I don't know what I would do if my bike didn't rattle when I started it up. I think I would feel lost. It's been doing that since day 1 (Aug 2007).
Got my APE CCT yesterday, planned to install tomorrow but I just realized I didn't buy any gaskets and didn't see if the APE included any gasket or O-ring. Am I going to need any gaskets? Also, in some other thread, saw something about the oil passage and the possible need to block it or make sure it isn't blocked. But cannot find that thread. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I believe it seals with an O-ring at the base of the part that actually sticks into the cylinder block (going by memory here so take that with a grain of salt). You should be able to use the one already on the bike.
An APE will close off the oil port fine as the shaft is the same diameter as the original (Easy Boys!).
The APE will weep just a touch of oil around the threads but it won't amount to even a single drop in my experience. Overall, they work very well, require very little maintenance (mine has not been touched in more than 30K miles) and absolutely stop that can of marbles start- up rattle the C-14 has.
Brian
Thanks Brian! Did you remove the crankshaft sensor cover and set #1 cylinder to TDC? All the different vids and threads say to do this but I'm not sure why.
Nope. It seemed like hocus- pocus to me to so I did not bother with the position of the engine when setting the tensioner. Besides all that, how in the world could anyone say that TDC is the tight spot (Easy Boys!) for any given cam chain on any given engine?
What I do is to use a socket and extension (only- no ratchet) to tighten the adjuster as much as I can, using the extension like a screwdriver. Then I back the tensioner off 1/2 turn, tighten the locknut and forget about it, just like in the olden' days when manual tensioners were normal. That method has worked for me on many motorcycles and my current C-14 for well over 50K miles.
Just don't turn the engine over while there is no tensioner in place. Otherwise, this is a very simple and straight- forward swap with the automatic CCT and will eliminate that pesky rattle.
Brian
Excellent! I love it when a plan comes together. And we didn't even have to call a meeting with 35 people on WebEx.
I was looking on the APE website, and I dont see a 2013 C14 listed. Do you have a part number?
The kwak cam chain tensioner part number is the same (12048-0047) from 2008-2013 so Kwackers hasn't changed anything. The ZX-14 is 0083 so they're different but if Brian says that's what he used regarding APE then that should work fine.
I was looking on the APE website, and I dont see a 2013 C14 listed. Do you have a part number?
It says it doesn't have a gasket. What gasket did you use to seal it?
The OEM didn't have a gasket or O ring and didn't leak. I went with that. I'll have a look in a month and if it's leaking I'll use some Permatex.
Just took a quick look at the parts fiche and it apparently does have a gasket- part no.: 11061-0299
Maybe it was stuck on your original tensioner and you did not notice it? Or it was stuck on the head, you did not notice that but all is well 'cause there is a gasket under the new CCT? :-)
Brian
I definitely looked. Didn't see any gasket at all. Definitely was not stuck to the OEM CCT but I suppose I could have missed it on the head but I don't think so. I also just looked at bikebandit.com and they show a gasket.
The APE had a rather wide groove that looked like an O ring could have gone there but it looked too wide. Much wider then it was deep. I thought about it and was thinking of running to the store for some permatex or an O ring that would fit but since it looked like there wasn't any on the original and it wasn't leaking, I went and installed the APE without a either. Like I said, I'll pop the center faring off in a few weeks and see if any oil is leaking. If so, some sort of form-a-gasket will be my remedy.