Timing Question!

[Boozy Creek Beast]

I know this might sound silly but here it goes. I am timing my 1980 GS1100 after finally getting all of the stripped out Cam Cap Bolts corrected. I went to put it back together and after completing the process the sucker would not start. I belive my timing is off. Here are my Questions:

1. I have a Clymer manuel and if I follow it to the letter the timing looks to be one tooth off. If I move the the Cams forward 1 tooth it lines up prefectly acording to the knoches on the cams. Should the manual be followed to the letter or is it just a referance point when it comes to this issue.

2. When timing the bike I set the pistons to TDC using the timing marks for pistons 1 and 4. When turning the crank to verfiey the timing I notice that the 1 - 4 piston will reach TDC twice during the complete rotation from TDC to TDC according to the cam sprockets. Which of the piston TDC center rotations should I use or dose it matter. (I hope I explained this correctly.)

The reason for the questions is that after breaking the bike down and putting it back together at least 25 times she had NEVER failed to starting. (God I pray I don't have an Electrical problem.)

The Beast

[AOD]

Are you using a timing light and cranking the engine with the starter? Does the light fire on the timing mark when it should?

Are you getting spark?

[Guest]

Hi Beast, I believe you are referring to the cam timing? In which case the timing marks should align perfectly. I have noticed, that sometimes photos seem to be a little distorted, making details a little difficult to interpret. Good Luck, Ray

[hungryman]

I know this might sound silly but here it goes. I am timing my 1980 GS1100 after finally getting all of the stripped out Cam Cap Bolts corrected. I went to put it back together and after completing the process the sucker would not start. I belive my timing is off. Here are my Questions:

1. I have a Clymer manuel and if I follow it to the letter the timing looks to be one tooth off. If I move the the Cams forward 1 tooth it lines up prefectly acording to the knoches on the cams. Should the manual be followed to the letter or is it just a referance point when it comes to this issue.

2. When timing the bike I set the pistons to TDC using the timing marks for pistons 1 and 4. When turning the crank to verfiey the timing I notice that the 1 - 4 piston will reach TDC twice during the complete rotation from TDC to TDC according to the cam sprockets. Which of the piston TDC center rotations should I use or dose it matter. (I hope I explained this correctly.)

The reason for the questions is that after breaking the bike down and putting it back together at least 25 times she had NEVER failed to starting. (God I pray I don't have an Electrical problem.)

The Beast

1. The timing marks should like up exactly, not one tooth off. When you tighten the caps the marks will move. IF they don't line up exactly then move the gear one tooth and do it again.
2. The camshaft rotates at 1/2 the crank speed. This is normal. One TDC is compression, the other is exhaust. The GS fires on both.

[Boozy Creek Beast]

Thanks for the Info. but after a little more effort to make sure that all of my connections in the wiring harness are firmley pluged in she fired up and ran great.

The Beast