Cam Chain question. 99 XT600E
 

I'm doing a top end piston replacement.

Besides the cam/crank being synchronized I was wondering on the XT600 does the cam chain need to be in any particular position on the gears ? like with some automotive applications where the chain is marked and corresponds to a mark on the cam gear.

Also is it possible to re-install the cylinder by carefully keeping the cam chain snug on the crank gear while passing it up through the cylinder ? I'd like to avoid removing the flywheel cover.

Hi. In all the time I have been reassembling motorcycle engines I have never worried where the cam chain is. As long as the crank is in the right spot and cam or cams sitting correctly then I have just put the cam chain on making sure the slack is on the tensioner side. Same with the cover you shouldnt need to remove that just let the chain sit down in the cam tunnel. I usually hook a short section of wire to it so when I have slipped the barrel/head on can retrieve it easily and just make sure it has picked up on the crank sprocket. Cheers Ernie.

Its a continuous loop so does not need to be in any certain position but the cam sprocket must be alighned top and bottom as per the service manual....which you were doing,and I use wire too to keep the chain from dropping in to the crankcase........

Thanks for your replies Ernie and kenymact, that helps a lot, I still can't find the usual manuals for this bike, clymer, haynes etc, so just double checking on all the assembly steps I'm not sure about, thanks again.

Yooo... Ain't there something else that has to do with the piston being on the stroke phase and at TDC?

Hi Pursang. There are some links on this sit for manuals but I havent had any luck downloading them. I see a xt600 manual up to 1996 on ebay. The engine strip should be the same or similar at least the cam and crank position should be the same if you havent pulled motor down befor. I normally set the engine to TDC on compression stroke befor pulling down not that it matters when reassembling as long as the piston is at tdc when you refit the cam. And the cam is fitted the right way. Thanks ernie.

Yeah Ernie I'm having the same trouble with the pdf files not working, I'll probably have to scour the used books shops and maby I'll find a Clymer or Haynes, and keep checking ebay.

It seems pretty basic now since the chain can be in any position on the gears, have the lines on the cam gear parallel with the head, piston up on compression at TDC and the crank marks ligned up, and make sure the loose side of the chain is on the tensioner side, thanks again everyone for your help with this.