Honda 200M Cam Tensioner self adjust question

[axl_rose]

Hi, new to the forum. I recently bought a 1985 200M for $500 and it runs good. The battery was dead so I put a new battery in. I also removed the front wheel and ordered a new tire since the OEM 23 year old tire was dry rotted to the point of not holding air. Other minor things include some cracks in the plastics and the handlebars bent a little...the tree and forks look straight the best I can tell. I am currently going through the maintenance and I have a question about adjusting the cam tensioner. The service manual states to loosen the adjusting bolt and let the tensioner self adjust..the question is how do i know it is done and do I tighten the bolt back down or will tighten itself once the self adjust is done?

Also, What is the color code for the honda red?

I have been a big fan of three wheelers my entire life, I hate that they stopped making them...IMHO they are just as safe as any other off road vehicle you would ride..it just depends on how you ride them! :w00t:

[Dirtcrasher]

It's hard to explain, but there are two half pieces or collars that are cut at about a 45 degree angle. When you loosen it, they are supposed to free up and allow the shaft to move which is connected to a pivot on a spring and it put tensions on the chain. When you crack it loose, it's supposed to self-adjust and then when you tighten it, it should stay tight.

The chains and guides themselves wear out and sometimes a cam chain adjustment will not do the trick. The problem is that most people ride and ride and never maintain it, then people buy it and try to do stuff right and it doesn't react because everything is shot or worn out.....

Honda had numerous color codes from passion red to ?? but there were a few if you wanted it dead nuts. Rustoleum sunrise red (although not very durable) is a very good Honda red match.

[axl_rose]

It's hard to explain, but there are two half pieces or collars that are cut at about a 45 degree angle. When you loosen it, they are supposed to free up and allow the shaft to move which is connected to a pivot on a spring and it put tensions on the chain. When you crack it loose, it's supposed to self-adjust and then when you tighten it, it should stay tight.

The chains and guides themselves wear out and sometimes a cam chain adjustment will not do the trick. The problem is that most people ride and ride and never maintain it, then people buy it and try to do stuff right and it doesn't react because everything is shot or worn out.....

Honda had numerous color codes from passion red to ?? but there were a few if you wanted it dead nuts. Rustoleum sunrise red (although not very durable) is a very good Honda red match.

No harm in loosening the bolt and seeing if adjusts is there? Meaning, it won't break if I loosen it. LOL I am unsure of it's maintenance history other than it had clean oil in it when I got it...which doesn't really mean anything i suppose.

Paint doesn't need to be dead nuts. I might try the Rustoleum perhaps...unless I just get fanatical with it.

[axl_rose]

It's hard to explain, but there are two half pieces or collars that are cut at about a 45 degree angle. When you loosen it, they are supposed to free up and allow the shaft to move which is connected to a pivot on a spring and it put tensions on the chain. When you crack it loose, it's supposed to self-adjust and then when you tighten it, it should stay tight.

The chains and guides themselves wear out and sometimes a cam chain adjustment will not do the trick. The problem is that most people ride and ride and never maintain it, then people buy it and try to do stuff right and it doesn't react because everything is shot or worn out.....

Honda had numerous color codes from passion red to ?? but there were a few if you wanted it dead nuts. Rustoleum sunrise red (although not very durable) is a very good Honda red match.

No harm in loosening the bolt and seeing if adjusts is there? Meaning, it won't break if I loosen it. LOL I am unsure of it's maintenance history other than it had clean oil in it when I got it...which doesn't really mean anything i suppose.

Paint doesn't need to be dead nuts. I might try the Rustoleum perhaps...unless I just get fanatical with it.