1982 XJ650RJ Seca Engine tear down camshaft alignment question

I'm in the process of replacing piston rings and cylinder base gasket on my 1982 XJ650RJ Seca. This is non YICS.

Followed instructions for tear down in Haynes manual, which indicates taking the cam chain tensioner off before the cam chain sprockets, but then has you crank the engine back from TDC to access the bolts for the sprockets. I think in the process I put it out of time, as I noticed the markings that are supposed to be at the top when at TDC are not exposed at the moment. The engine was running fine before teardown except for a leak at the base gasket (confirmed with baby powder) and low compression on cylinders 2 and 3 which was restored with oil in the cylinders).

Could it be that they rotated out of time when I was turning it (the chain did bunch up a little) or is there a discrepancy with the timing marks?

Cross posted to the Facebook groups.

 

there are two TDCs in one cycle ,are you sure you are checking the alignment with the TDC on the "compression " stroke ,and not exhaust stroke

cant get your pictures to show

 

I get what you are saying but this could be a little confusing to the OP. TDC is TDC, there really is no difference and the cams determine what cycle the engine is on. Marks are only on one side of the cams so you can't check the alignment on the wrong cycle.

@JMark Been there, when I did my head on my 650 I had to do the alignment process three times to get it right. Swear I did it by the book and carefully but for some reason I was a little off the first two times. There is no discrepancy in the marks, they should line up.

 

Found the pics:

Off by a little the first time on just one cam:



Corrected:

 

Thanks! To clarify, I was doing TDC by the marking on the side under the timing inspection cover.

The main point of my question was whether it was possible that they were aligned like this all along, as I had not yet removed the cams. A little more research says that yes, in deed, this was the result of rotating the engine back in order to get to the second screw on the cam sprockets per instructions in the Haynes manual. It instructs you to turn it to TDC, then remove the chain tensioner, then back to get to the second screw. When turning back the chain doesn't have tension so it it messed up the cam alignment. I am frustrated with the instructions.

Still trying to figure out if I had any valve/piston interference, but it doesn't appear to be the case.