CBRWorld.net

Hi there,

I bought a 2002 f4i about five years ago. It was a salvage title, but mostly because of cosmetics. It had about 20000 miles on the gauge, who knows how accurate that is.

I had absolutely zero problems with the bike, except a slight buzz at about 5,000 rpm. I read online that this could be an automatic cam chain tensioner going out, so I got a manual tensioner and had a local shop install that on my bike.

After the shop worked on it, they said I had a dead battery, and I had to bump start the bike out of the shop. For about two weeks, I tried to figure out if this was truely a worthless battery that somehow had not been worthless before I took it in, or if the shop had just not connected something.

In the meantime, I bump started the bike several times. One day I finally decide to go buy the new battery, and on the freeway at cruising speed the bike just dies. I take it back to the shop, and they discover that the cam chain is actually broken and now there are numerous bent valves.

The cost to fix was about 5-700 in parts and another 500-1000 in labor.

Is there any responsibility on the shop's part in this scenario? I'm not totally familiar with motorcycle engines, but this seems awfully coincidental. Also, at this point I am looking at trying to sell the bike for parts or as a project, which would be the best option?

Sorry for the long post, I appreciate if you took time to read the whole thing or even some. Any advice on the scenario is also huge.

Josh

If the cam chain broke, I would assume it had something to due with the new tensioner. If you havent already, look at the cam chain, its very beefy and I cant imagine it spontaneously failing. I doubt you will ever convince the shop to take responsibility (if it was indeed their fault).

The ABS light wouldnt go off on my subaru, so I took it to the dealer. They cleared the code via the OBD port, a week later I went to get a smog check and the OBD port wouldnt work. Took it back to the dealer and they confimed it was broken but refused to take responsibility. LITHIA RENO SUBARU btw.

However if you do want to fix the bike. I have 16 valves (thats how many are in the engine) and a cam chain for sale. Both have ~19000 miles on them. $80 shipped in the continental US. I can set up a buy it now on ebay if you feel more comfortable that way also.

I seriously doubt that the cam chain had snapped if the tensioner was set up properly: it would have slipped a tooth perhaps if too loose but you would have heard this prior to it happening. If it was too tight though then that could have done it.

Getting a garage to admit fault is near on impossible

 

As for selling it - parts over project bike

Takes more time/effort but you should get more money back overall

The chain isn't broken.  ......why is it always when people are posting about engine problems/failures....it always involes the MANUAL tensioner........Wierd......

 

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My bike-2002 F4i-With OEM CCT......And no rattle
"Life would be boring if everyone was perfect"