Dumb question about cam shaft removal

Ok... Removing cam shafts on my 700X has me a bit wired cuz I dont wanna mess things up too badly. Why am I removing the bolts on the gears? And how do I mark the shafts so they go back in the same way? And please dont say RTFM. If I had TFM I would read it.

 

you have to remove the bolts to release the gears from the camshafts, so the camshafts can then be slid out sideways. you can't lift them straight up cos the chain is in the way.
get a white tipex marker, put the engine at top dead centre, by aligning the mark on the generator, put a tipex mark on the chain and on the corresponding tooth on each sprocket.
also mark up the sprockets and the camshafts so they go back in the same place
the camshafts and the #3camshaft holders are already marked with dots from the factory.

youca see the dots the shafts and holders
stu

 

Awesome. Thank you, Stu. Makes sense. I need to get a book but have never gotten around to it. And now that I have a little time to fiddle with the bike I dont have the book!

 

no worries,
don't forget to take the tension off the chain before you start, by removing the tensioner
stu

 

last time i did mine i wrote the shim size with a sharpie on the caps. it was still there this time. made it a little easier.
you won't find that in TFM

 

WARNING>>>>

The bike in question is a Maxim X......the liquid-cooled engine that has the shim UNDER bucket setup, and the cams are very different than what is shown.

The picture shown is of an air-cooled engine--

Process is similar, but instead of two valves per cyl, you have FIVE, there are more lobes, and they are thinner.....and the feelers that you need to use to do clearance checks are narrower, too.

Just want to make sure that you're clear on that, so when you pull the cover off, you wouldn't have a heart attack when it doesn't look anything like the picture shown..........

Dave Fox

 

Thanks Dave. Already had it open and was hesitant to go any further. Kinda wishing it was only 2 valve per. Anyhow... tensioner is out and gonna go graba pen in the am. Might even be riding in time for the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Event Thingy in July. With help from all you guys here.