How to remove the automatic cam chain tensioner – Honda CX500, GL500, CX650, GL650

This is going to be incorporated into the Triple/Quadruple bypass writeups.

The automatic cam chain tensioner is held on by a single bolt with a 12mm head:

Bolt:

Tensioner sans bolt:

We don’t have a photo of this online yet, but you can push something thin and strong into the end of the tensioner that is on the opposite side to the cam chain and push the steel ball up the ramp. This will let you retract the tensioner arm. Once the arm is pushed back into the body of the tensioner you can put the non-sharp end of a drill bit through a hole in the tensioner body and arm to hold it in. It will make more sense with a photo! The tensioner slides towards you:

View once removed:

Stay tuned for the next part of the bypass…

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