timing help

Hey guys,

So I had to replace my head gaskets and head gasket o-ring. I also had to replace my cam end plugs and cam cover gasket. That being said, I got the gaskets replaced and everything built back up. I tried to start it up and it wouldn't fire. It doesn't pop once.

Other than having leaked some oil, the bike had been running great before.

Here's the troubleshooting I've done so far:

-Battery connected correctly. Key turned to on, kill switch to run. (Neutral and oil warning lamps will come on so electrical working)

-Spark plug wires connected in correct order. Checked plug 1 & 4, and they both had spark. Haven't tested number 2/3.

-Oil added, gas (more than a gallon) added. Gas running to carbs (through in-line filters), pulled the drain plug on the float bowl on carb 1 to make sure carbs getting gas.

-Pulled the timing cover off and lined timing mark up on the 1/4 side 'T', pulled the cam cover and checked that the marks on the exhaust cam were just a hair above the head. Rear cam had been lined up 28 links to the 28 mark. Timing on the cam chains still seems to be in place.



Everything seems like the spark isn't hitting a chamber full of fuel mixture, which seems like the timing is off. But i've gotten everything lined up according to the clymer manual... I don't know where to go from here.

it's kinda hard to see, but i put a red circle around the mark on the front/exhaust cam

Check compression.

are spark plugs wet?

Is it possible you are 180 out of time?

well, tried flipping my cams 180*. i had noticed that when turning the 17mm timing bolt i had to go past the 1/4 mark once and go around again to get the marks to line up, in other words my timing marks line up twice for every time the cam marks fall back into place. So basically I turned the timing bolt one revolution until 1/4 TDC, then i took my cams and flipped them so the marks lined up.

Waiting for the RTV to set for the night before I try to give it a go... fingers crossed

I was wondering if it's possible to get the ignition timing 180 out. On my twin, you can get the timing advancer on backwards and the engine goes dead.

Normal procedure is the cam sprocket alignment (arrow through chain pin) then count 1 up for #1 pin... Then 28 over... Possibly I miss understood...

With crank rotation set @ 1/4 "T", from right side of bike your cam lobes should be facing each other as in these images.

Left image depicts pin count off where lobe tips should be on the money at head decking height as in the right image.



In case you need...

Just thought of something else...
Does's model this have starter lock out switch i.e. such as kickstand switch...?
NOTE: This normally is for starter kill only but on a 30 year old/PO wiring who knows...

Battery voltage (+12Vdc plus) to coils...?
Spark plug test to ground head, spark...?

If you take the valve cover off again, take a picture from the #4 cylinder side showing the lobe position of both the IN and EX in relation to the Head, while the "T" mark for 1/4 is lined up.
Did you maybe get the wires to the primary side of the coils switched? This will make the coils fire 180 out even with the engine cam timing correct.

Good point MH...

Maybe this will help...
NOTE: Green off ignition goes to coil for 2/3 cylinders (right side coil)... Black goes to 1/4 cylinder (left side coil).

Also insure ideal ground to engine case!

Motor Head wrote: Did you maybe get the wires to the primary side of the coils switched? This will make the coils fire 180 out even with the engine cam timing correct.

That's what I was asking about.

i haven't touched the wires to the primary side of the coils...

how would i check to figure out if they are 180 off?