Nice write up.
It definitely helps to have the correct tools. A lesson learned the hard way.

 

Nice job man, but I would have added the kick starter to the bike while I had it apart.

 

Would be nice to have for the 'just in case' moment. But it would have been more work plus another special tool for the oil seal.

Final results. The cause of the clanking was do to a stretched cam chain. After following the repair manual as guided. I came up with the following measurements. 5 1/16" (128.5875mm) to 5 3/32" (129.38125mm). Service limit is 128.9mm. Standard length should have been 127 ~ 127.4mm (5" ~ 5 1/64"). Tests was done by hanging a 10lb weight from the cam chain and the handle of a vice. Measured by a straight edge ruler.

 

omg the dreaded ti 86 my stat's class nightmares will be back thanks alot!
Thanks for posting the results though

 

If a guy wanted to adjust the timing chain,how do you know how much to tighten it. My 09 has less than 600 miles on it and I am concerned about the racket that sounds like it might be the chain. I did break it in a little hard,but the dealer said that was ok.

 

I like having the correct tools too but $205.00 is a little to pricey for my blood. Just a heads up a $15.00 Husky strap wrench (Home Depot) does exactly the same thing. Is there any reason it couldn't have been just blasted it with an impact wrench?

 

Bob Billen:
There is no true measured amount. Just adjust it enough to quiten the chain. 1 click is usually enough. I did 2x clicks before I replaced the cam chain. After I replaced the cam chain, I haven't manually adjusted it since. And it has been about 2,000 miles since then.

Roadglider:
If I had to redo everything again and knew exactly what the tool design was. I would have gone down to Steve's Wholesale and picked up a similar tool for $20 bucks. But it is still nice to have since my family owns 3x motorcycles of different makes. The thing about the impact gun is to remove the nut only. But when trying to torque the nut back on, I need a constant opposing pressure in order to use a torque wrench. When working on engines, I use torque wrenches.