I didn't line up anything on mine until I put it back together. why line up the timing marks just to take it apart? Sounds silly to me. Just cuttem and get on with it. It's not brain surgery, you really can't mess anything up. I've done a couple of them like that and no problems at all, don't sweat it , it's an easy job.

 

Question: When the dots are aligned are all lifters off-lobe at that point? It's been almost a year since I did my cam swap and I can't recall.

BTW, while the cam-lock tool makes the job a bit easier it really isn't necessary, as you can just have a helper hold the brake when the bike is in gear while you remove and later retighten the sprocket bolts. OTOH if you did a lot of cam jobs it would be worth it to buy the tool for the convenience factor, IMO.

 

I re-used my stock pushrods, but to remove them I just put each lifter off-lobe one-at-a-time. I then aligned the dots and didn't rotate the engine until time to center the oil pump, which is after the cam-plate has been reinserted. Doing it that way makes re-assembly easier. Then, I re-installed the pushrods doing it one-at-a-time, off-lobe as with the removal.

 

Follow the tutorial already mentioned, which is very good with pics. You can cut and remove them one-by-one by positioning each lifter off-lobe before cutting. The spring must be unloaded before cutting.

You don't need it. Just have someone hold the rear brake while the bike is in gear when you remove and later tighten the sprocket flange bolts.

 

Not that I could see. There wasn't ever a time that all 4 lifters were down at the same time. Close, but no cigar.

 

Make sure both lifters are down as much as they go and then cut away! Take some time to spin the rear wheel to watch the lifters go up and down. When the OPPOSITE cylinder exhaust lifter starts to go down and the intake lifter starts to go up, then you are on the compresson stroke of the cylinder you are working on.

Use a straw in the spark plug hole while rotating the rear wheel and find the top piston position. Mark the straw for later use. Both lifters on the cylinder you are working on should now be down.

This is the position you cut the pushrods and then later install them.

Your dots will not be completely aligned at TDC Compression.

Align the dots before you remove the gears, cam plate, and cams. This way everything will go back together perfectly.

 

Actually no! The worst parts are, 1) getting than damn exhaust back in place and 2) pushing that little button on the right handlebar after it is all buttoned up.

Fred the Thread Killer

 

Instead of using the cam-lock tool,
Couldn't you just put a piece of wood or plastic in place of the tool?

 

ODG! That first push of the starter button is what I was dreading! LMAO!

 

DeputyMike, I have to say that your bike is about the ugliest thing I ever saw. I would be willing to do you a favor and hide it here for you,