Cam cover.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,585
Likes: 4,019
From: San Diego, CA
Please relax, you're not the first to make this mistake, and definitely won't be the last. You need to rotate the crank to the proper position (Mark on pinion shaft pointed directly at cam #2 centerhole (11 o'clock)) then reinstall cams with marks all aligned properly.
You'll also need to turn the engine to compression TDC for each cylinder to properly torque down the rocker arms on the way out. Make sure you notice some bolts are inch pounds and some are foot pounds, another common error.
You can damage the camshaft bushings (there's 8 of them!) when the cover comes off with spring tension on the lifters. Most likely the inboard ones, part of the case. And we know where that leads eventually.
HOTLAP is pretty knowledgeable, I'd listen to him.
John
You'll also need to turn the engine to compression TDC for each cylinder to properly torque down the rocker arms on the way out. Make sure you notice some bolts are inch pounds and some are foot pounds, another common error.
You can damage the camshaft bushings (there's 8 of them!) when the cover comes off with spring tension on the lifters. Most likely the inboard ones, part of the case. And we know where that leads eventually.
HOTLAP is pretty knowledgeable, I'd listen to him.
John
Last edited by John Harper; Feb 22, 2015 at 04:45 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 67
From: USA
His cams are out of the bike. Yes, those are the steps I would take to ensure it all goes back together properly.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,488
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From: Maryland near DC
before taking something apart that they know nothing about?Well that was not very helpful..but I know why you said it, it seems like every few months someone comes on here with the exact same question...
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 245
Likes: 3
From: Mountain House, CA
When you take your Cam cover off you must FIRST remove the rocker box covers and then rotate the engine til you see the rocker arms at their lowest position for the front or rear cylinder (which ever you prefer to remove first) When you see the push rods are at the lowest position then you know the tension is off and you can remove the lower rocker box. Repeat on the other cylinder.
When the rocker boxes are removed and the push rods are freely standing the you can remove the cam cover. The cams should stay in place when the cover is removed at this point. Replace the gasket and re torque to specs.
Since the cams are now out you must install them and make sure the timing marks all line up. Either way if the cam cover is removed for what ever reason you should always remove the rocker boxes.
When the rocker boxes are removed and the push rods are freely standing the you can remove the cam cover. The cams should stay in place when the cover is removed at this point. Replace the gasket and re torque to specs.
Since the cams are now out you must install them and make sure the timing marks all line up. Either way if the cam cover is removed for what ever reason you should always remove the rocker boxes.
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