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Timing of cam chain correct? (solved)

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deltarider:
Honda didn't offer much help as far as the do's and don't's. In Holland in those years Honda dealer mecs were invited once a year at Honda The Netherlands for instruction. No doubt they have had additional instruction on how to treat the camchain tensioner. For us, amateurs, Honda left a puzzle. Honda never made clear whether adjustment was best done with the engine cold or warm. Also the instruction varies. Compare p.48 of the Owner's Manual CB500K1 https://www.honda4fun.com/dwnload/Owners-Manual/CB500-K1-Owners-Manual.pdf,
p.12/13 of the Shop Manual Honda CB500-550, http://manuals.sohc4.net/cb500/service_manual/HSM500550_1.pdf
p.68 in the CB550K3 Owner's Manual https://www.honda4fun.com/dwnload/Owners-Manual/CB500K-CB550K-Owners-Manual.pdf and
p.3-7  in the manual for the CB650 https://cosky0.tripod.com/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=https://cosky0.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/page03-07-cam-chain.jpg&target=tlx_new.
Four different methods...
Oh... and I do have an opinion on the design. It's poor. I've never managed to do more than 45.000-50.000 km with one.

Oddjob:
I'm on the same camchain tensioner from new, blades been replaced more than a few times along with the damper rubbers at either end. It's done around 147000 miles at present and it will be refitted once the engine comes apart this summer. It's a matter of how you use it IMO. Do it right and it seems to last forever. I do seem to recall replacing the spring once but that might be the K reg bike not the L reg.

deltarider:
Well... I certainly can learn from you. IMO the whole thing lacks robustness and a mistake is just too easy to happen. If even the mere replacement of the locknut by a new one, is a risky affair... I sure hope there will be an aftermarket one that's more robust. Pro mecs have also struggled with it. Honda The Netherlands gave them extra instruction, but left us amateurs the puzzle of four different methods.
I suppose the method in the CB650 manual is best. What would be best: engine warm or cold?

Bryanj:
Dont matter just do it the right way and dont force the sxcrew and there is no problem, only problem with nut is if s~mebody has forced the screw and splayef the end open which is again bad operation by an idiot owner and nothing to do with Honda

deltarider:
Thanks for the compliment, but mecs here were of a different opinion. They also told me the 5000km interval of adjusting the tensioner (as in the maintenance scedule) is a joke. It needs to be done much more frequently. In my 100.000 km experience at least every 1500km. They also strongly advised not to do it the way described in the K3 Owner's Manual. Two of the mecs had a CB500 themselves.
A screwdriver can be needed to keep the bolt in position while tightening the lock nut. Even the slightest and unnoticed widening of that gap may later - when you have completely forgotten about it -  hinder replacement of the nut by a new one. When you then start to wonder, why the nut doesn't come further of, it's already too late and the damage is done. If that can happen, in spite of warnings, I'm sorry, but then the design is poor. Yes, lesson learned, but at what cost...
Never damaged a tensioner yourself, Bryan?

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