Superhawk engine problems?

[13]

I was riding home from Moltonborough, NH today, coasting my superhawk down a hill. All of a sudden I hear the most horrendous noise coming from my engine! It was a very loud clacking. I thought it may (tiny hope)be something caught in the chain/wheel/driveline, so I pull in the clutch. As is always my luck, the clacking slows down in perfect time with the RPM's. It wasn't skpping, misfiring, or running funny. Just a HUGE clacking from the engine(sounded like the front cylinder). I shut it down and coast into a shopping plaza. I was going to start it, but for fear of bent valves(cam chain tensioner?) I didn't. My only option was to call a friend who lives in the area with a truck, we laid it down on its side in the bed and drove it to my shop. I have a spot reserved for the July 28th trackday, so if anyone has any ideas or experience with this engine problem please help! PS: of course I just (2 weeks ago)sold my spare superhawk engine.

[Tricky Mike]

Uh-oh...
I hate to say this... but VTR's have been known to blow cam-chain tensioners... Sounds like your tensioner went and your cam chain jumped a tooth (or three).
How many miles on it?
Occasionally they blow the tensioner and manage to keep the chain on track... it'll still make a ton of noise as the chain flops around, but if you're lucky it stayed lined up. If not... well, we all know what happens when pistons and valves collide.
The stock automatic tensioner is shite...
I don't know why Honda keeps using them.
APE makes a manual tensioner. The more I read about VTR tensioner failures the more I think I should replace mine sooner rather than later...

I'd check your timing... if it isn't a coouple teeth off you might be OK... just replace those auto-tensioners with the manual versions when you do the repair.
-Mike

[13]

Funny, I pulled the tensioner out yesterday and guess what? BROKEN! I pull the front valve cover off, it jumped teeth. So, I measure the valve clearance. It's fine. I grab my trusty leakdown tester. 4% loss, no bent valves! I re-bent the tension spring and put a jam nut/bolt combination into the back of the tensioner, effectively making it a manual tensioner(kinda). It started and ran like a dream! I was more excited than I should've been. I ordered 2 replacements, they'll be in thursday. The engine has about 10k on it(after rebuild). I talked to a Honda tech friend of mine and he said to replace them religiously every 10k miles in a factory engine, sooner in a high compression one like mine. Do them before it's too late. I have all the tools to do it and would be more than happy to take the 45 minutes to help you do it.
P.S. You should see the spring inside the tensioner, it's rediculously small and fragile!

[Tricky Mike]

Awesome. I'm glad that turned out OK...
As for being more excited than you should have been? Shit, man... I might have done the running-man.
<img src="http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/unc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_action/57383.jpeg"><br>
mid-summer rebuilds suuuuuck.
Thanks for the offer!... I think I'm actually going to order a set of the APE manual joints and be done with the worrying. Not gonna happen until August, though. I've gotta travel to NYC, Dallas and then move... all in the span of a couple weeks.
Bleh.


Anyway,
we should def hook up for a VTR ride!!!

[a13x]

glad to hear it's okay.

I have a ton of VTR stuff.. including a full motor (and titled frame) if you need a spare.. AGAIN. hah. Man I miss mine.