cam installation procedure

[Bonz]

^^^+1^^^

I don't know why the XS would be different than the ZRX I just put cams back in. Get everything lined up and it's done right. There's only one way to line everything up.

Not to be harsh, but trbig said what I think others want to say but didn't. Something went wrong here.

[trbig]

Not trying to be a butt about it, it just seems to happen naturally sometimes. lol.

I have bent valves myself. Then I got pretty decent at adjusting them and rebuilding the motors... then bent a friend of mine's as well. I finally figured out what the problem was in both cases, but cam sprocket marks isn't one of them. Sorry.

[Bonz]

What was the problem that you found out you did, tr?

[trbig]

Once, I was rebuilding on the sidestand instead of the center stand and the cam chain ended up going beside the crank sprocket at the bottom. When I turned the crank the pistons went up/down, but the cams didn't move. Didn't notice cams weren't moving until I'd gone around twice.

2nd time was after adjusting the shims, I always used to pull the tensioner out, push the plunger all the way in, install it, then release the set screw and let it slap the chain.. thinking this would make sure all the slack was out. What it did was slap the chain back with a loop at the bottom of the crank gear. Let me see if I can find that old drawing... Ahh.. found it! Before the tensioner instalation, the chain kind of hangs there like this.





When the tensioner slapped the chain, it was causing the chain to go against the teeth of the crank sprocket, but leaving a loop of slack at the very bottom like this.





As I'd turn the crank a bit, it would finally jerk the slack out and make the cam and the crank quite a few teeth out. Turn it some more to see if it's still in time and nope... and no compression now on a couple cylinders either. To fix this, I now retard the exhaust cam and put the slack between the two cams before I install the adjuster. I always put my finger in the hole to hold tension until I know everything is back in time. When you install the tensioner, it will pull the slack out in between the cams and the cam will be back in time. I always keep a bit of pressure on the plate the tensioner hits as I back the exhaust cam up a bit. It will push your finger out of the hole some as you do it, but this assures no loops get formed at the bottom fo the chain. Just the method that works for me.. YMMV

[Bonz]

Nice illustrations. The ZRX cam chain is on the left side of the engine and it's easy to take slack out with your fingers accessing the chain through the timing cover while reinstalling the automatic tensioner. With the being shared, it is clear the XS is a bit different because of the central cam chan.

[IanDMacDonald]

Yeah, that slack at the starter sprocket will ruin your day. I have a base gasket leak that will eventually force me to pull the jugs on the engine, so that cam install procedure will have to be delved into again down the road.

[Bonz]

Is the base gasket on the XS1100 an organic gasket or a metal gasket?

[IanDMacDonald]

I know the gasket below the cylinder head, going to the jugs is organic with fire rings. However, the gasket below that is unknown to me. Never had the jugs off this engine. I'm not sure if it's that gasket, or the "base" gasket that many leave off?

[Radioguylogs]

Cardboard-like

Bonz:

Base gasket on my XS750's is the cardboard type material. Is that what you call organic?

I'd expect the XS1100 would be the same material.

[trbig]

Is the base gasket on the XS1100 an organic gasket or a metal gasket?

Organic, and many just leave it off when rebuilding (Because man, what a PITA to get completely off), simply using a thin coat of liquid gasket of your choosing. My personal favorite is The Right Stuff by Permatex, but it's a bit pricier than others.

[IanDMacDonald]

The Right Stuff is awesome! Hate using it on the valve cover, but still love it.

[trbig]

Why the hate for it on the valve covers?


Haters gonna hate.

[IanDMacDonald]

Lol Tod. The reason I hate using it (still use it though), is because you can't get in all the nooks and crannies of the cylinder to apply it to the head as one bead. And, if you apply it to the valve cover, when you lift the cover over the cam brige, it ALWAYS hits, smearing the freshly applied silicone. Maybe I'm laying it on too heavy? Do you smear it after you apply it?

[Bonz]

Yes, that is what I meant by organic. Leaving out the base gasket on the ZRX is worth a half point compression. How much you think it is on an XS? The ZRX base and head gaskets are metal so they come right off.

[skids]

Lol Tod. The reason I hate using it (still use it though), is because you can't get in all the nooks and crannies of the cylinder to apply it to the head as one bead. And, if you apply it to the valve cover, when you lift the cover over the cam brige, it ALWAYS hits, smearing the freshly applied silicone. Maybe I'm laying it on too heavy? Do you smear it after you apply it?

Those are my thought as well.