Motorcycle Repair: Cam Chain Noise, honda cb750k, endless link

Question
Hello Bill,
  What is the simplest process for adjusting the cam chain on a 79 cb 750k? Is this a simple enough process that an average mechanical mind can do?

Answer
Here are the parts illustrations:
http://houseofmotorcycles.bikebandit.com/parts/Honda/CB750K/1979/209948

Both tensioners are spring loaded, but the crankshaft/valve positions will either aid or hinder chain adjustment. The crankshaft should be towards a TDC location on 1-4 cylinders or slightly after. The nut on the back of the cylinders needs to be loosened enough to allow the tensioner to adjust itself. Lock the bolt back down again.. gently. You can turn the crankshaft back and forth about 10-20 degrees and feel if there is some slack in the rotation (requires removal of the right side alternator cover). If the chain is tight, then you won't feel any slack between forward and reverse turning directions. The exhaust cam runs off of the intake cam, with its own tensioner. Loosen the tensioner lock bolt and let the spring tension do its job, hopefully.

The guess and try method would be to loosen the tensioner bolts, tighten again, start the engine and see if it is quieter or not. If so, you are done. If not, try it again...

The absolute best way is to remove the cylinder head cover and observe the parts in action. Unfortunately, that will probably require new cover packing, bolt seals and some RTV sealer to seal up the corners where the packing end plugs drop into the cylinder head recesses, so that gets a bit more complex and messy.

I don't know if this was as helpful as you hoped. Not knowing your extent of mechanical experience probably leaves  more questions than answers. If the bike has over 40k miles on it, the chain may well be stretched beyond adjustment. The chains are endless link-plate types, so difficult to replace without a major teardown.

Bill Silver