Ignition timing and cam timing

I've been studying this subject a little on my inexperienced level and have touched on it in my thread on gpz cam. My question is how do you change the ignition timing w/o slotting the bolt holes on the plate? Seems like everything is locked in place and not meant to be adjusted. My manual says how to check it but not how to adjust. My bike has 19,000 on the clock and the bottom end was replaced (because of a broken timing chain) from a totalled bike w only 5,000 miles. Supposedly! :S The PO never got it running after the swap and I've put about 4,000 on it after reassembly. I guess what I'm getting at is, I don't suspect my chain has too much stretch. I can make a new thread asking this question if yall don't want it on this one.

LarryC wrote: Believe me...when you post something, I take the time to read it because it's always good stuff

Cam specs can be very misleading because having only two points, an open and close will never yield the picture of what the lobe profile is providing. Here's a list of Kawasaki Cams with durations at 3 points each. As you look through it you'll see a better picture of what I mean.

Master #
Lift
Duration
@ .020
Duration
@ .050
Duration
@ .100

45 .415 268° 244° 220°
110 .395 284° 256° 228°
118 .365 283° 246° 216°
119 .384 276° 240° 210°
146 .420 288° 258° 232°
208 .408 282° 258° 233°
218 .418 280° 242° 218°
227 .383 276° 253° 228°
483 .395 266° 242° 216°
493 .415 276° 252° 229°
536 .378 268° 244° 218°
539 .400 280° 256° 230°
540 .384 272° 248° 222°
549 .369 280° 252° 226°
613 .381 266° 240° 218°
715 .408 283° 256° 228°
797 .410 277° 252° 224°
813 .388 268° 244° 218°
814 .402 279° 251° 223°
830 .383 272° 244° 217°
931 .380 280° 258° 232°
961 .400 282° 256° 228°
968 .386 274° 248° 220°
1002 .379 274° 248° 221°
1029 .381 263° 240° 218°
1043 .400 268° 242° 216°

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Are those manufactured by Kawasaki? Or are they from an aftermarket supplier?

That number 146 looks interesting.

jonarmstrong wrote: ...My question is how do you change the ignition timing w/o slotting the bolt holes on the plate? ....

Slotting the holes is the most straight forward method, and probably the preferred method.

Another way is to pull off the pointer slug from the advancer shaft, and press it back on in a slightly different position.

Both ways will affect the timing of both ignition circuits.

loudhvx wrote:

LarryC wrote: Believe me...when you post something, I take the time to read it because it's always good stuff

Cam specs can be very misleading because having only two points, an open and close will never yield the picture of what the lobe profile is providing. Here's a list of Kawasaki Cams with durations at 3 points each. As you look through it you'll see a better picture of what I mean.

Master #
Lift
Duration
@ .020
Duration
@ .050
Duration
@ .100

45 .415 268° 244° 220°
110 .395 284° 256° 228°
118 .365 283° 246° 216°
119 .384 276° 240° 210°
146 .420 288° 258° 232°
208 .408 282° 258° 233°
218 .418 280° 242° 218°
227 .383 276° 253° 228°
483 .395 266° 242° 216°
493 .415 276° 252° 229°
536 .378 268° 244° 218°
539 .400 280° 256° 230°
540 .384 272° 248° 222°
549 .369 280° 252° 226°
613 .381 266° 240° 218°
715 .408 283° 256° 228°
797 .410 277° 252° 224°
813 .388 268° 244° 218°
814 .402 279° 251° 223°
830 .383 272° 244° 217°
931 .380 280° 258° 232°
961 .400 282° 256° 228°
968 .386 274° 248° 220°
1002 .379 274° 248° 221°
1029 .381 263° 240° 218°
1043 .400 268° 242° 216°

---

Are those manufactured by Kawasaki? Or are they from an aftermarket supplier?

That number 146 looks interesting.

Looks rather 3xish doesn't it?

The 493 is a really nice cam for a 1200 motor. Ton's of midrange with them.