Whats the trick (upper cam gear)

[_FLY_]

Question, whats the trick to lining up the 3 elements of the cam chain gear?... you know the gear that drives the cams.
The motor is in tdc to the correct markings, yet each time I put the cam chain on the cam gear and set to the correct markings also, (with cams removed etc)..... and I put the shaft in and tighten up..... im a gear tooth out even though all is lined up as should be b4 putting in the shaft.

Any tricks idears or suggestions much appreciated all

[pad]

Just start one tooth out, so that every thing lines up after it is assembled.

If your currently one tooth out now then remove the idler shaft
And rotate the gear one tooth in the chain and re install the idler shaft

[_FLY_]

Thanks pad for the reply ill try that n come back with the result

[yeller_twin]

Have you changed anything that deals with the length of the cam chain...mill heads, remove gaskets? This will affect overall length.

One tooth on the primary drive (bottom end) will result in about a half tooth on the secondary idler (top end). The cams can be pretty far out and the bike will still run fine. Mine were way off and I hardly noticed any difference once the cam timing was closer to stock.....then I spun a rod bearing. Now the new engine is timed perfectly (read: stock).

[Sam]

Is it the cam chain tensioners ?

As soon as you install them it turns the idler as the slack is removed.

[_FLY_]

Sam hope ya holiday was awesome mate the cam chains have only 2500k on them so very new, the bottom was set up right top end has been set up to stock with gaskets and the tensioners havent been put in yet .....so im wondering this.......maybe when i put the tensioners in it may rotate the gear back to be half a tooth out ? for some silly reason even if i rotate the gear to be a tooth out b4 putting in the shaft thinking ok ill adjust for what happens when i put the shaft it ( tooth out ) it throws it out a tooth in the other direction .....final question how vital is it to be set up ie 1 tooth/half a tooth out? your thoughts sam

[Sam]

Holiday was great, mainly for the wife and kids as i don't do sunbathing LOL, was wishing I was back home but you've got to keep the family sweet

When I fit the idlers I get them close, put in the shaft and push my finger through the tensioner hole to apply a bit of tension to the cam chain and see where the marks are.

Then take the shaft out and hop the chain around with a magnetic extending stick the required number of teeth and reassemble.

If it's still half a tooth out then remove the idler and turn the crank 360 deg and refit the idler again (you will need to do the same to the other cylinder to match) If you end up half a tooth the other way at best then thats as near as your going to get (manufacturing tolerances ) There is a section in the manual explaining the above in more detail.

You need to get the idlers right before fitting either cylinders cams and pay attention to the diagram below so you don't end up with cams 180 deg out

Note: You need to fit the rear cams with the idler mark pointing down, then bring the mark back into line with the head and check the cam markings and lobe directions for good measure.

[TLstreak]

Thats the trick I used, the tensioner is the key. If your a tooth or 1/2 a tooth behind, once the tensioner goes in it pulls it foreward.

[_FLY_]

What would I do without you guys Im going to take the day of work tomorrow (Apec).... its chaos in the city with 21 world leaders here so ill chill out n go through your suggestions step by step sam I have the manual a real one printed lol and sam n streak you guys should write the manual will keep you guys posted of the results and Sam .......the Mrs Sam and kids come first mate just hide those credit cards they know how to thrash them right old saying .....a Mum and kids can thrash a Visa card faster than a man can change gears

[doug]

also put some white paint on the timing mark on the idler gears it makes it a lot easier to see with the engine in the bike and your playing with cam timing. When the chains are on its hard to see the marks. Also I paint the outside of the gear teeth on the idler gears because one mark is on and the other is between gears and if the engine is in the bike you cannot look and line up the marks with the machined surface of the head as the manual shows.