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Hello everyone my name is Robert, and I have a 1984 Kawasaki !300 Voyager. I'm in North Texas near Dallas. I love working on these old bikes and have been doing some reading. I have a question, are the cam chain tensioners a serious problem. I read where if you don't upgrade the cam chain tensioner you will end up having (as the author quotes an 860lb paperweight)!

Hi Robert,

On every page on this site at the upper left you'll see "FAQ". If you follow that link you will find the cam chain issue discussed at length.

Welcome to KZ1300.COM

Bill

Hello there
I own four KZ1300 I only change the cam chain tensioner on two bikes since they had more then 35k on it, I think that some people have seriously exaggerated on this issue, you can upgrade to a ZR1100 model that works very well on KZ1300 to put your mind a rest, theses bikes were overbuilt and design to last alive time assuming that you drive them with respect and regular maintenance, I have seen some crazy bikers out here butchering the KZ1300 always on the red zone, burning rear tires..these are the kind of person that would need the cam chain tensioner replaced...Good luck with your reiteration...

Hello Robert and glad to have you here.

I would follow Bills advise and read up on the well documented cam chain issue. It is something to pay attention to and it's cheap insurance. Well worth the effort, plus a low cost modification.

I have seen well taken care of 1300 chains slip time under 25K miles.

Regards.

Todd.

I have a 79 Z1300 as they were known in Australia that I purchased new and it still has the original tensioner at 270000 klms.
I suppose sometimes ignorance is bliss and until recently had not heard that a different tensioner was available probably because I am very much a loner who does all my own servicing and repairs. It was always used for long distance touring and never pushed hard and not used around town and never ridden by anyone else.
It was taken of the road in 2002 and not ridden since because the primary chains were in such poor condition I was not game to continue riding it.
Like I said ignorance is bliss and it just isn't worth the chance considering the cost and availability of parts.

I would STRONGLY advise anyone with any 1300/6 model to get rid of their original camchain tensioner AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

They are a very basic & poor "ball bearing" hold design which is weak & liable to allow the tensioner shaft to move back at anytime without warning.......and let all hell break loose in the process !

The most likely time for this to happen is when the bike is revved harshly or quickly & the camchain is under tension & stress.

I saw these units fail after 10,000 miles on new bikes from 1979 onwards with disasterous consequences.

I fully admire & respect what Rick states & he is proof they "CAN" last a long time and be ok, but you are ALWAYS running the risk.......ALWAYS.

The ZZR/ZR/ZRX/GPZR type ratchet tensioner is a direct fit & is 99.9% safe as it cannot move backwards due to its superiour design, allowing the chain to loosen (as the standard one does).

These replacement tensioners can be bought for peanuts on EBAY or from a breakers & take 5 minutes to swap.

Add up the cost of a new cylinder head, valves, cams, gasket kit & potentially con rods & a full engine strip or replacement + labour & inconvenience..........as that is what you will need if the standard tensioner fails.

ITS JUST NOT WORTH TAKING THE RISK !!!

No scare tactics..........just very good advice !

Pete F