Posts
1748
Joined
1/13/2022
Location
Washington, WA
US
Good morning all-
Just picked up a new 25 350SXF. I’ve read a bunch of stuff about tensioners failing. I ordered a manual tensioner but got to thinking, is this truly as much of an issue as the internet would have one believe, or just the fact that failures are posted while no one seems to post that their bike is fine? Higher hour issue?
Happy to put the manual one (Nihilo) in, but hate to change anything on a brand new motor if it isn’t necessary.
Thanks!
We’ve noticed a noise more on our 24 Mc250f so we swapped to a dirt tricks. I honestly didn’t hear the same with my 25 fc 350 but for 100 bucks I did it for peace of mind.
I’ve raced 3- 350s to 100ish hours and never used one. They do seem to get a little noisy at cold start, but I had a bigger concern of the manual being overtightened and destroying cam journals.
Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback.
I put 280 hours on the stock cam chain tensioner, but I did put in a dirt tricks when I did the next top end. I like putting in the tensioner when the valve cover is off just to make sure everything is in the right spot and chain doesn't move at all.
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buy the dirt tricks tensioner and never worry again. 9 out of 10 people will do more damage with a manual tensioner, maybe you are the 10% but maybe not. The DT tensioner is the only way to go for these bikes
Has anyone even noticed the noisy cam chain slap on startup on the new gen engine? I have not heard of it on any bikes. My 2020 had the noise very noticeably so I put a Manual tensioner on, My 2025 has almost 50 hrs and never made a noise. I assume something is different either in the tensioner or in the oiling to it.
I have been wondering this myself - I did not have any experience with Austrian 4-strokes until 2024, and have not noticed the noisy cam chain issue everyone always refers to. I have a 2024 350sxf and 2025 Husky 450 Rockstar and both are noise free at start-up. This is of course anecdotal evidence and I am fully aware that just because I have not experienced it does not mean it doesn't exist, but based on my experience and all my buddies with 2023+ Austrian 4-strokes, I have not heard any startup noise.
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