Second Cam Chain Details

The cam chain was replaced on 22 - 26 December 2006
Tensioner Spring free length is 54.5 mm.
Greatest adjuster depth with this spring is 49.9 mm
Maximum Adjuster depth is 57.5 mm.

Date Odometer (km) Distance (km) Depth (mm) Comments
22 Dec 2006 25,219 0 44.0 After 2 turns of the crank
21 Jan 2007 25,573 354 45.1 moved 1 notch
24 Feb 2007 26,520 1301 45.1 no movement in last 1000km
4 June 2007 31,006 5787 46.1 moved 1 notch in last 4486km
28 Oct 2007 37,770 12551 46.8 moved 1 notch in last 6764km
24 Feb 2008 43,369 24061 46.2 (?) surely it didn't lose a notch !!
6 Jul 2008 49,280 24061 47.0 no movement in last 11,510km

Comments

24 Feb: measurement may have been in error (I hope), although 1 notch is about 1mm, which may put the 28 Oct measurement in error.
6 July: no movement in the last 11,510 km is a worry. The chain is due to be replaced in the next 700 - 1000 km so I'll inspect it before it comes off to see if the tensioner is still tight against the chain. The tensioner at the spring side is firm.
31 Aug 2008: tensioner WAS tight against the chain.

Chain #3 - D.I.D. 219FTH(LE)x118

This is not an OEM chain. It was purchased from Orwell Motorcycles Ltd for 1/3rd the cost of an OEM.
Curiously, the last OEM chain I bought (#4), was stamped DID.
Existing guide was retained as it was near pristine.

Date Odometer (km) Distance (km) Depth (mm) Comments
31 Aug 2008 50,550 0 44.7 After several turns of the crank
31 Aug 2008 57,587 7,037 47.7 3mm in 7000km. OEM only moved 2mm in 6,000, and 3mm in it's lifetime!

While the stats don't look good, I have since discovered that the re-usable oil filter I was using, has slowly clogged up to the point of collapse, thus restricting lubrication. The last point to see oil is the cam chain, so that's probably the reason this one hasn't done so well.
I'll try another shortly. (14 Sep 2009)

Chain #4 - OEM

22 Jan 2009: Installed Taksil's old spring - it's 56.5 mm long, a new OEM chain & guide
Tensioner Spring free length is 56.5 mm.
Greatest adjuster depth with this spring is 51.9 mm

Date Odometer (km) Distance (km) Depth (mm) Comments
22 Jan 2009 57,587 0 47.7 After several turns of the crank. The new guide is a different shape
9 Sep 2009 63,064 5,477 51.7 4mm !! Houston, we have a problem!

This is the point that I discovered that the re-usable oil filter I was using, had collapsed, severely restricting lubrication. The filter has sinced been changed to a Ryco Z436, and the oil line to the head has been replaced with an 8mm OD Cu tube, doubling the flow capacity to the head.
Just need to add an oil pressure gauge for peace of mind. That would have showed up this failure ages ago.

Alternative Cam Chain

D.I.D. 219FTH(LE)x118 as mentioned above. It also fits Suzuki GSX 750 (F), 1989 (FK), 1990 (FL) ..... 1997 (FV) and a host of others
Suppliers:
M&P Direct (UK)
wemoto.com (UK)
There's a few other suppliers in the UK as well. McLeod Accessories import D.I.D. chain into Oz, but they don't do this particular one. They will supply the chain with a joining link, but I wouldn't recommend it for the Tornado.