Clarification on Timing

I have the crank lined up on TDC with the pointer not the pick up coil! Now should cyl. #1 cam lobes be facing in or out?All other units I have done over the years they face out, but if I do that the punch marks on the cam sprockets you dont see. If the lobes face in the they show but are not level with the head surface. Should they be level with the cylinder head or no. I have already read the forum under me doing a search and didn't really clear the air for me. It is a 1985 Maxim.

 

Don't shout, but you havn't got the EX & INLET camshafts switched perchance?
BTW, welcome.

 

no I haven't even took it apart yet. it was running fine then it starting to not idle and then only likes to run above 2k rpm. Compression was low dry like 40-70 psi all cyl. and then 95-210 wet. so I took the valve cover off to check timing and the crank is lined up as standed earlier. but what should I be looking at when looking at the sprockets? Like I stated above this has get me confused from the others I have done.

 

They would both face out at TDC "compression" then- - -

If you turn the crank exactly 360 degrees

They would both face in at TDC "exhaust"

[did I pass the test?]

 

super that answers one question? With them facing out at TDC the marks on the cam sprockets are not visible. Only when the lobes are facing in towards one another can I see them. So where should the punch marks be on the sprockets when TDC with lobes facing out?

 

So it's an XJ700 or XJ700X then?

If it's like the XJ650, you take the rotor around again to TDC the cam dots should line up with the cam cap arrows.

 

second that, remember that the crank rotates two times to the camshafts once. So keep on rotating until the markers on the camshafts line up, then check to see where the TDC marker is,this will give a good indication of whats going on , cheers, Murray

 

I have a really silly question: If the bike has been running but has started to run poorly, why are we worried about cam timing? I highly doubt the cam chain has jumped a tooth or anything unless something horrible is going on.

Sounds to me like you need to check and adjust your valve clearances and then re-do your compression test(s.)

 

I agree with why are we doing all this but my friend is one of those guys that wants to know everything first. I am very educated in the department of motorcycles and engines but don't have a book for timing marks. You say cam cap arrows where are these arrows on the cam caps, or I should say which cam caps #2 & #3. i have never timed a motorcycle with cam cap arrows before.

 

The arrows are cast into the tops of the center camshaft caps on the aircooled motors. I can't be more specific than that without knowing exactly which bike we're talking about; the 1985 Maxim came in both an aircooled and watercooled "X" version.

I still think you're going in the wrong direction worrying about cam timing when you probably just need a valve adjustment.

 

Except for the low cyl pressure-with a valve adj is the first
thing to do- you may just need a carb balance.

Or a bad plug.

Or, got some bad fuel.

Or, some gunk got stuck somewhere between the
tank and the cyl.

Or, no one has looked at the air filter in 25 yrs.

Good luck-Oh, and I think your friend may be on his/her
way to eating up a lot of time chasing "knowlege".