ZXR750 J2 - Timing Chain

[Specwarop]

Gday,

Unfortunately the timing chain on my 1992 ZXR750 J2 has taken a closer step to the end of its life today by reaching maximum adjustment. So its at this point ive decided i should replace it.
Firstly where can i buy a replacement, that is a good price and good quality? Can i buy this across the internet?
Secondly, what is required in replacing the timing chain? Is it a hard job and do i require any other parts?

Any help appreciated

Matt

[Gosling1]

....Firstly where can i buy a replacement, that is a good price and good quality?

Stick with stock Kawasaki parts - I doubt that you would find a replacement cam chain that is better quality........maybe a drag-race jobbie from the US ??

If you have already removed and replaced the cylinder head, and are comfortable with setting valve clearances etc, then replacing a cam chain should be straightforward for you. If you haven't done this, I would recommend having it done by a bike mechanic - its a pretty big job for DIY......you *can* replace a cam chain without lifting the head on a lot of bikes.....

[MadKaw]

I'm with Gos.. You can get aftermarket ones cheaper but from my experience and whats been recommended, stick with the orig Kawi timing chain.

[Specwarop]

I heard Tsubaki make a timing chain setup for the ZXR750. Surely thatd be better then genuine?

[Gosling1]

Not at all - aftermarket stuff *can* be stronger/better/cheaper etc, but sometimes stock parts are best. Cam chains are one of the more *important* parts where I would recommend the stock item.

But its your choice of course....

[Specwarop]

Yeah well i an just assuming after market would be better. But ill base my decision on the consensus.

Any idea on cost?

[Gosling1]

not me mate, MadKaw should have the good oil on prices...

[Specwarop]

Whats involved in replacing the timing chain? Does the heads need to come off and all that jazz? So that means new head gaskets, etc? Anything else need replacing then? What else can I get done while im at it?
lt'd be a big long expensive job for a mechanic to do it yeah?

[Gosling1]

on the old air-cooled bikes, replacing a cam chain is *dead easy* - all you do is lift the cam-cover off, get all the slack in the top of the cam-chain run, split the old chain, then link one end of the new chain onto the old one. Take all the spark plugs out.

You need a mate to turn the motor over with a socket on the end of the crank, keep the tension on the chain, and slowly wind the motor over, while keeping tension on the front run.

Your other hand will be busy slowly pulling the cam chain on the back run, keeping it fully tensioned. Once you have pulled through all of the old chain, you simply link the ends of the new chain together, and peen over the end of the chain once the side-plate is fitted.

I have done this on heaps of Zeds, but it helps if you have had practice. On a water-cooled bike I would expect the job to be much the same, but you would need to replace any O-rings or gaskets as well as the cam-cover gasket.

Doing it this way means the head does not have to come off. It saves a heap of money and time - BUT you have to be *really* careful, keep the tension (and the cam wheels) moving correctly, otherwise you might get the cam timing out.....

If you are not comfortable with this technique, it would pay to have a bike mechanic do the job. According to my Z1000 workshop manual, I am supposed to remove the crank to replace the cam chain !!!!! Not fuckin' likely at $80 per hour...

[Specwarop]

Yeah sounds a bit tough for me.

[Gosling1]

I've done a heap of cam-chains like this, but it was pretty scary the first time