Could my timing be wrong?

[Call Me Ahab]

Greetings,

I'm having some trouble with my engine at the moment - I've recently completed a top end rebuild.

My compression for this bike(gs850) is around 96psi, the compression for my gs1000 is 126+.

I have not checked the valve clearances for the 850 yet. My question is, could my timing be off by a tooth, and would this cause low compression and sluggish performance? The rings are new and I had the pistons deglazed and honed. The bike was running until last week, I was in the middle of a trip out of town when it suddenly began to bog down and die.

Posted a more detailed thread in general / maintenance, but now that I have something specific in mind, I thought this was my best chance for a quick answer. I searched the forum, but all I turn up is more references to valve clearance and shim wear. That, and bad rings.

So what do you say guys, is my timing off?

[tom203]

"I have not checked the valve clearances for the 850 yet"

Since you've done a top end rebuild, get to the valve clearances- while you have cam cover off, you can check camshaft to crank timing too.

[Agemax]

if it ran for a while and suddenly started bogging down i doubt it would be the timing out. you need to check your valve clearances before you go any further.
could be an ignition or fuel problem but check the clearances first

[Call Me Ahab]

Great! that's all I needed to hear =D

I'm printing out some pages of the manual before I head back out to the shop, I'm going to start with the valve clearances and move on to the timing next. I couldn't find any definitive evidence that timing could be the problem, no matter what I suspected.

Thank you!

[Call Me Ahab]

"I have not checked the valve clearances for the 850 yet"

Since you've done a top end rebuild, get to the valve clearances- while you have cam cover off, you can check camshaft to crank timing too.

I know... I kept putting it off, and now look where I am