Efficient and Cost-effective Solution for Fixing the Camshaft Problem in Honda Winner 150

After a period of use, Honda Winner 150 manual bike users have started to complain about a small problem that is bothering many people. As users of the popular Honda DOHC 150cc engine, they have noticed a strange “knocking” sound coming from inside the engine.

Based on our research on some forums and Honda Winner 150 clubs in our country, up to 85% of Honda Winner 150 owners have experienced this “strange” knocking sound after a short period of use. So, what causes this Honda Winner 150 camshaft issue? Let’s find out in the following article.

Honda Winner 150 Camshaft Issue

Symptoms

The most noticeable symptom of the camshaft issue is the “knocking” sound coming from the left side of the engine, especially in the morning when the engine is cold and started for the first time of the day. If the issue is mild, the sound will disappear after the engine warms up and operates for about 5 to 10 minutes. However, if the issue is severe, the knocking sound will keep occurring and can be heard again when throttling and releasing the throttle.

The knocking sound originates from the camshaft area on the left side of the engine and does not significantly affect the bike’s operation if the issue is mild.

Causes

The smooth DOHC engine on the Honda Winner 150 manual bike also has its drawbacks. In this engine, the cam chain of the Winner is longer than other engines with the same displacement but SOHC type. This causes the chain to have more slack and oscillation during operation. In this case, if the cam chain is not properly and regularly tensioned, it will hit the inside wall of the engine when there is a large oscillation, resulting in the knocking sound as mentioned above.

The main cause of the cam chain hitting the engine wall is the ineffective operation of the automatic tensioner on the Honda Winner 150, which cannot keep up with the rapid oscillation of the cam chain, leading to unstable cam chain tension. Therefore, the two main causes of this issue are low-quality cam chain and inefficient cam chain tensioner.

Solving Honda Winner 150 Camshaft Issue

To permanently and effectively solve this issue, it is recommended to replace the worn cam chain if it has stretched beyond the acceptable limit. Replacing a good-quality dual cam chain for the Honda Winner 150 will cost around 800,000 VND. If the original cam chain is not severely worn, it can still be used for a short period of time, but the knocking sound will reoccur as the chain stretches and hits the engine wall again.

Next, there are several methods to address the issue with the automatic tensioner as follows:

Currently, some Honda dealerships and service centers are performing free repairs and replacements of the automatic tensioner for Honda Winner 150 users. However, this method is considered temporary as the knocking sound will reoccur from this area of the engine after a short period of use.

To address this issue more effectively, some mechanics and users have researched and replaced the original automatic tensioner on Honda Winner with the tensioner from other bikes with the same dimensions, such as Honda Future, Honda Air Blade, or even the tensioner from SYM Atila, which is very affordable. All of these options have provided a more durable and long-lasting experience compared to the original tensioner of the Winner.

Replacing the tensioner also solves the issue

As a temporary measure, you can perform a reset – restarting the tensioner by removing the outer cover screws of the tensioner, loosening and tightening the inner tensioner screws to activate the tensioner spring. After doing this, the cam chain will be tensioned slightly more, reducing the knocking sound for a short period of time.

However, we still recommend replacing the dual cam chain with a good-quality one and a more efficient tensioner to ensure a longer and more reliable usage period for your bike.

In conclusion, the cam chain and the original tensioner of the Honda Winner 150 operate inefficiently, leading to collision and the annoying knocking sound. This is a factory issue with the quality and degradation of these parts. Users should pay attention to and replace these parts as well as perform regular maintenance to ensure the best performance and satisfaction with their bikes.

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