Timing Marks

I posted this within a different thread and thought maybe it should have it's own in case others come across the same problem.

Help! The Clymer manual for the VF500 shows two different diagrams for the timing markings on the rotor. In the valve clearance section they picture the TR alignment using the line imediately to the right of the TR letters:

---l------
l T l F
l R

In the cam section it shows the TR alignment using the line immediatly to the left of the TR letters:

l-------
l T l F
l R

I did not realize this conflict until after I installed everything using the mark to the left of the letters, torqued everything down and set the clearances. So I am hoping that I don't have to redo everything!

Does anyone know if you do use the to different marks for the two tasks or is there an error?

 

Just to clarify: I set all the clearances for each cylinder at its own TDC and used the mark to the right of the TR or TF letters for alignment, as in the manual.

My question is about cam alignment. I aligned all four cams with the the motor at cylinder 1 TDC using the mark to the left of the TR letters, as in my second sketch above. BTW - on my 1984, the mark to the left is larger (bolder)

I have spent several hours searching the web for an answer with no luck. Others have posted the same question but the reply was never there. Most other references just say "set to TDC mark on cylinder 1", which on many V4's seems to be called T1 instead of TR.

 

You can identify which one mark corresponds to the TDC by rotating the engine with spark plug off and a rod going into the plug hole touching the piston.
Generally speaking if the rotation of the timing pulley is known (sorry, I cannot recall if it is a CW or CCW in VF500) the first marking (if existing) is the full advance the second the idle advance "F" and third mark is the TDC mark "T".
I believe your second option is the correct timing mark, but I need to see my bike to be sure I am not misleading.

 

That was helpful. I should have thought of that method. Thanks!

BTW - CCW for the VF 500

 

I forgot about this today when I was at work, which is where I have my bike. I'll try to remember to take my camera, or at least use my phone to snap a pic. I can't remember what the deal is right now, butwill when I see it, more than likely.

 

The second sketch in my original post is the correct marking for TDC cylinder 1 (the mark to the left of TR).

I think what would have really helped is if the Clymer manual stated that when you need to align at TR or TF that it is the TDC mark. If they simply added reference to TDC it would have been simple to figure out.

 

Brining this thread back to life with a question.

After a few months of piddling, and hesitating, I'm finally putting my 500 back together. A week or so ago I got the heads assembled and installed, then tonight I timed the cams. I couldn't seem to get the marks quite right on one of the heads (the front, I think) they seemed to be about a half tooth off. I'm not very worried about this, since in the past 10 years of working on cars day in and day out, I've only seen a few where the timing marks line up near perfectly. I just wanted to see what others have experienced on the VF500 with the timing marks.

 

Good to hear you are getting it back together. Curious what you did for head gaskets?

Yes, I had the same experience as you. I can't recall which head, but I believe that it was the front. It was the one where the one exhaust cam (I believe cylinder 2) was active so would not sit flat in its place. When redoing everything a second time because I made an error I learned to turn the rotor enough so that the #2 exhaust cam was not under pressure so that I could gently screw down its holder. Then when it was back TDC for timing setup it stayed in place instead of rising and the sprocket marks lined up much better. However, like you they were slightly off still. Once everything was torqued down it was pretty close to spot on.

 

+1 on the head gaskets - where did you source these and also the valve springs that you needed for the rebuild? Thx!

 

For the head gasket set, I went here: https://www.partsnmore.com/motorcycle-gasket_sets.php?make=honda&category=gasket_set

For valve springs, I just re-used the ones that were with each valve that I changed. I kept the spring with the valve it was on in the parts engine.

I just want the thing running right now. I need to come up with some money to get valves and springs for next year.

 

Nice find on the gasket set. Bookmarked!