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Discussion ZXR250 cam chain tensioner...

Discussion in 'Kawasaki 250cc In-line 4's' started by edwardo, May 31, 2013.

  1. Jake89

    Jake89 Active Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    Cheers. That helps a fair bit. Will have a shop around for a chain breaker.
     
  2. Grasshopper

    Grasshopper Well-Known Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Check with @Linkin, he got his for about $65..... it also does the "peening" of the link when you join it again.... which is very important
     
  3. Linkin

    Linkin The Mechanic Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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  4. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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  5. risky

    risky risky

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    i got mine from third gear.
     
  6. beebikers

    beebikers Active Member

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    u guys know how to set a zxr250a timing
     
  7. Linkin

    Linkin The Mechanic Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Timing a jap inline 4 with timing chain and dual overhead cams is fairly easy.

    The basic principle is to have the crankshaft at TDC (top dead centre) for cylinder #1. Somewhere there will be timing marks to show this. The crankshaft timing marks will only line up every 360 degrees (ie one full revolution of the crank). The crank will not care if the top end is on an intake or exhaust stroke, all that is controlled by the camshafts.

    On the FZR250 the crankshaft timing marks are located on the stator/ac generator as per this picture:

    [​IMG]

    At this point you install the camshafts and the chain. The chain tensioner is on the intake side of the engine, so that's where all of the cam chain slack has to be. This is critical otherwise you can skip a tooth and cause irrepairable damage. The camshafts and caps or cylinder head will have their own timing marks.

    [​IMG]

    The trick to the whole procedure is getting the timing right while also getting the cam chain tight. I found that after installing the tensioner, ever so slightly rotating the crankshaft back and forth will engage the ratchet mechanism in the tensioner. This keeps the timing correct.

    Otherwise, if you do a full rotation by hand, the intake camshaft can end up out of phase by 1 tooth, as the chain slack gets taken up by the tensioner, requiring you to remove the tensioner and change the position of the camshaft and lift the chain back over 1 tooth and repeat the procedure.
     
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  8. beebikers

    beebikers Active Member

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    Thanks bro but i really i want to know a zxr250a timing..hope someone can help me

    Sent from my ZTE V975 using Tapatalk
     
  9. Tonino

    Tonino Active Member

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    hey guys I am about to tackle the timing chain on my ZXR 250 R 1988 and have 3 questions
    1. Wherecan I find a workshop manual?
    2.Are all parts still available for this project?
    3 Is it better to take the engine out?
     
  10. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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  11. crshbndct

    crshbndct Active Member

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    So what is the consensus on Cam Chain Tensioners? Mine has a small rattle and I want to get rid of it. My local Kawi dealer can't get a tensioner in for me, but I heard there is a way to get an aftermarket EX250 manual tensioner to fit?
    Or is there somewhere I can buy one from, perhaps overseas?

    Is it worth going to the trouble of doing the chain at the same time? seems like it would be a lot of work, where the tensioner can be done almost without removing fairings.

    Cheers.
     
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  12. Linkin

    Linkin The Mechanic Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Buy the bits for a GPX250 tensioner individually (housing, springs, bearing, rod, o-ring) from the dealer - they stock the parts.

    The cam chain is tiny on these and the tensioners are a known weak point. Do the chain and tensioner together IMO (along with valve clearances)
     
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  13. Penngwyne

    Penngwyne Active Member

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    Hi All
    Working on youngest son's motorbike.
    Despite having done a number of timing belts on cars I'm a Newb when it comes to timing chains.
    Bit worried about the lack of room to work on the ZXR250.
    Timing chain rattle yes! Hole in top cover where chain touched at high revs yes! Tensioner fully extended yes.
    Looks like I need to install a new timing chain.
    Eldest son did valve clearances recently and also replaced the thermostat while he was in there so I don't have to do that.
    Timing marks on crank and cams are all lined up at TDC 1-4 at the moment.

    Don't want to get a cheapy or a very expensive one but this one looks OK??

    https://www.motorcyclespareswarehou.../products/kawasaki-zx250-zxr250-z2r-cam-chain

    When it says a joining link is supplied would that be a rivetted one or like a bicycle chain with a spring clip?
    (although the idea of a spring clip doing 19,000 rpm is a worry)
    Also saw some comments on a NZ forum about "Morse"(??) chains where riveting is easy to stuff up??

    The lack of space is daunting!
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2021
  14. Penngwyne

    Penngwyne Active Member

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    OK
    Clutch cover off and crankshaft bolt undone.
    Noticed a circlip missing from the shifter shaft which would have located the sleeve locating the shifter spring.
    Glad I saw that.
    It looks as if I need to remove the chain guides to get the chain out.
    How please???
     

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