Awesome video; the instructions are very clear and the demonstration at the end should clear up any questions. Also, thank you for not wasting my time with your life's story and a full length music video.
Thanks for showing me this! When I lived in SoCal my mechanic there would just tighten it for free with no problems. Now that I moved to Indiana. I keep getting pissed when I go to the bike shops around here because they act like they have no idea what this is and everyone of them have told me they were going to keep my bike over night and charge me about $95 for it (when in all reality it took my mechanic like 10 mins to do this). So now I'm going to do this myself. Thanks again!
For everyone that went too tight: Remove the tensioner by loosening the big bolt first and then pull out the washer and spring. Then remove the tensioner mounting bolts. With the spring off, press the middle of the cct to set it back all the way to the front. From there, count 6 clicks and stop. Put the tensioner back on with spring and washer and tighten the middle bolt. Then install the two mounting bolts. From there bump start the motor with the starter like 10 times and then turn it on. Done
So I got 636 so I just take out put big bolt back on tighten and then 2 mount bolts 6 clicks then stick in like that and bumb start 10 times why bumb start ??
thank you dude you're such a big help that one click did everything made my bike sound the way it's supposed to and I did not have to go get a manual clutch I really appreciate the info
The manual specifically warns against doing this method. Exact words from the manual (Z800): "When removing the tensioner, do not take out the mounting bolts only halfway. Retightening the mounting bolts from this position could damage the tensioner and the camshaft chain. Once the bolts are loosened, the tensioner must be removed and reset"
2005 Ninja Zx636 RR. Wow bro, I could kiss you right now! Worked out great. Saved me a ton, I hear a very faint wine but to me that's better then hearing a ticking/clacking interference sound. Took me about n hour because the clutch cable/frame/wire harness are all in the way. Tipping my hat, thank you!
Yeah it's nothing to be overly worried about, when you do this method it's just tightening the timing chain. So the wine is from the chain now tighter then it was, if it's to tight then you start blowing beating and braking stuff but chances are you wont do that cause it's not a manual tensioner. Since the factory ones I believe are auto tensioning it will eventually loosen back up again and you'll start hearing it again, I did this and it worked but now about 500 to 800 miles later I can hear the rattling/interference again. If you watch his videos you'll see the screw he loosen's the head looks pretty beat up which means he probably does it often. Eventually just want to buy your self a new one that manually tensions it, so it Stays tight
Beast Mode what happens when you go to retighten and youve ran out of teeth to extend? lol curious thought. hopefully by then one would buy a new chain lol
Right lol.. well it's a shaft with a spring and teeth on it, I mean I'm no expert at this quick fix or with timing chains/tensioner in general. I have a small amount of experience with just motors in general. I assume you never run out of teeth because it just loosen's up, the teeth go forward again, tightening it up would then go back up the teeth to tighten it. If you ran out of teeth that would mean holly crap!! Way to tight lol if it's still lose after you extended it to the point that there is no more teeth. you just stop driving it and get it fixed the right way lol new tensioner's, chain, ect.. no easy job.. just my opinion tho
I just did this to my bike last night and it worked although it now has a slight whine when it fully warms up. On one of the Kawasaki forums they said live with the tick as this is an improper adjustment and that the manual warns against it and could seriously harm your engine. Any idea what they are talking about?
I have done this, the sound improved loads, however i have now got FI 23 warning light. Bike runs but in some sort of safe mode. Massive loss of power, any help would be great please!
That typically means you need a servo buddy(or a homade servo buddy) or somthings wrong with your servo(its under the seat, it's part of the exhaust system right before the muffler. My 05 636 had the light on for a year after putting on my akropovic muffler because that involves removing the stock muffler and servo completely. I didnt have any loss of anything besides the fi red light on in my face all year. Got a 50$ servo buddy, lights been off since👌. That fi light has nothing to do with the cam chain.
Would this be the same on a 09 monster ed. Also does it need to be that chattery? Mine isn't quite as bad but can drone out all other sounds when on a long highway ride.
ive read on some forums you need to loosen the big nut in the middle of the CCT before adjusting the other two (in video) anyone with knowledge of this? also, heard that adjusting the auto CCT could potentially be harmful to your bike because it is supposed to adjust itself. any feedback is great! also, I subscribed cuz this video is tits
It's better to take the middle bolt out and extrract the spring then take the whole thing out and adjusting it for 1 tooth. It's way safer, because if the ratchet on yours is quiet you could have adjusted more than you should without hearing it.
Subbed! Fuckin glad I found this vid. Picked up an 03 636 this weekend with the same problem and now im stoked I dont have to spend money on a mcct. Thanks!!
great vid did the trick garage told me my cam chain was knackered. but i tried this first the tensioner is the problem it never auto adjusts for some reason
Could you make a video of an auto cct installation coz i removed it and i dont know how many teeths i have to pull out so i dont cut my Chain and ruin my engine!One thing i thought of is installing the cct with the Cap Bolt released and tight it up afterwards so it would stop on its own when it reach the Chain,then turn on the engine and listen what it has to say and if its still clacking then do what you did..i dont wana ruin the engine on the first ignition so your opinion would be appreciated
Hi I did lose the top one and also slowly release the bottom one, but I didn't hear the sound at all, and I unscrew the bottom one still no click. U know anything about it? 2004 zx10r
worked just fine for me when I did it on my previous B1H, stupidlyh sold it for a fireblade, that's now going after a year and getting another B1H, and if it rattles, I know what to do!
Hi I did lose the top one and also slowly release the bottom one, but I didn't hear the sound at all, and I unscrew the bottom one still no click. U know anything about it? 2004 zx10r
I bought a 2007 ZX6R with an APE Manual Tensior which I HATE when setting the timing the cam chain checks out at 28 links but when I go to start the bike it binds up causing the exhaust side of the cam chain to be consideranly looser and this is with me hand tightening the tensioner. no matter where I put the tensioner it gets super tight when I crank the engine. This never happened before and I have screwed up the timing and it never did this now that the timing is dead on its binding ... Cock balls... any suggestions (non sarcastic... fuck it or sarcastic) Getting frustrated as I have gone into the cams like 8 times already. It's maddening as I perform maintenance to make the bike healthier it keeps throwing another problem at me. It ran (shitty) when the valves where off, a strip camshaft, oil in the butterfly openings, smoking like a 60 year old hooker. replaced the entire top end, did valve adjustment, replaced spark plugs, did everything to spec and now it wont run. Fuck my life man....
Awesome video; the instructions are very clear and the demonstration at the end should clear up any questions.
Also, thank you for not wasting my time with your life's story and a full length music video.
Thanks for showing me this! When I lived in SoCal my mechanic there would just tighten it for free with no problems. Now that I moved to Indiana. I keep getting pissed when I go to the bike shops around here because they act like they have no idea what this is and everyone of them have told me they were going to keep my bike over night and charge me about $95 for it (when in all reality it took my mechanic like 10 mins to do this). So now I'm going to do this myself. Thanks again!
For everyone that went too tight: Remove the tensioner by loosening the big bolt first and then pull out the washer and spring. Then remove the tensioner mounting bolts. With the spring off, press the middle of the cct to set it back all the way to the front. From there, count 6 clicks and stop. Put the tensioner back on with spring and washer and tighten the middle bolt. Then install the two mounting bolts. From there bump start the motor with the starter like 10 times and then turn it on. Done
So I got 636 so I just take out put big bolt back on tighten and then 2 mount bolts 6 clicks then stick in like that and bumb start 10 times why bumb start ??
I was told by many people that this engine was toast from the sound of this loud tap/knocking. Your video has just saved my bacon! Thank you mate!
Crazy how this cam chain tensioner from this 2003-2004 ZX6r is still the same cam chain tensioner for my 2023 model.
Rounded off every bolt you touched. Nice work....
yep 🤦♂️😂
Yea unless.you have done it shut your mouth
Might help using the right size spanners 😂 pretty simple stuff. Keep destroying your bike 👌
thank you dude you're such a big help that one click did everything made my bike sound the way it's supposed to and I did not have to go get a manual clutch I really appreciate the info
The manual specifically warns against doing this method. Exact words from the manual (Z800): "When removing the tensioner, do not take out the mounting bolts only halfway. Retightening the mounting bolts from this position could damage the tensioner and the camshaft chain. Once the bolts are loosened, the tensioner must be removed and reset"
Mr. Ernie Vigil, you are my hero, and you always have the sickest freakin 636s!
I think it is awesome that you guys work on your own bikes... Thanks for sharing!
Did this on my 04. It actually worked! Cheers mate
Just got a 636 and I'll be adjusting the cct
Tomorrow , thanks for the video and savin us broke stunters some money
I do mine but both screws are almost out n didn't hear a click n it looks like it don't come out like yours
another thing to note, not sure if this is super viable but i was told if i was ever to do this make sure to do it on a completely warmed up engine
I love that bike Ernie.
hopefullly there are more vids to come with this one in it.
2005 Ninja Zx636 RR. Wow bro, I could kiss you right now! Worked out great. Saved me a ton, I hear a very faint wine but to me that's better then hearing a ticking/clacking interference sound. Took me about n hour because the clutch cable/frame/wire harness are all in the way. Tipping my hat, thank you!
Yeah I hear a faint wine too, is that normal? mine just clicked once n the rattling went away but when I rev it a lil it sounds a very faint wine
Yeah it's nothing to be overly worried about, when you do this method it's just tightening the timing chain. So the wine is from the chain now tighter then it was, if it's to tight then you start blowing beating and braking stuff but chances are you wont do that cause it's not a manual tensioner. Since the factory ones I believe are auto tensioning it will eventually loosen back up again and you'll start hearing it again, I did this and it worked but now about 500 to 800 miles later I can hear the rattling/interference again. If you watch his videos you'll see the screw he loosen's the head looks pretty beat up which means he probably does it often. Eventually just want to buy your self a new one that manually tensions it, so it Stays tight
+Beast Mode ohhh okay thanks bro I really appreciate it :) and yeah it does look like he does it often
Beast Mode what happens when you go to retighten and youve ran out of teeth to extend? lol curious thought. hopefully by then one would buy a new chain lol
Right lol.. well it's a shaft with a spring and teeth on it, I mean I'm no expert at this quick fix or with timing chains/tensioner in general. I have a small amount of experience with just motors in general. I assume you never run out of teeth because it just loosen's up, the teeth go forward again, tightening it up would then go back up the teeth to tighten it. If you ran out of teeth that would mean holly crap!! Way to tight lol if it's still lose after you extended it to the point that there is no more teeth. you just stop driving it and get it fixed the right way lol new tensioner's, chain, ect.. no easy job.. just my opinion tho
thanks for all the info...great video...i going to do this to my bike really soon keep those 636 videos coming.
Worked great on my 2003 ZX6RR (600) too. Thanks guys!
good to know don't know if it will work for my 03 z1000, but i do want to get a 636 for sure.
Awesome video thank you for posting help me tremendously with my bike 😊
Bro perfect only thing I can say is you can do quicker leave seat on and undo front tank bolt lift tank prop it and go as ya say with the rest
well guys i took all your info and ran with it and couldnt be happer with the results my 636 sounds great the tick is gone wanted to say thanks again
sorry what happen if one click still have the sound? should i give another click? or no?
and will this work on my 2004 zx10r?
hey question man.. do we loosen the middle bolt also?
@Ernie Vigil
I just did this to my bike last night and it worked although it now has a slight whine when it fully warms up. On one of the Kawasaki forums they said live with the tick as this is an improper adjustment and that the manual warns against it and could seriously harm your engine. Any idea what they are talking about?
I have done this, the sound improved loads, however i have now got FI 23 warning light. Bike runs but in some sort of safe mode. Massive loss of power, any help would be great please!
Replacing the Cam chain
Could be servo buddy was on my 04 did same was my servo
That typically means you need a servo buddy(or a homade servo buddy) or somthings wrong with your servo(its under the seat, it's part of the exhaust system right before the muffler. My 05 636 had the light on for a year after putting on my akropovic muffler because that involves removing the stock muffler and servo completely. I didnt have any loss of anything besides the fi red light on in my face all year. Got a 50$ servo buddy, lights been off since👌. That fi light has nothing to do with the cam chain.
Thank You.
Hi Ernie, love the tutorial video.
Would this work on a 2002 GSX-R 750? I believe our automatic CCTs are a little different.
Would this be the same on a 09 monster ed. Also does it need to be that chattery? Mine isn't quite as bad but can drone out all other sounds when on a long highway ride.
this was very helpful did mines now it's good thank you 💯💯💯
Fantastic , thanks for the tutorial.
Guys if your CT does not go further. It has reached it maximum length, so you nee to replace the chain
What if it's to tight how do you reset it
Doing this job as we speak.
Excellent video and this works
🤘🤘 thanks for the tip man
ive read on some forums you need to loosen the big nut in the middle of the CCT before adjusting the other two (in video) anyone with knowledge of this? also, heard that adjusting the auto CCT could potentially be harmful to your bike because it is supposed to adjust itself. any feedback is great! also, I subscribed cuz this video is tits
Accidentally clickt 2 times... :( what to do now?
It's better to take the middle bolt out and extrract the spring then take the whole thing out and adjusting it for 1 tooth. It's way safer, because if the ratchet on yours is quiet you could have adjusted more than you should without hearing it.
How do you reset it if it's to tight and winning
great video, gonna work on it!
Thank you very much! Rattle free again!
How many times can you do this?
So while attempting this, i had both the top and bottom screw PRETTY loose, and i still heard no clicks.
Any suggestions?
Chief rocka right away had to watch the whole vid haha sick bruh
Thank you so much I just did this to my bike and it work you rock
Subbed! Fuckin glad I found this vid. Picked up an 03 636 this weekend with the same problem and now im stoked I dont have to spend money on a mcct. Thanks!!
great vid did the trick garage told me my cam chain was knackered. but i tried this first the tensioner is the problem it never auto adjusts for some reason
How many miles are you guys going before needing to adjust again?
Does this work on other bikes? I.e. 06 yam r6? Great vid cheers.
THANK YOU!
Could you make a video of an auto cct installation coz i removed it and i dont know how many teeths i have to pull out so i dont cut my Chain and ruin my engine!One thing i thought of is installing the cct with the Cap Bolt released and tight it up afterwards so it would stop on its own when it reach the Chain,then turn on the engine and listen what it has to say and if its still clacking then do what you did..i dont wana ruin the engine on the first ignition so your opinion would be appreciated
I did it on my 05 zx6r and it worked well. Do you think it will work on a 99 r1? it has a similar cct principle.
kosmosleha i removed the air box and carbs
Hi I did lose the top one and also slowly release the bottom one, but I didn't hear the sound at all, and I unscrew the bottom one still no click. U know anything about it? 2004 zx10r
Informative video, thanks EMPIRE garage!
would this work on a 07 zx 6 r
My guys just stripping the bolt lmao
what is the name of this song ?
you are a life saver (:
thx !
thanks E dub your a legend mate!!
Will this work on a 2000 zx6r?
Did you ever find out about the Cct? I'm having the same issue on my 01'.
Thx a lot mate
worked just fine for me when I did it on my previous B1H, stupidlyh sold it for a fireblade, that's now going after a year and getting another B1H, and if it rattles, I know what to do!
kosmosleha I managed one way or another, was a long while ago, might've used a socket with universal joint.
Hi I did lose the top one and also slowly release the bottom one, but I didn't hear the sound at all, and I unscrew the bottom one still no click. U know anything about it? 2004 zx10r
+Jacob Lee did you ever get it t to work or figure it out?
7 years later,did u finally get a 636 again? Hahah god, i love fireblades too....
nice tip m8!.. cheers
wesome !!
Thanks for making this video. I'll try it before taking the bike out.
Couldn't hear the click through the music
It sounds like this: click
I bought a 2007 ZX6R with an APE Manual Tensior which I HATE when setting the timing the cam chain checks out at 28 links but when I go to start the bike it binds up causing the exhaust side of the cam chain to be consideranly looser and this is with me hand tightening the tensioner. no matter where I put the tensioner it gets super tight when I crank the engine. This never happened before and I have screwed up the timing and it never did this now that the timing is dead on its binding ... Cock balls... any suggestions (non sarcastic... fuck it or sarcastic) Getting frustrated as I have gone into the cams like 8 times already. It's maddening as I perform maintenance to make the bike healthier it keeps throwing another problem at me. It ran (shitty) when the valves where off, a strip camshaft, oil in the butterfly openings, smoking like a 60 year old hooker. replaced the entire top end, did valve adjustment, replaced spark plugs, did everything to spec and now it wont run. Fuck my life man....
subbed!!!!
Chain sretched lets tightrn it up
Bruh I’m in NM wanna do mine lol
this the same for OEM tensioner 05-06?
i think so man , the engine is like 90% the same . with a few minor differences (: