Endless cam chain

motobroker · Post by **motobroker** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 9:10 pm

Has anyone built an engine using an endless cam chain?

I am finishing up my first cl77 rebuild and decided to go with one since they were readily available.
The chain tension was so tight that I had a lot of difficulty getting the cam together.
When I finally managed to get it assembled, the new chain has absolutely no free play and may even be under a slight amount of tension. I even tightened up the head bolts to 12 pounds to help compress the new head and base gasket.

Are these chains supposed to be this tight?

davomoto · Post by **davomoto** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:01 am

Sounds pretty tight. Try torqing the head bolts to 16 lbs, turn the engine over a few times, and see where you're at. Have you installed the rocker pins yet?

Davo

LOUD MOUSE · Post by **LOUD MOUSE** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:44 am

When the chain is new it will be "tight".
Continue assembling and it will be OK. .......lm

motobroker wrote:Has anyone built an engine using an endless cam chain?

I am finishing up my first cl77 rebuild and decided to go with one since they were readily available.
The chain tension was so tight that I had a lot of difficulty getting the cam together.
When I finally managed to get it assembled, the new chain has absolutely no free play and may even be under a slight amount of tension. I even tightened up the head bolts to 12 pounds to help compress the new head and base gasket.

Are these chains supposed to be this tight?

motobroker · Post by **motobroker** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:10 pm

I just installed one rocker pin and arm and am doing the other 3 in a few minutes.
Yep, I had to remove the cylinder studs. That was the only way I could figure out how to do it.
I should have at least loosened them before I installed cylinder and head, but I didn't anticipate that issue. Thankfully, I was able to get them all free without snapping them.

I don't think I would recommend using an endless chain if a masterlink one is available. Getting that camshaft installed was very difficult.

By the way, any recommendations for the studs: dry, locktite stud lock, thread lube, whatever?

davomoto · Post by **davomoto** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:20 pm

Yep, I had to remove the cylinder studs. That was the only way I could figure out how to do it.
I should have at least loosened them before I installed cylinder and head, but I didn't anticipate that issue. Thankfully, I was able to get them all free without snapping them.

Thats' why I asked :-)

I don't think I would recommend using an endless chain if a masterlink one is available. Getting that camshaft installed was very difficult.

By the way, any recommendations for the studs: dry, locktite stud lock, thread lube, whatever?[/quote]

I like using assembly lube

Davo

motobroker · Post by **motobroker** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:18 pm

Dave,
The assembly lube worked good. Much less friction then with thread lube.

deafanddiabetic · Post by **deafanddiabetic** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 4:43 pm

Bumping this old dinosaur.

I need to buy a cam chain for my CA72 and most of the ones I can find are endless.

Can you break a link and install a master link with a clip? I've got a few of those left over. I don't want to accidentally cut off more than I need though.

Like essentially removing one link from the endless chain and putting in a master link/8 shaped piece/clip?

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Endless cam chain

Endless cam chain

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