I have a cam chain question as well. I have an 05 with over 36,000 miles. The cam chain tensioner was replaced at 32,000 due to a lot of noise. I had it done at the same time the valves were adjusted (only one was out of spec)
Everything was as quiet as could be - bike ran and sounded like new for the past 4000 miles as far as any noises from the cam chain were concerned. However, a couple weeks ago the cam chain started making a lot of noise way down low on the right side. I stopped, asked the mechanic if it was possible that the cam chain tensioner needed adjustment. He said the idle sounded low, and that that was why I was hearing the noise. Even with the 'higher' idle it is still pretty loud when idling. It is a bit un-nerving to me as I do not like hearing noises like cam chains - it makes me think I could end up with a bigger problem.
I have the workshop manual, and am mechanically inclined for basics (TPS, TBS, plugs, etc... I paid to get the valves adjusted and the cam chain tensioner put in).
That is all of the bakground - here is my question: Reading this thread makes me wonder if the cam chain itself needs replacement? Or is there a way to adjust the cam chain tensioner to take up the slack? Or is the tensioner not adjustable like that? Like it is installed and "self-tensions" for lack of a better way to describe it?
Thanks for any advice.
Allen