Cam chain test buying bike

Hi,

Tomorrow I am going to look at a Kawasaki GT 750 with the idea I might
buy it.

How can I tell, if possible, whether the Cam chain is okay?, is it
just by listening for rattles? Is there any thing else I should look
for on this model, it's over 15 years old but is reported to have only
done 17000 miles.

Many thanks

Tom

 

The camchain on this bike lasts for ever.

The tensioner is the weak unit - it works on the principle of two
sliding wedges acting on each other. They develop burrs, don't slide,
and stick instead.

If the bike rattles on start-up and the rattle goes away as it warms up,
it's sticking.

A temporary fix can be done by stripping down the tensioner and cleaning
up the wedges with wet & dry paper, but new wedges is a better solution.
It's a very quick and easy fix and costs about £20.

Other things to check - whether the inlet rubbers between carbs and head
are perished. This weakens the mixture and can hole pistons, and the
rubbers cost £15-20 *each* and removing the carbs is a PITA.

Borrow a screwdriver and remove the tank badges. Water collects behind
them and rusts through the tank. Wise owners (like me!) remove the
badges and pack grease behind them.

Rear guards - rust awar completely. Front ones suffer too.

Starter motor clutches - any untoward screeches or noises from the
starter motor means they're on the way out. That requires removal of the
sump and the entire clutch to fix.

Check the drain plug on the bevel box - hamfisted owners strip the
threads.

Air shocks leak when old. Ditto the forks, but that doesn't matter as
they have springs inside holding them up. The shocks are springless and
if they leak, the bike just squats down on its haunches like a wounded
Citroen.

Fundamentally, though, a very very solid bike.