Cam Chain Tensioner

Posted by xlr8 on
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/Cam-Chain-Tensioner-tp457655.html

Greetings,
My cam chain is rattling noticeably when idling under 1500 rpm. The tensioner screw is currently extended down toward the engine about 2/3 of the way.  A mechanic I spoke with claims that these bikes (mine is a 77K with 33K miles) just do this and it's not a problem per se.  

Here's my two-part question: at what point does the cam chain need to be replaced? Is this when the tensioner screw gets "reset" and is screwed  back into the tensioner mechanism, to be unscrewed over time as adjustments are required per Honda (in the original owner's manual which I have) about every 3K miles?

It is hard for me to believe that these bikes rattled like this when they came off the assembly line back in the day.  Do people tolerate this rattle because the solution (replacing the cam chain) requires that the engine be essentially disassembled and it's a big price to pay to have quiet idling at 900 rpm??