Motorcycle Repair: ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANUAL CAM CHAIN TENTIONER, suzuki srad, cam shaft

Question
FIRST OFF I WANT TO THANK YOU. ABOUT 2 OR 3 MONTHS AGO I ASKED YOU FOR HELP WITH A CARB PROBLEM ON MY 97 SUZUKI SRAD AND YOU E MAILED ME A ZIP FILE FULL OF VERY INFORMATIVE ARTICLES AND NEEDLESS TO SAY WITH YOUR HELP MY PROBLEMS WERE SOLVED AND MY BIKE RUNS GREAT. WHICH IS WHY I AM BACK...EXCEPT THIS IS FOR A FRIENDS BIKE HE HAS 1999 SRAD THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL INTERNATIONAL.
I WAS LOOKING AT HIS BIKE LAST NIGHT TO SEE IF I CAN DETERMAIN WHERE IT WAS COMEING FROM AND TO ME ITS A CROSS BETWEEN THE CAM CHAIN RATTLEING AND THE CAM SHAFT THEMSELVES SORT OF LIKE THE CAM BOLTS ARE COMEING LOOSE. NOW I DID NOT RIDE THE BIKE, THOUGH WE RODE FOR A FEW HOURS THE NIGHT BEFOR HE TELLS ME THE NOISE HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE BUT IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING LOUDER WE FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS THE CCT BEING THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE UNITS IN THE PAST BUT WHEN WE TOOK UP THE TANK WE SAW AN APE MANUAL TENTIONER WAS INSTALLED. MY FIRST QUESTION IS THIS : IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO LOSEN UP THE LOCK NUT ON THIS CCT AND WHILE THE BIKE IS IDLEING TRY TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO TIGHTEN IT UP AT 1/4 TURN INTERVALS TO SEE IF THE SOUND QUIETS UP AS WE DO SO ? I FORGOT TO MENTION HE PURCHASED THIS BIKE WITH AFTERMARKET CAMS ( YOUSHI ) QUESTION 2 IF I DO THIS ADJUSTMENT AND WITH A HALF TURN FROM THE ORIGINAL POSITION I HEAR NO DIFFERANCE IS IT SAFE TO SAY THE CAM BOLTS ARE LOSE ? WHEN YOU REV THE BIKE YOU HEAR THE SOUND QUIET DOWN SLIGHTLY BUT AS I MENTIONED BEFOR THIS BIKE SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL TRUCK. WHEN YOU REV THE BIKE IT SEEMS STRONG AND SOLID EXCEPT FOR THE SOUND AND HE SAYS HE HAS NOT NOTICED ANY LOSS OF POWER AT ALL. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE AND INPUT FROM YOU MARK. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

MY E MAIL IS " LHVAC1@AOL.COM"

Answer
Hi Michael,

Check cylinder compression and do a leak-down test to determine the condition of the engine and combustion chamber sealing properties. I sent info on how to do these tests to your email.

If above checks with in specs, check valve clearances. Adjust clearances if out of spec. This should cure the noises.

Respectfully,
Mark Shively