New and Improved Cam Chain Tensioners
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 11:05 am
As of June 1st, 2021, I have relinquished my distributorship of these components in the America's.
Contact Brent Hyde directly if interested in purchasing.
Although I'm no longer sell them, this is worthwhile information to leave in place.
J.R.
________________________________________________________________________________________
This is sort of a long read but, worthwhile to understand the history and development:
CBX Cam Chain Tensioners and Guide
Background: Over the last 10 years, Vince and Hyde Racing (V&H Racing) have been developing and producing a very robust and effective cam chain tensioner system for the twin-cam four-cylinder engines manufactured by Honda between 1978 and 1983. With well over 850 installations around the world, and using the system in competition, track and street bikes, the V&H Racing products surpass the OEM Honda parts in every respect. They are now considered the gold-standard for these engines. During this time, we have also received countless requests from CBX owners to develop similar products for the Honda CBX six-cylinder engine produced between 1978 and 1982. So, using everything we have learned from our efforts on the four-cylinder engines, we have now responded to those requests by developing similar products specifically designed for Honda CBX. For many years now, the OEM Honda cam chain tensioners have been no longer available (NLA) from Honda. The lack of replacement parts is now a major problem for all CBX owners when engine work is needed. Also, as we discovered in the four-cylinder engines, the CBX has similar design flaws in the OEM components that reduces the service life of all cam chain components.
The V&H Racing products have been designed and engineered specifically for the CBX using modern materials. These products eliminate all cam chain related issues, improve both performance and durability, and are superior in every way over the OEM components they replace.
Who is Vince & Hyde Racing? We are a small private race team from New Zealand who have been successfully developing and racing the double overhead cam Honda fours and CBX sixes manufactured between 1978 and 1983. We have been regular competitors in classic motorcycle racing events in New Zealand, Australia and Europe since 1980.
The benefits of installing V&H Racing CBX cam chain components include:
a) Ready availability of new parts
b) Improved durability and serviceability
c) Extended service intervals
d) modern design principles
New replacement OEM cam chain tensioner parts for the CBX are becoming almost impossible to find, causing many owners to think they have no option but to install second-hand parts into their engines - often these are parts that are ‘only just good enough’. It is also important to remember any new OEM parts that may be available for the CBX were actually manufactured many decades ago and so those too only have limited service life left due to degradation of materials. In addition, reconditioned components do not offer any improvement to durability, performance and the stability of the cam chain over the OEM design. The V&H Racing CBX cam chain components are 100% machined from modern billet stock and are now available for purchase.
The OEM Honda CBX cam chain tensioners are a poor design because they do not properly control the harmonics in, or provide adequate support of, the cam chain, even at low rpms. The V&H Racing products have been specifically designed for the CBX to eliminate these events. This increases durability and service life of the cam chains, tensioners and guides. If inspection is desired for any reason, an added feature of the V&H Racing CBX AHM Tensioner is that it can be easily removed and reinstalled without requiring removal of the cylinder head and cam shafts. The OEM Honda parts cannot be removed without removal of the camshafts and cylinder head. The carefully developed and superior design features of V&H Racing components, combined with use of modern materials and metal components, all 100% machined from billet stock, means the V&H Racing products are better in every respect than the OEM parts they replace.
Extended Service Intervals When cam chain adjustment is performed correctly during installation as per the instructions provided, the CBX AHM Tensioner, the V&H Racing Curved Guide and the cam chains are no longer subject to the high stresses and loads induced by the poor design of the OEM Honda parts. The improved design and the use of high-quality billet materials by V&H Racing greatly extends the time between cam chain adjustments.
Many customers tell us that when they do a second cam chain tension check at around 1,000 miles after installation, they only need to make a very minor adjustment. Others have even reported no adjustment at all is needed and have run the engines for tens of thousands of miles / kilometers with no further adjustment needed and the cam chains remain quiet in operation. The V&H Racing cam chain tensioner components are simply the very best products available for any double-overhead cam six or four cylinder Honda engine (’78 - ‘83). So you are assured of greatly improved durability and service life, regardless of how you use your bike – street only, a mix of street and track days, or all out competition.
The V&H Racing CBX cam chain employs components now universally used in modern higher revving motorcycle engines. The design of these components provides total control of both the longitudinal and lateral movements of the cam chain on the loaded path. This totally eliminates any damaging chain harmonics and vibration from the entire operating rpm range – something not possible with the OEM parts. This has the added benefit of reducing the load and stress on the chain, thereby increasing durability and cam chain component life. The V&H Racing CBX AHM tensioner utilizes a leading shoe principle. This reduces any applied load to the tensioner, is self-guiding and also reduces load on the adjuster bolt.
The OEM Honda tensioners are typically made up of many separate parts that are pressed and riveted together (spring, flexible blade, and stamped metal components.) However, the V&H Racing parts are 100% machined from solid billet materials that are far stronger and superior in every way to the OEM Honda parts they replace and provide total control of the cam chain during operation. Notice the following important differences: a) On the curved front guide, the curvature of the guide means the chain is always being loaded into the guide (ie; being pulled into the guide.) This means there is always much more surface area in contact with the back of the cam chain on the loaded side when compared to OEM. This eliminates any destructive chain harmonics and vibration that would otherwise naturally occur. b) The V&H Racing curved front guide and AHM tensioner encapsulates the cam chain on three sides, eliminating any possible lateral movement of the chain. These two design features work together to remove any destructive vibration and stress from the chain on both the loaded (front) and unloaded (back) tensioner side of the chain. This provides better control and reduces damaging cam chain oscillation.
At the date of this posting, quantities are limited as production is ramping up.
Pricing:
“A” Cam Chain Tensioner and Guide (must be used together) $490 USD – per pair
“B” Cam Chain Tensioner - $295 USD
Shipping - $8.00 USD for one or both within the contiguous US.
Interested parties in Australia, Japan, Oceania/Asia - Contact Roland Skate here:
rolandskate666 [at] gmail [dot] com
Folks in the USA, Canada and South America - Contact me here:
jrluksik51 [at] gmail [dot] com
Contact Brent Hyde directly if interested in purchasing.
Although I'm no longer sell them, this is worthwhile information to leave in place.
J.R.
________________________________________________________________________________________
This is sort of a long read but, worthwhile to understand the history and development:
CBX Cam Chain Tensioners and Guide
Background: Over the last 10 years, Vince and Hyde Racing (V&H Racing) have been developing and producing a very robust and effective cam chain tensioner system for the twin-cam four-cylinder engines manufactured by Honda between 1978 and 1983. With well over 850 installations around the world, and using the system in competition, track and street bikes, the V&H Racing products surpass the OEM Honda parts in every respect. They are now considered the gold-standard for these engines. During this time, we have also received countless requests from CBX owners to develop similar products for the Honda CBX six-cylinder engine produced between 1978 and 1982. So, using everything we have learned from our efforts on the four-cylinder engines, we have now responded to those requests by developing similar products specifically designed for Honda CBX. For many years now, the OEM Honda cam chain tensioners have been no longer available (NLA) from Honda. The lack of replacement parts is now a major problem for all CBX owners when engine work is needed. Also, as we discovered in the four-cylinder engines, the CBX has similar design flaws in the OEM components that reduces the service life of all cam chain components.
The V&H Racing products have been designed and engineered specifically for the CBX using modern materials. These products eliminate all cam chain related issues, improve both performance and durability, and are superior in every way over the OEM components they replace.
Who is Vince & Hyde Racing? We are a small private race team from New Zealand who have been successfully developing and racing the double overhead cam Honda fours and CBX sixes manufactured between 1978 and 1983. We have been regular competitors in classic motorcycle racing events in New Zealand, Australia and Europe since 1980.
The benefits of installing V&H Racing CBX cam chain components include:
a) Ready availability of new parts
b) Improved durability and serviceability
c) Extended service intervals
d) modern design principles
New replacement OEM cam chain tensioner parts for the CBX are becoming almost impossible to find, causing many owners to think they have no option but to install second-hand parts into their engines - often these are parts that are ‘only just good enough’. It is also important to remember any new OEM parts that may be available for the CBX were actually manufactured many decades ago and so those too only have limited service life left due to degradation of materials. In addition, reconditioned components do not offer any improvement to durability, performance and the stability of the cam chain over the OEM design. The V&H Racing CBX cam chain components are 100% machined from modern billet stock and are now available for purchase.
The OEM Honda CBX cam chain tensioners are a poor design because they do not properly control the harmonics in, or provide adequate support of, the cam chain, even at low rpms. The V&H Racing products have been specifically designed for the CBX to eliminate these events. This increases durability and service life of the cam chains, tensioners and guides. If inspection is desired for any reason, an added feature of the V&H Racing CBX AHM Tensioner is that it can be easily removed and reinstalled without requiring removal of the cylinder head and cam shafts. The OEM Honda parts cannot be removed without removal of the camshafts and cylinder head. The carefully developed and superior design features of V&H Racing components, combined with use of modern materials and metal components, all 100% machined from billet stock, means the V&H Racing products are better in every respect than the OEM parts they replace.
Extended Service Intervals When cam chain adjustment is performed correctly during installation as per the instructions provided, the CBX AHM Tensioner, the V&H Racing Curved Guide and the cam chains are no longer subject to the high stresses and loads induced by the poor design of the OEM Honda parts. The improved design and the use of high-quality billet materials by V&H Racing greatly extends the time between cam chain adjustments.
Many customers tell us that when they do a second cam chain tension check at around 1,000 miles after installation, they only need to make a very minor adjustment. Others have even reported no adjustment at all is needed and have run the engines for tens of thousands of miles / kilometers with no further adjustment needed and the cam chains remain quiet in operation. The V&H Racing cam chain tensioner components are simply the very best products available for any double-overhead cam six or four cylinder Honda engine (’78 - ‘83). So you are assured of greatly improved durability and service life, regardless of how you use your bike – street only, a mix of street and track days, or all out competition.
The V&H Racing CBX cam chain employs components now universally used in modern higher revving motorcycle engines. The design of these components provides total control of both the longitudinal and lateral movements of the cam chain on the loaded path. This totally eliminates any damaging chain harmonics and vibration from the entire operating rpm range – something not possible with the OEM parts. This has the added benefit of reducing the load and stress on the chain, thereby increasing durability and cam chain component life. The V&H Racing CBX AHM tensioner utilizes a leading shoe principle. This reduces any applied load to the tensioner, is self-guiding and also reduces load on the adjuster bolt.
The OEM Honda tensioners are typically made up of many separate parts that are pressed and riveted together (spring, flexible blade, and stamped metal components.) However, the V&H Racing parts are 100% machined from solid billet materials that are far stronger and superior in every way to the OEM Honda parts they replace and provide total control of the cam chain during operation. Notice the following important differences: a) On the curved front guide, the curvature of the guide means the chain is always being loaded into the guide (ie; being pulled into the guide.) This means there is always much more surface area in contact with the back of the cam chain on the loaded side when compared to OEM. This eliminates any destructive chain harmonics and vibration that would otherwise naturally occur. b) The V&H Racing curved front guide and AHM tensioner encapsulates the cam chain on three sides, eliminating any possible lateral movement of the chain. These two design features work together to remove any destructive vibration and stress from the chain on both the loaded (front) and unloaded (back) tensioner side of the chain. This provides better control and reduces damaging cam chain oscillation.
At the date of this posting, quantities are limited as production is ramping up.
Pricing:
“A” Cam Chain Tensioner and Guide (must be used together) $490 USD – per pair
“B” Cam Chain Tensioner - $295 USD
Shipping - $8.00 USD for one or both within the contiguous US.
Interested parties in Australia, Japan, Oceania/Asia - Contact Roland Skate here:
rolandskate666 [at] gmail [dot] com
Folks in the USA, Canada and South America - Contact me here:
jrluksik51 [at] gmail [dot] com