The plug on the front of my cam chain tensioner popped out. The symptom? A stream of oil blowing back on the engine and turning into smoke. Also, when stopped the oil simply shot forward, landing on my brakes causing them to not work. Thats a lot of problems for such a small part.

Rather than buy a new plug I opted to install an automatic cam chain tensioner for around the same price. I got a used tensioner from a Yamaha raptor 660. Unlike the stock tensioner, this one automatically tightens and has a latch to prevent it from loosening. Additionally, it does not have a rubber plug, it is sealed with a copper washer which would never 'fall out' like my rubber plug did. 

I did have to file the holes on the new tensioner slightly to get it to fit nicely. Installation was not bad but I did follow the recommended procedure and removed the cam cover and timing cover so I could verify the cam chain did not skip a link when the old tensioner was removed. It did not.

While I had the covers off I decided to check and correct the valve clearances. I also changed the engine oil and oil filter.

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Smll Med Lrg old tensioner minus the rubber plug	Smll Med Lrg	Smll Med Lrg new to me tensioner	Smll Med Lrg old right, new left
Smll Med Lrg new much longer. with arm retracted all the way its slightly shorter than current setting on old	Smll Med Lrg removed tension so I could easily install in place on bike	Smll Med Lrg	Smll Med Lrg Hylomar applied to both surfaces
Smll Med Lrg	Smll Med Lrg all done.