vintagehistoric

Hello Jim: Thanks for the speedy reply. I'm not sure what you mean by "soft link", but the link I have is an endless style that needs to be riveted. A new chain from Yamaha here is almost $150! The cam journals checked out round and the bearing surfaces were very nice. If you have a clearance spec for journal bearing, I can check it. The cams feel well located with no slop. This is the late style head which is one piece. The tensioner looks to be in good condition and has plenty of movement and springs back sharply. I will try reversing the motion on the motor to see if this impacts the cam location when rotating in the proper direction. I guess this is to make the tensioner properly locate? However, since the number of links between the cams is fixed and the pulling force goes from the intake to the exhaust, isn't the only way to change the location of the cam timing mark relative to the cap mark is to rotate the cam one tooth? That's what I did yesterday to measure the distance from the cap mark to the pip in the cam. I even disengaged the chain from the bottom sprocket and pulled it to be longer to one side, reassembled everything, then took it apart and did the same for the opposite side. Rotated the motor in operating direction a couple of turns each time as well. Got the same two distances from the timing mark no matter what I tried. I still can't think it is worn out parts, as the intake lines up well and the chain has no slack or slop on the run up from the crank. Perhaps I'm stuck inside "my box" and need some guidance to get outside the box! Thanks Scott

Hello: I'm new to the forum and looking for a little guidance on putting the motor back together. The head was off, so the timing chain had a link removed and this is the chain that was in the motor. I have a new link, but have trouble getting the exhaust cam to the book specified 1 to 1.5mm past the cap mark. The intake cam lines up at about 1mm to the left of the mark per the XS500A,B,C repair manual, but the exhaust falls at either 1mm the wrong side of the mark or about 5mm to the correct side of the mark. Am I missing something? Can't be chain stretch if the intake lines up, as this is on the tension side of the chain. Any help would be appreciated. Regards, Scott