Hey everyone!

I came across this used zx12 cam chain tensioner. It was actually listed as a zx14 tensioner, but when I received it, it didn't look like the zx14 tensioners I had seen online. So I googled 'zx12 tensioner', and they look exactly like this one.

Is there a way to know if this has been modded for the zx14?

Here's the pic:

Thanks!

--Eric in SoCal

* Last updated by: InlandEmpireRider on 7/11/2012 @ 4:53 PM *

Carpenter was turning ZX12 cam tensioners into ZX14 tensioners. Not much machining involved, really.

I got one, still have it in the baggy it came in from Bill. Never got around to installing it.

They do, based on reports of those who actually run them, work quite well. And no the bolt is not attached to the foot. Nor is it supposed to be.

Thanks for the input guys!

I found a picture that I think is really helpful...

Compare this photo:

to this photo:

Based on the distance from the mating surface to the o-ring on the body of the tensioner, it looks like my zx12 tensioner (in picture #2) is a factory unit, whereas the zx12 tensioner in picture #1 is a modified unit. In otherwords, the distance between the mating surface and the o-ring is increased in picture #1, meaning that the surface has been machined.

Do you guys agree?

* Last updated by: InlandEmpireRider on 7/11/2012 @ 9:38 PM *

Carpenter was turning ZX12 cam tensioners into ZX14 tensioners. Not much machining involved, really.

I got one, still have it in the baggy it came in from Bill. Never got around to installing it.

They do, based on reports of those who actually run them, work quite well. And no the bolt is not attached to the foot. Nor is it supposed to be.

Could you post a picture of yours?

Please email me at inlandempirerider@gmail.com if you are interested in selling your tensioner.

Thanks!

--Eric

Email will be sent... it is doing me no good sitting in a box.

IER, that second photo you posted was made by DogoZX. Dogo installed a modded ZX-12 CCT so I imagine that was it next to his OEM CCT..

Thanks for the input guys. I took the zx12 tensioner to a local machine shop and they took 0.120" off the flat mating surface. That made it just like the zx12 tensioner in dogo's picture.

I wonder if it would even matter? The tensioner is designed to extend to accommodate cam chain stretch that occurs over time. If so, I would think that the extension would also accommodate how far the CCT goes into the hole before the mount touches the engine case.

Rook,

That's exactly what I had been thinking! But, I was a good little sheep and followed the flock. :)

Good rule of thumb, IER. I always try to super careful when I am not sure exactly how to go about doing things. Seems to have served me well in a # of wrenching projects.

So how is it working, IER ?

>>So how is it working, IER ?

Unfortunately, the noise I *thought* was the cam chain tensioner got louder and louder... Turns out it was a rod bearing give up the ghost.