner would be my problem as I’m assuming it is stock at 10k miles and it definitely sounds like this all the time and never goes away. Seems to get marginally quieter when the clutch is pulled in.
i just installed a brand new OEM tensioner in my ktm 250sxf.. please help im not sure what to do.
If you already installed it there is nothing else to do. Once you start the engine it will self-adjust. But did you compress and lock the new tensioner before you put it into the engine? If you didn't the chain will be way to tight.
Oops, I forgot that once you install the body of the tensioner into the engine and before you screw in the small plug, you need to push a rod into the tensioner to release it and set the tension. If you are not sure what to do I would get a repair manual that explains it or take it to a shop, just to be safe.
@@advsquared did that and the clatter was still there, re installed it 5 times the exact same way and finally it went away. thanks
@@nate.1623 That sounds odd. Maybe the tensioner never released when you pushed the rod into it??? Either way good to hear it's running ok!
okay my bike made the same noise, but when i let my kicker down slowly it makes the same ticking sound, and the sound is coming from the timing, please help me out
oh and text me on ig if you can or facebook, hunter goodwin on fb and goodwinhunter on ig, realy need help
It's impossible to know what's going on with your bike without being there. But if you think the noise is coming from the timing chain area you might want to take off the valve cover and the timing chain tensioner and see if you can find something.
I installed a manual tensioner on my DRZ400.
I'm going to put one on my CRF250L very soon too . I've heard bad stories about the automatic cam chain tensioner on my bike , and would rather not have it fail on me .
I thought about installing a manual tensioner but it's just more maintenance to worry about. But if I have any more problems with the automatic tensioner I will switch over to one. Hopefully the problem I had was just a fluke as the Dirt Tricks tensioners usually don't have any problems compared to the stock ones.
One negative of the manual tensioner is you need to ignore it once you have it set or it will drive you crazy wondering if it is too tight or too loose :-)
Tensioners are a weak link on many bikes. There’s got to be a better way. Oh and can you make a quick vid and tell about your scope?
You would think after all these years they would have come up with something better. The scope is a Milwaukee M-Spector 360. It's about $200 and I originally bought it for work inspecting some sink drains in a building. It works fairly well but I wish it had a better quality screen for a sharper image or had a way to connect it to a laptop to view the image. I don't use it very often but when I do it comes in handy.
ADVsquared Yeah it looks super handy. I love gadgets. 😀👍
Is that big problem ?? Or it's common ?
No I don't think this is very common. The stock KTM tensioner gets noisy but usually doesn't fail outright. The Dirt Tricks tensioner I had installed was from a bad batch where the steel teeth wasn't hardened. Just bad luck.
Just adding to this, same exact thing happened to my dirt tricks CCT at 20.6 hrs exactly. I just sent them an email and waiting to hear back. Have you had better luck with your replacement? I haven’t decided whether to go back to stock CCT or give dirt tricks another shot (found about 5 other people on the forums who had the same experience). Really glad I was close to the truck when this failed and not too far into my isolated mountain single track ride.
My replacement Dirt Tricks tensioner is still working great without any problems. When I contacted Dirt Tricks they told me they had a small batch of tensioners they made where the steel paws were not hardened. That's why it wore out so fast. I like their design better than the stock one and my new one has been reliable. I'm glad I made it back to the truck, breaking down always sucks.
Hi, good to know your bike is ready to go out again. I remember you said that you changed your Suzuki 400 due to the weight on trails! Reliability in KTM is proven to be not the same as your Old Japanese bike. Don't you think to go back to any other Japanese bike?
Hope this tensioner last longer! Thanks for your videos!
I think Japanese bikes are more reliable but the KTM's aren't that bad. The Dirt Tricks tensioner failing was out of the ordinary as they usually last for years without any problems. For now I will stick with the KTM but if the Japanese ever build something as light and capable as the European enduro bikes I might tempted to switch over.
You are right, there are bikes that have a very light feel in handling even though they might be a little heavier in weight. But I have problems with my neck, shoulders and back so I need a bike that is light weight so I can pick it up easily without hurting myself. Either that or I just have to stop crashing so I never have to pick up the bike : O
Man, this is not confidence inspiring for would-be 350/500 exc-f purchasers. Reliability is paramount. I see a lot of fuel pumps go out in video's too. Especially if the fuel isn't good American fuel.
Yeah, the stock tensioner has a reputation for going bad but the Dirt Tricks unit is usually bulletproof. I just got a bad one so hopefully the new one will last for hundreds of hours. A manual tensioner is always an option as long as you remember to adjust it every 40 hours or so. I could see how these little fuel pumps would destroy themselves with dirty gas, would definitely make me leery if I was down in Baja.
sometimes in this bikes manual tensioner is better hope does not fail again..
If I have any more problems with the automatic tensioner I will be switching over to a manual one. As long as you don't forget to tension them they are bulletproof.
Did the oil plug magnet show any sign of the happening?
That's a whole story in itself. On my bike the magnet on the oil plug has always had metal slivers on it from when the bike was brand new. It has been pretty consistent with every oil change so I don't know where the metal is coming from. I alway thought it was from the transmission gears but some of it may have been from the tensioner. It would be impossible to tell.
@@advsquared The metal drive plates in between your friction plates in the clutch most likely.
Guess I’m gonna need to keep an ear out for this. Thanks for the vid! I’ve checked my valves, but haven’t needed to swap shims yet. Any chance you’ll be doing a video on it?😬
Although this is a problem on KTM's it's not a huge problem so you will probably be OK. But if you start to hear ticking on start up you'll know what it is. I have checked my valves a couple of times but only needed one shim. Oregon Dual Sport recently made a video on how to replace the shims that you should check out ruclips.net/video/FJWnENGfBiw/видео.html . Check out some of his other videos, he's got some great stuff!
@@advsquared Just watched it. Thanks for the link. Dude turns out great videos!
@@advsquared is the ticking noise only the first 15-30 seconds after start up?
Get a manual cam chain tensioner. Easier, cheaper and adjustable.
I wouldn’t trust that bike if it’s eating tensioners like that, all those little metal fragments would of traveled around the engine, it definitely looked like some had fused to the top of the piston,
Actually I've ridden the bike about 6800 miles since this video and the engine is still running great.
My dirttricks broke as well 2017 xcf 350
Yeah, even the best of products has failures. If you reach out to Dirt Tricks they will stand behind their product and replace it.
That’s exactly how my bike sounds it’s weird because it goes away then comes back
I don't know where your noise is coming from but if it is changing with engine rpm it could be the tensioner. It relies on oil pressure so a higher rpm can make the noise quieter and at idle it can be noisier.
@@advsquared it’s the timing chain tensioner
@@advsquared mine isn’t oil pressure sensitive mind is literally just operated by a spring
That look at 0:05!
Yeah he knew something was up!
Check out Slavens website and buy the manual tensioner he sells on there.
I know there are manual tensioners but I think they are for the bigger KTM's than the 350 I have. I haven't had any problems with the replacement Dirt Tricks tensioner I installed, they are usually quite bulletproof.
I just bought a 2021 kawasaki and my cam chain is FUC UP 😂 loudest ticking knocking everrr
Yeah KTM is not the only one with tensioner problems. Even my old DRZ400 had problems.
My stock failed after 18 hours
Yes the stock ones do fail but luckily it's a low percentage of them. I have had two Dirt Tricks tensioners fail but I still think they are better than the stock ones.
I have a KX450F 2016 and is doing the same sound 😭someone can help me plz 😭
I've never worked on one of those. If you can't diagnose it yourself your best bet would be to take it to a mechanic.
wow good info. ''manual tension-er'' sounds best. also why no communication with KTM, THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE BIKE. SOME PEOPLE buy KTM replace new parts for better, again thats an expensive bike , should have ''better'' parts. I WILL STAY AWAY FROM KTM
Manual tensioners are bullet proof as long as you don't forget to adjust them. If I have any more problems with the automatic one I will switch over to a manual one. Every bike has their problems no matter what you pay for them. I could have contacted KTM but my bike was already out of warranty. The Dirt Tricks tensioner is a much better design than the stock one but I just happened to get a bad one. I didn't like it but it happens, it's just the nature of manufacturing parts, things can go wrong.
your choice , for me if kTM. fails to put the best ''tension-er'' , such a small part , for the price of the ''bike'' they are swindlers, and i would have contacted them and told them. the bikes that win races are not what you get,
i aso had gold in mine when it failed
Interesting. I'm still not sure if that was caused by the tensioner failing or it's just normal deposits. Since I replaced my tensioner my bike has been running great.
i have the same problem :/
It's not a common problem but it does happen, just wish it would happen to someone else. 😁
@@advsquared going to ask a mechanics to change cam tensioner i hope it will be fixed
i went to the garage and he asked 200€ for the tensioner + replacement fee's
👏👍👌🇳🇴
🤜🤛 👍 🇺🇸
No me gusto este video
Keep Taking Money......
It is a shame that KTM doesn't change the design of the tensioner when people have been having problems with it for years. But other manufactures have their own problems that seem to never get fixed. Don't even get me started about software companies that never fix well known bugs in their software!
In defense of KTM (I own a pair of 2003 640 Adventures), as you mentioned with other manufacturers, Kawasaki has known for years that the KLR650 has needed a "doohicky" fix but hasn't invested in that, allowing aftermarket makers to create the "fix". Same with Suzuki DR650 and their transmission bolt (?) needing thread lock to keep the bolt from working loose and destroying your tranny (RMATV/MC has an informative video on the fix). Point is: every manufacturer has design flaws that require vigilance and maintenance. You want perfection? Buy a tricycle.