Timing cover cutaway

Has anyone done a timing cover cutaway to aid in adjusting the timing chain tension?

I have recently had a timing side apart and after replacing the chain and slipper tensioner, getting the tension just right was a bit of a guess.
A cutaway cover would support the end of the intermediate gear shaft when adjusting the tension.

Many of us have done this.

Funny that you bring this up. I just adjusted my cam chain this weekend without knowing I needed a cutaway. I thought the chain was very worn because it was so different as I rotated the engine, but it probably is not, and was just the variation in pull/push on the cam idler by the lobes. I made mine pretty tight and rode it about 100 miles. Now it is a bit noisy on the timing side.

Any thoughts on what I may have done here?!

I am borrowing a cut-away cover from a friend and have ordered a new chain. Hope the cam bush is not harmed. I'm pulling the cover tonight after work to have a look. Any suggestions on procedure or inspection would be welcome.
Mark

I never had one before the last few years and didn't seem to have any problems, but obtained one during the latest rebuild. Cost me $20 and I used a 3/8" drill to whack away at it. Looks like crap, but I guess it does the job. I'm unconvinced that it's absolutely necessary, the Riders Handbook says nothing about it with the timing chain adjustment, but I'm sure you can get the chain too tight and ruin the indeterminate shaft hole. You'll know if the intermediate shaft gets loose in it's mount. See Hemmings DVD.

Dave
69S

The problem is if you get brutal and lever things about , it pulls on the pinion . ( timeing gera SHAFT . ) So it gets all loose . THEN , the covers keeping it aligned . Hopefully .

havva lookat this , iffitl come up . N.O.C. service data / commando . http://archives.jampot.dk/Book/Workshop ... _Notes.pdf

Useing a big spanner on the cAM nUT , TO TURN THE ENGINE AGAINST COMPRESSION , PUTS ALL THE WEIGHT ON THE CHAIN .wHICH PULLS AT THE RADIUS OF THE SPROCKET BY THE OFFSET FROM THE CASE .therefore loading that through the pinion / shaft .and levering its hole in the case oval . and so on .

Judicios turning by the other end ( the crankshaft 0) obviously loads the ppinion shaft a good deal less . Perhaps within its unsuported load capacity .

SO . . the cuttaway cover suports a loose pinion shaft , for adjustment . Or prvents you from looseining the shaft , if your in a hurry , and brutal & unthink8ing . ( )

Haveing a wee think about it all means its possible to set it unaded by the cover , if youre considerate and delecate in the manner you go about it . :mrgreen:

More ifo here:

lesson-making-intermediate-shaft-support-tool-t4672.html

There are only so many early TS covers and damaged ones to go around so the vast majority of cam nuts get done w/o the back up - by careful torque w/o shock loads to the poor pinon shaft barely hanging in the thin case wall. I've sent mine off for folks to use but a bit of a hassle to wait on mail of course.