Yamaha xj 900f Timing Chain

Hi Guys

Do the timing chains on the XJ series need replacing or do they last for the life of the engine?

 

when the cam chain adjuster no longer takes up the slack it is time to change the chain possibly the guides too.
check out your adjuster first it may be stuck

 

The adjuster is near the end of it's travel and is free. Ocassionally I hear a rattling sound which I thought may be the chain hitting something, just to be on the safe side I will change it. How do I know if the guides are worn out? I am thinking of fitting a chain that I can rivet as I cannot strip the whole engine right now. Have you fitted a riveted chain XJ550H? My bike has 34,000 miles on it but with the chain tensioner nearly at the end of it's travel perhaps the bike has done more miles than what is showing on the speedometer. I thought the cam chains do a much higher mileage?

 

Rivited chains are the normal replacement.The guides tend to become brittle with age, so replacement with new is a good idea if it'a in your budget even if the guides are not worn.

The odometers are pretty easy to rollback, and it's not uncommon for someone to fit replacement gauges due to faded paint or some other (relatively) minor reason.
If the cam chain adjuster is that far into its travel, then I think your odometer either rolled over (more likely in the UK than the U.S.) or is not showing the actual mileage. I once had a broken speedometer cable on a truck that I left broken for a few years.

The rattling could be from the cam chain, but it might be the alternator chain hitting the case. The alternator chain guides tend to get brittle sooner than the cam chain guides, and then break-up. You can check for that this way: emergency_guidectomy

 

I will check the guide for the alternator chain first k-moe . I am not having any problem changing gears at the moment but the bike is twenty eight years old and perhaps the guide is going to go. I know they last about thirty years but they can cause problems sooner.

 

If you look back at the older posts, the alternator chain guides were failing (only occasionally) as early as 20 years old.
When mine failed I was on the freeway going 75 MPH, and heard a crunch and felt a jostle like I had ran over a cola can. It took a long while before I realised what had happened, in part because I only had a very-occasional problem shifting into second.

 

If l have to split the cases l think l will change the starter clutch parts as well as the alternator chain guide. I will change the cam chain too that should sort everything. Was your alternator/starter chain ok l remember in an older post you advised they last about 150,000 miles or more because the chain had low stress on it.

 

when you split the case you should replace all of those parts mentioned no mater which one you are splitting the case for.

 

The H-Vo chain is on the expensive side. Mine had no signs of roller wear at ~25,000 miles.
If you're a high-mileage rider then change it.
If you won't do another 100,000 miles on the bike in the next decade or so, then leave it.

 

Thanks XJ550H and k-moe. I am looking forward to dismantling the engine when l have time and the parts and get the bike sorted out. I enjoy working on engines anyway.

 

What is the best way to check for wear in the Hi-Vo
chain. I assume l should be looking for longitudinal wear and side to side play in the links?

 

Check the overall length. An increase over the original length indicates pin wear.
There is a pic in the thread below that shows a new chain next to a worn one.
xj750-engine-removal-and-split-pictures.38545
Keep in mind that his machine had unknown mileage. As I recall the PO had ran it with a broken speedometer cable for quite some time before @cds1984 bought it.
Maybe he'll chime in and clarify.

 

Good pics and details of the engine rebuild thanks. I hope my frame is good and corrosion free at the sidestand didn't know about that.

 

The repair is pretty easy. Even if there is a fair amount of corrosion a sleeve is a simple thing to weld in (or have welded in).

 

Never welded before but l would practice on scrap metal. I know British manufacturers used Reynolds tubing for motorcycle frames. Is there any more information on how to do this k-moe? Better to fix everything when l remove engine.