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Ok.so i checked valves specs and my intake was at 0 and both exhaust at .006. i dont have a caliper to check shim thickness, so i take it to a local shop and they figure out what shims to put in. so i get the shims, put it back together...crank it over a few times line it up and check specs...specs were same. so , go back to the shop and tell them so they refigure it out, guy made a mistake figureing which shims i needed, so get the right shims, i think...put it back together, go to crank it over few times and ....timing chain fell off bottom gear. finally getting timing chain back on i know i definitly moved the crank this way and that. and everything is way off... how do i know where TDC is so i can reinstall cam in the right spot?

Open timing cover, rotate engine until timing marks line up. Make sure you are on compression stroke.

Cam should have lobes facing towards rear of bike and the two lines on the Cam gear should be level with head.

that part i get, but when i was trying to get timing chain back on lower gear, the cam wasnt in. and i know i moved the crank every way, so with the cam out of the bike, and the plug in and i turn that crank itll get close to the mark and then back itself off so im guessing that would be the compression pullin it back..i guess...with the plug out i cant tell where the piston is.


Guess the easiest way to ask, without the cam in, how exactly do i know its TDC?

I believe you can tell you are at tdc when the crankshaft marks are aligned. Then install the camshaft correctly with the lobes pointing toward the back of the bike with the timing marks aligned.

thanks...i was being an idiot, after the frustrations wore off, and a new day...

After all that.i still dont have right shims. of course noone open on sundays.

skotti wrote:thanks...i was being an idiot, after the frustrations wore off, and a new day...

After all that.i still dont have right shims. of course noone open on sundays.

Yup the simple stuff will eat you alive. Funny how a new day will help that.
Try to pick up a Hotcams shim kit if you can. Will save you from having to rely on what you went thru. (plus you can button it back up in time to ride Sundays!) -- even if you make a measuring mistake, the proper shim will be in the box.

good luck and congrats on getting it back "in time"

Yeah was stressin on that final ride. its about time here to take em indoors and strip it down to rebuild. I didnt think i would have it as long as i did, so ive never gotten one of the shim kits nor the tool to measure the shims. it is now on the list for christmas..lol

thanxx for the help!