Another cam chain tensioner question

O' Darkness said:

Fun fact: The Kawasaki Vulcan 750 was most likely not engineered with just pencil and paper alone. Large scale automotive CAD dates back further than 1985.

In fact, AutoCAD was introduced in '82, so it's more than reasonable to speculate that the Vulcan was engineered with the assistance of computers, especially when you consider that it's a Japanese product.

Just for fun:

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Even more interesting is that 3D printing dates back to at least 1980, although there's evidence regarding the potential and the process going back even further than that.

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That's so cool! Today I learned (TIL). Thanks for sharing this. Who's with me in wanting a "How it's Made" episode but all about the VN750?

Checkered Floor Garage said:

That's so cool! Today I learned (TIL). Thanks for sharing this. Who's with me in wanting a "How it's Made" episode but all about the VN750?

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You should see some of the interesting motorcycles that they're developing with 3D printing. BWW, specifically...

Checkered Floor Garage said:

That's so cool! Today I learned (TIL). Thanks for sharing this. Who's with me in wanting a "How it's Made" episode but all about the VN750?

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Yeah, we can get eyes on the person putting dry driveshafts in.

"Here, a worker with an odd smirk on their face installs the driveshaft without the required Moly 60 paste, ensuring an early failure in the driveline."

I was going to say I had a computer in 82 so I’m sure Kawasaki did at the time. I bet the concepts for the bike were still drawn up on paper. But I’m sure computers and robotics had sone part to play in production.

Too bad there was never a chain driven version of the 750. Woulda made a fun flat track engine.

[QUOTE="Checkered Floor Garage, post: 1310728
It's funny that you said "...Kawasaki engineers miss 'the little things' from time to time"
But yeah...the stator replacement PITA and the ACCT's are just little things that got missed...and never addressed over the 20 year manufacturing run.
[/QUOTE]

VN1500's prior to 2000 have an exploding plastic oil pump gear. Requires total engine tear down, split cases to replace a $5 part. Kawasaki never recalled the bike 😑

All Honda boxer fours, a 13 year run, requires engine pull to replace stator. Not fun on those beasts!

All Honda GL, CX 500's require engine pull for stator and water pump seal. A common fail point that was never resolved for all years.

I still ❤ the VN750. At 5'7" fits me perfectly.

Realistically all engineers miss things. It just blows when I’m the one dealing with their “miss”. I’d manage multi-million dollar voice platforms and the components who shared the same system name did not work together. I’d used to say the groups of engineers each built their piece in their own room and never bothered to talk to the other teams along the way.

dirtrack650 said:

Too bad there was never a chain driven version of the 750. Woulda made a fun flat track engine.

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I think a shaft driven motorcycle can lose up to (or over?) 25% of it's power at higher RPM's turning the shaft drive and the final drive oil and such. Not to mention all the times power "changes direction" there's loss there, too. But with this being my first and only motorcycle, I'm spoiled now having shaft drive. I love the near zero maintenance.

If they used a chain for the final drive would they use an ACCT or MCCT?

K-code said:

If they used a chain for the final drive would they use an ACCT or MCCT?

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I think either a more robust ACCT that could last the life of the engine. Or even a factory MCCT that would need adjustment every so often...more when the bike is new and breaking in, and less as the bike ages.

Well if it was chain driven, wouldn’t they just use normal chain tensioners? you’re an engineer, we overthink things from time to time 😉
A chain drive needs to be cleaned and lubed often so you need to loosen the chain to service it.

Chains are a royal pain. Always needing cleaned, lubed, and adjusted. Also pretty noisy and the next thing you know the sprockets are shot and so is the chain.

Always had to start early with the racing quad, at least an hour ritual. And still the chain came off and broke the engine case. JB Weld to the rescue, glued the chunks back in place.

Some chain adjustment mechanisms are tedious. On the Quadracer the rear axle went through a drum that had an eccentric axis, you had to stick a rod into holes to try and turn the drum to adjust the chain. Not easy with a lot of dirt and grit present.

I just watched a rider on a sport bike shed the chain at 100 mph on a freeway.

mmart said:

I didn’t wait long to swap them out at all. I was at 23K, and the noise just started one day out of no where. As an engineer I gravitate towards “simpler is better”. So MCCT for the win, no internal parts to mess with. Basically set and forget.
After dealing with the stator It’s obvious that Kawasaki engineers miss “the little things” from time to time, so I had no interest in diving into the ACCT’s. I think they’re a “look good on paper” option that helped boost the 750’s virtually maintenance free appeal.

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Same with the 1500

mmart said:

Well if it was chain driven, wouldn’t they just use normal chain tensioners? you’re an engineer, we overthink things from time to time 😉
A chain drive needs to be cleaned and lubed often so you need to loosen the chain to service it.

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Ohhhh, we're talking about the chain tensioner for the hypothetical chain driven Vulcan 750. I was still thinking about the cam chain tensioner.

Checkered Floor Garage said:

Ohhhh, we're talking about the chain tensioner for the hypothetical chain driven Vulcan 750. I was still thinking about the cam chain tensioner.

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ha yes, that’s why you always need an engineering manager to reign in the brain trust

mmart said:

ha yes, that’s why you always need an engineering manager to reign in the brain trust

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Perhaps. LMAO. Other (most, actually) times at work I feel the opposite. Too many chiefs, not enough Indians.

mmart said:

ha yes, that’s why you always need an engineering manager to reign in the brain trust

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You've mentioned that you're in engineering in the past, but I disremember what kind? For some reason I was thinking IT? Did I get that right?

O' Darkness said:

You've mentioned that you're in engineering in the past, but I disremember what kind? For some reason I was thinking IT? Did I get that right?

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Yes Telecom/VoIP and UC

although I’m currently a landlord because I got hit by the corporate tech layoff wave in Nov. If I was older, they would’ve offered me an early retirement package, but I got a severance instead so I’m looking. I feel like I have to go another 10-12 yrs before I can retire. Especially with a teenage daughter.

mmart said:

Yes Telecom/VoIP and UC

although I’m currently a landlord because I got hit by the corporate tech layoff wave in Nov. If I was older, they would’ve offered me an early retirement package, but I got a severance instead so I’m looking. I feel like I have to go another 10-12 yrs before I can retire. Especially with a teenage daughter.

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Forgive me, but "UC"? I feel like I should know this one, but I'm drawing a blank...