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Need help from engine experts on cam shaft binding
- Dale65
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- 1981 KZ 550 LTD
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!!!
1981 KZ550 LTD stock for now, but soon to be a cafe racer.
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- TerryK
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1977 KZ1000
GSXR swingarm and rear brake
WM6 rear Akront rim
Wiseco 1075c pistons
33 smoothbores
stage 3 Web Cams
Head porting
Dyna S ignition
Lockhart oil cooler
Wiseco header
1980 Z1R drag bike
1200cc
38 Flatslides, .
500' cams
7" slick
Dyan 4000 SP ignition
etc
Ontario, Canada
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- Dale65
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- 1981 KZ 550 LTD
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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.
1981 KZ550 LTD stock for now, but soon to be a cafe racer.
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- testarossa
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- Attack life, it's only trying to kill you.
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1978 KZ1000 A2 Click--->Build Thread
2004 ZX-10R
2007 Harley Sportster 1200
2020 Harley Street Glide Special
Angola, IN
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- Dale65
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- 1981 KZ 550 LTD
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1981 KZ550 LTD stock for now, but soon to be a cafe racer.
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- TerryK
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1977 KZ1000
GSXR swingarm and rear brake
WM6 rear Akront rim
Wiseco 1075c pistons
33 smoothbores
stage 3 Web Cams
Head porting
Dyna S ignition
Lockhart oil cooler
Wiseco header
1980 Z1R drag bike
1200cc
38 Flatslides, .
500' cams
7" slick
Dyan 4000 SP ignition
etc
Ontario, Canada
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- testarossa
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- Attack life, it's only trying to kill you.
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- Thank you received: 82
1978 KZ1000 A2 Click--->Build Thread
2004 ZX-10R
2007 Harley Sportster 1200
2020 Harley Street Glide Special
Angola, IN
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- turboguzzi
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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...
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- Dale65
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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?
1981 KZ550 LTD stock for now, but soon to be a cafe racer.
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- Dale65
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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.
1981 KZ550 LTD stock for now, but soon to be a cafe racer.
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- Patton
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...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!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- Dale65
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- 1981 KZ 550 LTD
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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.
1981 KZ550 LTD stock for now, but soon to be a cafe racer.
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