Cam Chain Adjustment

[whiskey pete]

I searched the old threads and Still have a question. I timed my cams with the chain according to the manual. When I rotated the emgine twice and back to the "T Line" both dots on the cams are exactly one link space to the left toward the exaust ports. At first I thought no big deal, I will just readust. Then I started thinking about the degree difference in BTDC and ATDC. I read a post acouple of months ago that the guy moved his timing back or foward one link and improved his performance. Am I a dumb ass and just readjust to be right on the dots? Should I get a degree wheel and time to the center of the up and down movement? Should I just go get drunk? or should I buy a 2-stroke and forget about valves????

[DGXSER]

Am I a dumb ass

I plead the 5th...well in this case lets just share a 5th and then make those kind of judgement calls!!

just readjust to be right on the dots? Should I get a degree wheel and time to the center of the up and down movement?

I recommend yes and yes. Maybe you don't need to go all out and use a degree wheel, but definitely pull the number one plug and put a screw driver or something in there and watch it rise and fall and mark the center of the gap where it does not move to be sure you have the piston at TDC. depending on what a PO did, that indicator your lining the T up with IS movable (at least it is on the 81 models).

After adjsuting, turn the engine over by hand a couple times and recheck the timing. There is a thread on here where one of the members who had done ALOT of engine work had a major issue with this and wound up with bent valves. Not likely for you, but just saying better careful than sorry on this one.

Should I just go get drunk? or should I buy a 2-stroke and forget about valves????

I recommend the first, then make the second decision when in your in a more appropriate state of mind to make such calls!

[TADracer]

Put 'em where they belong

One tooth off will give you over 11 degrees of advance or retard at the crank and that will definately put you in a danger close condition for a piston/valve collision.

Since the stock sprockets are not adjustable you must verify TDC at the pointer and after that put the cam chain on the correct teeth to make the dots on the cams line up with the arrows on the center cap.

Another thing to remember, this motor turns backwards from other inline fours so make sure you always turn in a clockwise direction.