Cam Timing

I was doing a valve adjustment on the VF1000F and noticed that the cam sprocket timing marks were not lined up with the top of the head on the rear cylinders.... Actually they were quite a bit off. I took it apart , loosened the cam chain tension and rotated the cams. I was able to get it pretty close but they seem to still be a half tooth or so off but if i move them a tooth then they are a half tooth off the other way. Both the Clymer and honda manual warn that these must be exact , but it appears that it is impossible. What to do?

 

How did the bike ride before you delved into the valve covers?

 

I've run into that on many bikes with cam chains, chain and tensioner wear can put you inbetween. I just put it to the closest I can get, the gear driven cams don't have that issue.:biggrin:

 

It idled okay before, but I have not ridden it. Could hear that the valves needed to be adjusted. Cams and rockers look perfect.

 

Not to worry about being a tad off. A lot of cams can be with no adverse effect to speak of. You can even take your stock cams and retard a tooth which will help top end or advance a tooth and help low/mid range. Depends what you want. A lot of after market muscle car(type) engines will install a few degrees advanced or retarded or straight up. A few degrees either way will not make a big difference. Just moves the power band up or down a couple of hundred rpms. Plus a couple of other reasons to do it.

A half a tooth may be 1-2 degrees? Never really checked my bike to see. Either way it should still run fine without any chance of damage or power loss. Put the covers back on and go for a ride. That's all that is needed.

ps. I wouldn't trust a clymers or Hayes manual to save your life!