I'm at the point to do the 2nd valve adjustment and was wondering if it's time to change the cam chain or tensioner on my 2015 ES. Bike runs great but trying to get it ready for 15k of trips coming soon. Any other maintenance needed?
56K mile tuneup
- Thread starter Kenack
- Start date
WJBertrand
Ventura Highway
There's no recommended change interval for the timing chain. I did my last inspection / adjustment around 58K miles and the chain seemed fine. The bike how has 79K miles, so I'm getting ready for my third check soon. Maybe change fluids too?
EricV
Riding, farkling, riding...
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YES!!! It is time to have the Cam Chain Tensioner replaced. The timing chain is fine, they really don't wear much. At 83k when my CCT failed the chain was still considered acceptable, (I paid to have it replaced anyway due to the other work being done).
If you haven't done it in a year, flush and bleed the brakes and clutch.
If you haven't done it in TWO years, flush and replace the coolant.
Unless you have noticed something specific, the rest is fine. I started the Iron Butt Rally at 50k and rode 14k miles in the next 3 weeks, with 9k+ in the first 11 days. Zero issues.
WJBertrand
Ventura Highway
Sorry misread the question as about the timing chain not the CCT. As the bike is a 2015 (2nd gen) the CCT should also be fine right?
EricV
Riding, farkling, riding...
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NO. While there haven't been reported failures of the latest CCT, Yamaha has superseded that part several times, including since 2015. My take is they are still fussing with it, better to replace it at the 52k interval to avoid potential failure. It was around $4200 repairs when mine failed. Cheap insurance to replace it. Several Gen II owners have reported excess noise and have moved to a manual tensioner or replaced with the current version of the Yamaha CCT.
Having had a failure, IMHO, it's just not worth the risk for the minimal cost at a normal valve check/adjustment period service.
Thanks Eric, I will change it at valve adjustment along with coolant change. I do the brakes myself with a mighty vac. Just bought a T700 that I get in a few weeks to go along with the big boy so maybe the miles on the ST won't add so fast. At 69 years old, I think these are my last 2 bikes and I want to take care of them!