How to Tune the Manual Cam Chain Tensioners (MCCTs) on a Kawasaki Vulcan 750
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Welcome to the Checkered Floor Garage. When the factory automatic cam chain tensioners (ACCTs) begin to fail (~15 to 25,000 miles +/-), you'll hear the cam chain clanking around in your engine. A common fix is to replace the factory ACCTs with manual cam chain tensioners. In this video I show how to tune the MCCTs. It's not uncommon for this procedure to only be needed once every oil change or even more infrequent. I'll report back here in the description the next time I need to tune them to give you an idea of the interval.
If you have a stethoscope, it can help with the tuning process. Or, try a long skinny flathead screwdriver and place the blade on the MCCT and press your ear on the handle of the screwdriver. This can work to isolate some noises or if you also needed to check other locations on the engine.
Here is the playlist of videos I have made detailing other maintenance & service items on this bike.
• Kawasaki Vulcan 750 Ma...
Here is the playlist of videos I have made detailing modifications to the Vulcan 750:
• Kawasaki Vulcan 750 Mods
Other helpful links for Vulcan 750 owners:
VN750 Forum
www.vn750.com
Vulcan Slang for Newcomers
www.vn750.com/...
Helpful Vulcan 750 Links and Info:
www.vn750.com/...
Useful Electrical Info
www.vn750.com/...
Engine Rebuild Videos
www.vn750.com/...
Helpful Videos from Other TH-camrs
• Helpful VN750 Videos f...
Excellent. But it would be interesting to get the opinions of some other mechanics out there. I'm not sure that you need to be at a "mid" point. That may be more tension than necessary for the bike to run well and just add more wear and tear on the chain than necessary. If there was no sound when the adjuster was at your starting point, I would be tempted to leave it there on the "slightly" loose side. I wonder if there's a spec on how much pressure the adjuster should be exerting on the chain. The automatic adjusters have that built in with the spring they use. When adjusting a bicycle or motorcycle wheel drive chain, the specs usually indicate a certain amount of "slop" like a 1/4" or 1/2" of drop at the midpoint of the chain. Tightening that adjuster may be taking that slack out of the cam chain and stretch the chain and wear out the sprockets faster than normal.
This is good insight and something I didn’t consider. Thank you for the comment. I’m not aware of any specs regarding the tightness of the cam chain tensioner, but I’m open to altering my approach if there are any. If someone out there knows, please chime in.
The main thing that I’ve heard and learned about these manual cam chain tensioners (from TOC or elsewhere) is to be somewhere in the middle of not so loose that you hear clanking and not so tight that you hear engine slow down or whirring.
@@CFG750 IT sounded perfect where you where to start with
@@rocman9137 Good ear. Yes, both MCCTs were already set accordingly before I filmed this video. I just wanted to show off the sound of the extremes (too tight vs too loose) on camera.
@@CFG750 the sounds surprisingly came through good on video . Good job on that! I have a klx650r. Love the kawasaki! How's the big 750 treating you?
@@rocman9137 I’m glad you think so! I agree, and am happy I was able to capture this on film. The first main video I made for this channel is actually me replacing my ACCTs with these MCCTs but I didn’t yet have a mic for my iPhone, so I wasn’t able to capture the audio.
I love the 750, I think it’s a perfect size for me. Not too small, it’s got plenty of pep to get out of its own way, it revs out to like 9k RPM, and all the while it’s not too much power. Perfect for me 🤌
I'm glad you captured the sound of a loose and too tight tensioner. Excellent detail!!!
Thank you. I was hoping to get the "whirring" sound that I always thought was associated with the cam chain tensioners being too tight caught on audio. But I don't want my next video to be an engine tear down to replace the cam chains. 😁
@@CFG750amigo donde puedo conseguir ese tensor de cadena tendrás el enlace? Gracias 😊
@@fredyespinosa1297 More expensive option: tocmanufacturing.com/product/manual-cam-chain-tensioner/
Cheaper options can be found for searching for "VN750 Manual Cam Chain Tensioner" on ebay
@@CFG750 muchas gracias 😊!!
Great video. I have been wondering about the specifics of tuning the mcct's and this answers a lot of my questions. Thank you and keep them coming!
You are very welcome.
I love your videos. So helpful! Thank you!
You are welcome. I appreciate your comment and everyone else’s comments. I’m happy to make these videos for the community.
Next up, I’ll be doing an oil change. The standard process is to drain the oil from the left-side drain plug and to also check the oil screen for debris while you’re at it. There’s also an oil drain plug at the bottom/center of the oil pan underneath the bike. So I’m going to see if any extra oil comes out from there.
After that I plan to do fork oil and dust seals. ✌️🫡
Thanks for your vids. I have the same bike.When i change my cam chain tentioner. Do i need to make sure its on top dead center please let me know thanks.
@@jarrodcraft219 The general consensus is that you DON’T need to have the engine at TDC. There shouldn’t be enough tension in the system to move the cam chain when you remove the tensioner. Plus, only do one tensioner at a time.
Amigo donde puedo conseguir ese tensor de árbol de levas, para mi moto kawasaki Vulcan vn 750 mod 90, tendrás el enlace de compra por favor
Could you share link to Buy MCCT plis? I from mexico, thanks for you videos.
The TOC Manufacturing website should be this one here: tocmanufacturing.com/
But the website is down right now. So I reached out to James from TOC (he commented on my first MCCT video (th-cam.com/video/_JlI9YfBOQk/w-d-xo.html). If I hear back then I will respond back to you here.
Hello, I just picked up ‘94 750 and I’m hearing noise when I give it throttle. Not sure what it is, possibly could be normal?! Please help
I’ll be better able to help over at VN750.com. Create a free profile and introduce yourself and the issue. There, myself and the other forum members will be able to help you out. That website is the best place on the internet for everything s out the Vulcan 750. 🤌
Goodnight.. nice to meet you?
I need to know how to connect the fuel hoses from the tap to the carburetor... I'm from Brazil. Could you help me, please. thanks.
Have you watched this video? Does this help you?
th-cam.com/video/7sokPDXOhDg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=lZVGvWCqHWJlcSc8
If you need more help, create a post over at VN750.com and share as much information (and pictures) as you can. There, myself and the other VN750 members and experts can help you further.
Ok.... Fine thanks 🙏
Hey what year it is from? my father had one with original black engine liquid cooled
It’s a 2004. I love the look of those early year models with the black painted Vtwin. Some owners on the VN750.com forum have removed and cleaned/degreased their engines and then painted them black to replicate this unique look. 👌
I can hear the chain a bit but i think maybe those manual tensioners are a bad job they going to ware on things if its too tight and how do ya know your after over doing it slightly. I bet ya if i take off the auto cam chain tensioners they will be perfect. So what is the buzz with changing them ppl blaming the wrong thing i bet. Yes it will fix the chain nouse but is that ware after taking place somplace else so all that could be doing is waring down where the cam sit even more i have a hunch that ppl are wrong and some guy can make money off selling you a manual tensioner to fix your problem or so you think til down the line you end up with excessivly worn parts kr worse a snapped chain