350X rocker arm adjustment

**Hoosier_Daddy** · 05-22-2009, 07:15 PM

Thanks for the insight DC. Yes, John did tell me to find TDC instead of using the T mark and it seemed to work out so far. The clutch cover was off at one point but all I did was put new rings and valve seals in it. I don't have the decompression cable hooked up yet. I was turning the engine over by using a ratchet on the flywheel bolt. The stock piston and stock everything else is still in there. I did notice that with the piston at TDC and th e cam lobes facing down, the "T" mark is way off.

Is it possible that the new base gasket i put on could be thinner and cause that problem? There really isn't anything else I messed with unless i bumped something by accident.

**3Razors** · 05-22-2009, 07:47 PM

The piston is NOT at TDC if the "T" mark is not aligned with the notch on the crankcase. Use the "T" mark, thats whats its there for to set tdc.

**Hoosier_Daddy** · 05-22-2009, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by 3Razors

The piston is NOT at TDC if the "T" mark is not aligned with the notch on the crankcase. Use the "T" mark, thats whats its there for to set tdc.

If I align the T mark properly and stick a pencil into the cylinder the piston down a ways. If i feel with a pencil and get the piston to the top, the t mark is nowhere to be found. What do you guy suppose would cause this?

**Dirtcrasher** · 05-22-2009, 11:23 PM

The only way that the mark does not align with TDC is if the flywheel sheared the key. Or you have the wrong flywheel...

You need to take off the left cover and see whats up. The piston stroke and T are related through the crank itself, something is F'd up. Pencils or straws work fine, regardless something is off.........

This should be interesting

**Hoosier_Daddy** · 05-23-2009, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by Dirtcrasher

The only way that the mark does not align with TDC is if the flywheel sheared the key. Or you have the wrong flywheel...

You need to take off the left cover and see whats up. The piston stroke and T are related through the crank itself, something is F'd up. Pencils or straws work fine, regardless something is off.........

This should be interesting

I'll check it out. But why did it run so good before i took off the top end to put new valve seals and rings on it? I never even opened the flywheel case. I think we have a mystery on our hands and I'll have to get to the bottom of it.

**Hoosier_Daddy** · 05-24-2009, 11:28 AM

Here is the deal what is going on so far. Ill take jeswineharts advice for now because it seems to work good.

I took off the flywheel it's in good order. the key is fine, not sheared. So I put it all back together, found TDC on the compression stroke and the T on the flywheel is at the 2 0'clock position. Whicch is basically oposite of where it should be at about the 10 0'clock position. With it being on the compression stroke with the cam lobes facing down, I would assume this is not 180 degree off. Unless you guys have any other suggestion. Maybe we'll just have to see what happenes what i get it fired up?

**Dirtcrasher** · 05-24-2009, 01:00 PM

Every Honda flywheel I've dealt with that "T" is in about the 10:00 position. There is something wrong with that flywheel and no it's not off 180 degrees it's just off.

One "T" is for the compression stroke and the other is for the intake stroke.

How about some pictures of this?? Nice clear big pictures!!, I've GOT to see this....... I'm having a hard time believing it to be honest.

Better check the valves while it's apart bud.

EDIT - One step further here. You can time it with the piston being at TDC and the valve timing will run. But it's never gonna fire at the right time as the pickup magnet is in the wrong position. The keyway, the "T" and the pickup all have a specific location.

**Dirtcrasher** · 05-24-2009, 03:22 PM

Me thinky someone made a boo boo and got confused on the "T"

All kidding aside, the "T" marking is NOT easy to find on any of these Honda flywheels, but there are numerous other marks that confuse people. I use a straw or pen etc etc to get it close and then the flywheel bolt to dial it in.

I honestlt hope it's just a simple mistake and the valves are OK.

FYI - I bent the EVER LIVIN SNOT out of my 85 200X valves when I set it COMPLETELY WRONG!!!! I was about 17 years old

No manual and too confident for my own good

**Hoosier_Daddy** · 05-24-2009, 04:25 PM

OK, I am officially an idiot. I thought the mark in the first pic is the mark I was supposed to go by. But now that you guys provided a picture i have found the T and F. And the T is in the 10:00 position so it seems like it will be ok after all. lol

**Dirtcrasher** · 05-24-2009, 04:33 PM

^ Good deal! It's all part of understanding how these motors work and whats important.

I have HUGE respect for someone that can admit a mistake rather than others in the past who obviously try to worm there way out of it rather that just own up to it, ask for help and learn something from it in the process. That "T" and "F" really aren't as clear as they should be IMO.....

Lets just hope the valves are AOK!! Unfortunately, it doesn't take much to tweak them

I know John has been a great help to you, If you need any more help shoot me an email and I'll give you my number.

Steve

**Hoosier_Daddy** · 05-24-2009, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Dirtcrasher

^ Good deal! It's all part of understanding how these motors work and whats important.

I have HUGE respect for someone that can admit a mistake rather than others in the past who obviously try to worm there way out of it rather that just own up to it, ask for help and learn something from it in the process. That "T" and "F" really aren't as clear as they should be IMO.....

Lets just hope the valves are AOK!! Unfortunately, it doesn't take much to tweak them

I know John has been a great help to you, If you need any more help shoot me an email and I'll give you my number.

Steve

Appreciate all the help from you guys. The valves should be OK because the most i did was turn it over slowly by hand until i felt it stop then i quit and didn't force anything so i'll keep my fingers crossed on that. Again, thanks to you and John for all the help.

**3Razors** · 05-24-2009, 06:14 PM

You also better doublecheck that the camshaft sprocket is in the correct position now that you have found the correct "T". Like I said on the other thread its easy for alot of people to get excited and take these things apart, but putting it back together correctly is more tricky.

**JohnR.** · 05-24-2009, 08:47 PM

I didn't read this whole thread so forgive me if this has been mentioned but I had an exhaust valve get stuck in my 350X. Not long after I rebuilt the engine I washed it after I got back from a ride. I must have gotten some water in the exhaust and the bike sat for several months. The next time I went to start it the engine turned over until the cam went to push the exhaust valves down and it stopped dead. I turned it backward some and it went find, I turned it back forward and it hung up. I ended up pulling the head and replacing the two exhaust valves even though only one was stuck.

John

**Hoosier_Daddy** · 05-24-2009, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by 3Razors

You also better doublecheck that the camshaft sprocket is in the correct position now that you have found the correct "T". Like I said on the other thread its easy for alot of people to get excited and take these things apart, but putting it back together correctly is more tricky.

Great catch. I would have forgotten to do that!!

**NewfieBish** · 05-25-2009, 12:28 AM

this post gives me the sh!ts and makes me glad i own a 2 stroke. the best TDC guage i ever had was a screwdriver shoved down in the spark plug hole. 4 stroke got alot of "play" in their performance, ive had bikes that were not even on with their timing and worked like a charm, its really somethin to fvck with, but as a general rule the carpet got to match the drapes down below or somethins not right, get that bike goin, and go show some honda EX's how to do it

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