| Author | Message | ||
     Littlebuggles |
...so when the cams are all lined up:  What position are the pistons in? 'Cause I've been reading the manual and on here and I haven't found where anybody mentions that. Maybe there's only one position they will go it at? Or rear cyl at TDC... maybe? Thanks. | ||
| Kyrocket |
I'm having that exact problem right now. My rear cylinder had no compression. I'll let you know. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Littlebuggles, it seems that there is very little info about this on the net. Several unfinished threads, complaints about multiple Harley books being very vague on the subject and not much info period. Here's what I found and it matches an unfinished thread I found at another site with my info exactly. If you open up your timing plug between the two cylinders you will see multiple marks. There is a line that will be straight up and down in the window when the front cylinder is TDC and in my case as I have read in others your pinion gear mark will be about 1 o'clock. you'll have to back it up a couple of teeth to line up the rest of your cams but as I now understand it that is the mark to work off of. Let me see if I can find the sites I was working off of and I will send the info on to you because these can be put in 180 degrees off and if you do that you may hit the rear intake valve on your new piston. Don't ask how I know. | ||
| Kyrocket |
http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/archive/index.p hp/t-26379.html http://www.hdforums.com/forum/engine-fuel-intake-e xhaust/128005-sportster-cam-installation-question. html Like I said the factory service manual doesn't address this issue nor any Harley manuals that I've looked at recently. | ||
| Brinnutz |
I was told front was TDC. But I don't know what the hell is supposed to be lined up, so I have no clue, LOL. I've got my cam cover off, front piston rod is TDC and it looks like this right now:  Now how the F do I get that nut off? lol (Message edited by brinnutz on May 20, 2009) | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Wilson - pinion gear locking tool.  http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/16082.html No idea what the answer is to the original question. | ||
| Leftcoastal |
Well - when you think about it - won't the pistons ALWAYS be in the same position if the timing mark on it is aligned with the correct mark on the #2 cam (rear Intake) As long as the pinion is installed and the woodruff key is in, you really can't screw this up. The pinion gear is right on the end of the pinion shaft and is always in the same position in relation to the pistons. So - don't worry about where the pistons are when you set the cam timing. They will be in the correct place as long as the lines on the pinion gear and cam line up. Then it's the cams that establish which stroke the piston is on at any given point on the engine's rotation. I'm sure one of the many engineers on this board can 'splain ya better, but that's the general idea. Al | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Al hit it on the head.. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Uhhh..... ...so Al saying that... ... 360* of pinion gear rotation = 360* of crankshaft rotation? ...cuz when I pulled the cam cover off the drive cam came out with it since I didn't read the manual first and left the timer cup attached. Now I've got to reset everything and feel like I've been a total tool, and now you all get to hear about it too. .....sigh..... | ||
| Brinnutz |
Sweet Phil, found the Drag Specialties part number and added it to my 20% off order when I get my cams! | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Someone correct me if I'm thinking about this the wrong way.. I think that 360* of pinion gear rotation = 720* of crankshaft rotation. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Well looking at Wilson's pic the drive gear appears to be about 180 off, so maybe that's TDC on the exhaust stroke? I'm pulling my rocker boxes off in the morning, I'll hopefully get it back together properly by lunch time, including replacing my oil lines while I'm working on the thing. | ||
| Sportyeric |
The pinion gear is on the end of the crank so 360* is 360* In Wilson's pic, the big gear (#2 cam) is out 180* because it was placed that way. Just remove it and put it back in rotated 180*. The crank is at the correct spot. (Message edited by Sportyeric on May 21, 2009) | ||
| Littlebuggles |
!!!WooooHooo!!! Thank you sir, I suppose if I looked closer at my parts book or service manual I should not have had to have that pointed out to me. | ||
| Akbuell |
While there are a few ways to lock the crank and get the pinion nut off, the tool from American Sport Bike is the way to go. Makes the job quick and easy, and provides a stable crankshaft when torquing the nut back on. Dave | ||
| Brinnutz |
Yeah, that tool is in the Drag Specialties book...Everyone knows where you can get 20% off harley/buel/drag parts these days right? | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Yeah, but Al at American Sport Bike is nicer! | ||
| Brinnutz |
Yeah, well, I have to pinch every penny I can right now...It's tough here. Hence why I have been without a bike for like 9-10 months now. |
