10 replies to this topic

[Radio_am]

Hi Gang,

A couple of questions really:

1) My 900 sometimes sounds like a diesel running on paraffin and at 45,000 miles I'm wondering should I replace it or is it safe to leave it a bit?
2) Can I do it myself - Well when I say myself I mean with a certain fellow salad dodging friend and his garage (and his wifes lovely coffee and sausage sandwhiches)?
3) Anyone done it before on a 900 and can offer a bit of guidance?

The bike still goes very well, doesn't seem to burn oil and does kick up the front wheel under heavy twistage just like it's always done. It's just sometimes the noise is a bit scary.

Thanks gang

[TDMTAM]

Hi Gang,

A couple of questions really:

1) My 900 sometimes sounds like a diesel running on paraffin and at 45,000 miles I'm wondering should I replace it or is it safe to leave it a bit?
2) Can I do it myself - Well when I say myself I mean with a certain fellow salad dodging friend and his garage (and his wifes lovely coffee and sausage sandwhiches)?
3) Anyone done it before on a 900 and can offer a bit of guidance?

The bike still goes very well, doesn't seem to burn oil and does kick up the front wheel under heavy twistage just like it's always done. It's just sometimes the noise is a bit scary.

Thanks gang

Try doing a search Dandy had some issues like this he has now fitted a new cam chain tensioner .
TAM

[Mitch]

Well when I say myself I mean with a certain fellow salad dodging friend and his garage (and his wifes lovely coffee and sausage sandwhiches)?

[robelst]

Examine that tensioner first, esp since it's a 900.

I replaced the chain on my 850 at 35k. It was noisy as well, esp when warm. Although many said a bit of noise is "normal" on a TDM I did not feel happy with it and replaced it. All the noise has gone now, although I have to say all the guides looked like new so I guess noise doesn't always mean excessive wear. My main worry was the timing if the chain would jump.

Replacing the chain is quite a lot of work but not overly difficult if you have a manual at hand. There is no need for special tools either (a proper torque wrench goes a long way), just make sure you have got some new gaskets and O-rings at hand before starting the job in case you need the bike to ride to your parts dealer

Do a search on cam-chain on this site, there is quite a lot of info and pictures (most on 850s but I strongly suspect the 900 is very similar in this respect).

[Radio_am]

Cheers guys,

I have checked the cam chain tensioner and there's about 10mm left on it so I suspect the chain has had it really. I have had a look at Dandy's stuff and others comments and, as you said, they are mostly 850 related and I'm a bit worried about attacking it on that basis.

Half the problem is that it would be done at Avonne's Garage and Cafe, which is a bloody long way from where I live and I use the bike every day for work. That's why I'd like to prepare as much as possible and get all the gaskets and seals and have a game plan. Even doing the wheel bearings was a chore and without the help of ET and Avonne the bike would probably still be in his garage! Anyway, that's why I'm trying to get as much info as possible before we start

[endo]

Radio_am

I am in the middle of replacing my cam chain tensioner (started the job this eve)
The new tensioner is much stiffer than the old one. The reason I am replacing it is because when the revs got to about 4500rpm you could realy here the chain get noisy and as I am going to Croatia in 11 days I thought I had better change it now.
I'll let you know how it turns out after a test ride


Endo

[Elsjo]

Replaced the tensioner 4000km ago for the new modified one from Yamaha. Not much change in the rattle noice, so I think its the chain itself or the guiding thingy. TDM 900 has only done 24000 km, can't believe the chain is gone allready.

[endo]

Just got back from my test ride and it does sound a bit better, only did a quick 5 miles so we will see. I mainly changed mine for piece of mind with me going on a big trip next week.

Endo

[dandywarhol]

I changed mine before my recent Eurotrip having tensioned the old one's spring. I bit the bullet and ordered a new one at 20,000 miles. The new one is different (the last part of the part number is ########10. The chain and noise was perfect throughout the 4500 mile trip.

[Radio_am]

Was that just the tensioner Dandy?

[dandywarhol]

Just the tensioner, around £50. These Morse chains always seem kind of slack IMHO - even when new(ish) ...I almost convinced myself the chain was at fault but the new tensioner has cured the intermittant rattle - and I mean RATTLE.

Just annoys me that Yamaha won't do it under goodwill if they had to redesign it..................