Cam chain tightness? how too adjust? - 2003 kawasaki VN 1500 Vulcan Meanstreak

IF you have a cam gear that is directly chained to the crank shaft gear then both gears have to be put on together as there is no adjustment and the chain will be tight when assembled.

Remove the tank to access the top cover of the engine so the chain is accessible, hold the adjuster bolt, loosen the lock nut, then carefully take the slack out but not too tight, then tighten the lock nut to secure the assembly. replace the top cover gasket and the cover, and re-install the tank.

Provided you have not been in an accident that has bent your frame,upper and lower triple tree, or forks, the only alignment you can make is to adjust your chain. If the the front wheel is not tracking with the back wheel you just have an improperly adjusted chain. On each side of the swing arm by the rear axle are two chain adjuster cam/wheels. The have numbered bump/stops. Both chain adjusters should be set in the same numbered bump/stop to align the front and rear chain sprockets and the front and rear wheel tracking. the adjusters are on the machine for the purpose of setting the amount of chain slack. Your chain should not be too tight or too loose. If you grab your chain in the middle and push it up and down, you should have a slack measurement of 1 1/4 inches from the bottom edge of the chain to the top edge of the chain. If the setting is off the best way to make the adjustment is to raise the rear wheel off of the ground. A race bike stand is very helpful for this and oiling and caring for your chain. Harbor freight tools sells a cheap rear stand for about $35 (buy the cheaper one piece non-collapseable stand). Pull out the cotter pin, loosen the axle bolt, turn both adjusters till you have the correct amount of slack and they are both set to the same number. Tighten the axle and recheck the slack. If you notice when spinning the rear wheel that the chain goes tight then slack, you have a stretched section of chain. If this is the case you should replace the chain and any worn sprockets at this time.

Remove the crankshaft hole cap on the front cover and the timing inspection hole cap from the rear cover. remove the spark plug caps and valve covers. Put 17mm socket into the front of the motor and rotate the crankshaft counter clockwise and align the "TL" mark on the rotor with the pulsar index mark(little arrow bump).The left cylinder must be at top dead center of the compression stroke(both intake and exhaust valve rockers are loose).Now adjust the valve clearances of the left cylinder. IN: 0.08 mm (0.003 in)
EX: 0.10 mm (0.004 in)
Adjust so there is a slight drag on the feeler gauge. Do not set too tight, oil pressure in the rocker bearings will zero tolerance the valves. Set the valves too tight and you damage the rocker bearings. The motor is now in the correct position to adjust the cam chain tensioner. Loosen the cam chain tensioner lock bolt located right above the rear cover timing inspection hole. When the bolt is loosened the cam chain tensioner will automatically position itself to provide the correct tension. Retighten the tensioner lock bolt. Next turn the engine and align the "TR" mark on the motor so the right cylinder is at top dead center of the compression stroke and adjust the valves.

there should be no adjusting cause it is spring loaded .. if you have after market adjuster ! take the side cover off . you want to turn the crankshaft by hand . once you have done this . then have the nut free on the adjuster .roll crankshaft around wile hand tightening the adjuster .. you only want it hand tight. then tighten the nut . if you still hear chain slap ! tighten another 1/4 turn .. and that should be it !!

The cam chain it stretched, just like a drive chain. It should not have any tight spots, or loose spots. Replace the cam chain and look into aftermarket cam chain adjusters like APE. Chaz Moto DC

had the same thing on my 350 the adjustment screw for the valves had backed out had to readjust them and replace lock nuts

That engine uses automatic cam chain adjusters. There is no manual over-ride or adjustment. If the cam chain is loose, you need to replace the adjuster at the least and possibly the cam chain and guides.

Have the dealer replace the worn chain. On this new of a bike I think the chain may be okay. Ask the dealer if you are adjusting the chain properly.

the chain will flop around when running it on the center stand.the chain should have from 5/8 to 1 inch of slack in the middle of the chain when on center stand on the bottom run of the chain. if you adjust it turn the chain to find the tightest place in it and then adjust it at that point.if you adjust it at the loosest point it will be too tight--they dont wear even.dont know about cam chain noise--i wouldnt worry about it they dont give much trouble.