Question about timing (with photos)

My bike is not running. I couldn't figure it out, so I took it to a mechanic. He recorded very low compression and told me that the bike is "four teeth off" on the intake sprocket, and right on on the exhaust sprocket. He said it had jumped timing. Unfortunately, after paying for the investigation, I didn't have enough to pay for the repair.

With the service manual in hand, and having found some very good photos and step-by-step instructions for valve adjusting on the forum, here, I decided to see if I could tackle the timing myself. Rick was kind enough to send me some instructions, as well.

Anyway, after setting #1 piston at TDC, and after removing the valve cover, I saw the following:


Intake cam cap and sprocket


Exhaust cam cap and sprocket

Now, I'm still quite a novice when it comes to motorcycle mechanics. However, according to the service manual the punch mark on the camshaft is supposed to line up with the "-" on the cam cap. The only discrepancy that I can find is that the book says the mark is supposed to be on the #2 caps (IN and EX), but my #2 and #3 caps both have the mark. In any case, it seems like they line up.

Is there something else I should do to check the timing? What am I missing, here, guys?

 

Looks to me like the "four teeth off" story is quite possibly BS. I'm still not sure why anybody thinks it "jumped timing." That's really hard to do in these motors without a catastrophic camchain tensioner failure.

Next thing would be to check all your valve clearances since you're in there anyway, and report findings.

Then do your own compression test. Easiest thing in the world.

 

Quick question about valve clearances... Do I check them all once I set #1 to TDC? Also, the cam shaft rotates once for each two turns of the engine. When I rotate the engine to T once, the lobes are up and right. The second time around to T the lobes are down and left. I suppose I need to measure when the lobes are up and right?

 

No. You do each one individually when the lobe is pointed straight up 180* from where it would be if it were in the center of the bucket. You're measuring the distance between the "heel" of the lobe and the top of the bucket.

Most likely none of them will be in the correct position to check at TDC.

 

Ah! OK. So, that's the thing, then. Got it. By bucket, I assume you mean the valve lifter?

 

Looks like the timing is right on Jason. To bad my compression gauge would not fit down the plug holes. I would like to know what it was. You need to check those valve clearences while the valve cover is off. If the valves are to tight that will explain the low compression your mechanic told you about. Have you solved the no spark problem yet?

 

Four teeth off on that Bike and you be crashing Piston Crowns into Open Valves.
I thought that guys story was Boo-schide when you earlier said you were "Cranking-over" the Engine.

Now that we know that Bikes Timing is right.
Let's go by the numbers.

Get the value of Compression Check.
Done right.
Fully charged Battery.
Disconnected TCI
Plugs Out
Throttles WIDE Open.

Disregard the numbers you got from the other guy.
He has already proved that he's 4 Teeth off from being HONEST>

 

Thanks for chiming in, Mark. I was thinking it seemed good, but I really needed some experienced folks to look and confirm it. I did put on the good coils from the bike I bought from you. The old coils did have deep fissures going all the way to the core. Almost like they were split. The coils from the new bike created a good enough spark that I got a jolt holding it to the engine! LOL Still no start, though.

I did check the valve clearances. I started a new thread for that since I didn't want to confuse issues. In any case, my clearances were odd. Exhaust clearances were right in the ballpark (between .006" and .008") while all 12 of my intake clearances were less than .002". Tight. No gap. Could that account for super low compression?

I'll get another compression test done. Thanks for the advice Rick, but I really don't think the mech was dishonest. I prefer to give folks the benefit of the doubt. I don't think he was familiar with reading the timing on an engine that isn't running. Or at least, not on a bike like mine. You can't hook up a timing light when the engine isn't running. LOL In any case, I never got the feeling he was out to roll me.

Thanks for confirming the timing marks. I'll get the valves adjusted next. Maybe by next weekend...