Help... Cam sprocket alignment????? (Africa Twin RD07a)
 

Hi guys
I am half way around the world (in Brazil), I had some work done in New Zealand and one of the reconditioned valve tips failed. I have had the cylinder head off and replaced it, now I am putting everything back together. This is my problem, with the fly wheel at TDC and on the RT mark (exactly) - (I am working only on the rear cylinder) the two lines on the cam sprocket which are meant to be aligned parrel with the cylinder head... do not aline, if I move it a tooth to the left or a tooth to the right it gets worse. I have been pulling my hair out all afternoon and can not figure out. I have the cam chain tensioner in place but with the tension taken off. The cam chains are new (5000km ago).

Has anyone else had this issue?

For some reason today I can not log onto XRV.org where I normally post tech questions.. I cant even reset my password... go knows! would someone on here be able to copy and paste my question on my behalf into the Africa Twin forum? I would like to get it out to the widest audience.

Kindest regards

George

Sure you've sorted this out already, but here goes.

It's not uncommon for the timing marks not to line up perfectly if there is no tension on the timing chain. Make sure the timing chain is tight 'away' from the tensioner side. (i.e. so the crackshaft pulls the chain tight). if you rotate the crankshaft too anti-clockwise far over the timing marks, then back clockwise, the chain will be too loose and cam-gear to far.

Also - make sure you have the cam gear the right way around. It is marked "IN" to indicate which side must be on the inside. It will go on just fine the opposite way around, but the gear timing will be 1/2 gear out.

Lastly- the FT / RT marks should be at the "inspection hole" and not TDC of the crankshaft.

http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/v...psqxjgbvqn.jpg