Need help from engine experts on cam shaft binding

Hey, guys. Need some advice here. I was fixing oil leaks on my '81 kz550, so of course the cams had to come out. When I put everything back together (per the manual) and got it all lined up, it will only turn about a half turn clockwise and not the full two turns as the book says it should.

I'm turning it from the right side, 17mm nut, clockwise. I backed it back up counter-clockwise and it will turn fine there, but I know that's wrong, it has to turn clockwise.

I took the cams out twice and made sure the chain wasn't bound up and also checked my timing marks and counted the chain links per the book, but no go.

Help!!!

Are you sure you are not 180 degrees out with the crank rotation?

TerryK wrote:

Are you sure you are not 180 degrees out with the crank rotation?

I followed the markings in the manual to line up 1 and 4 to top dead center.

Are your spark plugs in or out?

Out.

Line everything up as per spec and take some close up pictures for us.

Ok so it's not just compression. Sorry, I had to check. Is the bike in neutral? Just trying to rule out stuff. Does it turn freely without the cams in place? Do you have the tensioner out?

TerryK wrote:

Are you sure you are not 180 degrees out with the crank rotation?

even if he was 180 out, the engine should still turn, the sparks would simply happen at the wrong time (just switch coil wires to remedy )

Dont quite understand: can you turn counterclockwise as many turns as you want and it locks up only going clockwise?

could be one of the cam chain sliders becoming dislodged

have you already tensioned the chain?

as testa says, do everything with plugs out, the compression will simply create confusion...

testarossa wrote:

Ok so it's not just compression. Sorry, I had to check. Is the bike in neutral? Just trying to rule out stuff. Does it turn freely without the cams in place? Do you have the tensioner out?

No prob. Total rookie with engines, so all questions are good. I may very well be looking over the obvious, like if it is in gear. I didn't actually check, but I know the back wheel turns freely cause I have it off the ground and I bump it daily. But I will double check to be sure.

I haven't tried without the cams. Didn't know if it was OK to do that. I did try it first without the tensioner and then again with the tensioner. Which way is best?

turboguzzi wrote:

TerryK wrote:

Are you sure you are not 180 degrees out with the crank rotation?

even if he was 180 out, the engine should still turn, the sparks would simply happen at the wrong time (just switch coil wires to remedy )

Dont quite understand: can you turn counterclockwise as many turns as you want and it locks up only going clockwise?

could be one of the cam chain sliders becoming dislodged

have you already tensioned the chain?

as testa says, do everything with plugs out, the compression will simply create confusion...

Yes, it turns counter-clockwise fine, many turns. But clockwise only about half turn, then total lockup.

Dale65 wrote:

...was fixing oil leaks on my '81 kz550, so of course the cams had to come out....

What type oil leak repair necessitated removal of the cams?

Good Fortune!

Patton wrote:

Dale65 wrote:

...was fixing oil leaks on my '81 kz550, so of course the cams had to come out....

What type oil leak repair necessitated removal of the cams?

Good Fortune!

Cylinder head. Was hoping you'd pop up, Patton.