Timing Question.

[2003TrX400eX]

Can someone explain exactly how to do the timing? Hate that service manual. Doesn't explain good enough.

[CJM]

1. Take off the crank bolt and flywheel inspection covers

2. Turn crank to left till you hit the "t" mark.

3. With cam lobes facing down, line up cam gear using the head as a guide. Cam gear will look like _|_ this lined up with head.

Thats pretty much it, very simple.

Most of that is covered (least the part in getting the covers off and the "t" mark in the articles section of the site under valve adjustment

[2003TrX400eX]

Then I did it right from what I got out of it. Thanks. This might be a dumb question, but why is the timing chain jumping a tooth on the cam sprocket after one revolution?

[CJM]

Bad chain, bad tensioner. Either or.

Is it jumping a tooth or just slightly off? Slightly off is normal.

Remove chain, if chain kinks and isnt flexible buy a new one. Remove cam chain tensioner, screw spring driven mech in-does it release well or stick? Stick replace it.

Other option could be guides but I doubt it.

[2003TrX400eX]

It just gets more slightly off every revolution. And the tensioner doesn't stick.

[CJM]

Sounds like the chain is bad.

Can you lift the chain at all when its all together. If you can then id say chains done.

Replace chain, tensioner and guides if need be.

[2003TrX400eX]

No the chain is tighter than a drum when put on.

[CJM]

Sounds weird.

So if Im understanding it right, as you turn it-it skips along and timing doesnt line up??

The cam will move and timing will change of course when you turn the crank. It wont stay in place till it goes back to top dead center.

Now if its moving on the cam gear and skipping along-Id say the cam gears no good.

Only other idea is the gear down inside the trans is causing it.

[2003TrX400eX]

Yeah. If I make one full revolution counter clockwise, it will be slightly off. But if I go back one revolution clockwise, it will be exactly lined up again. I'm stumped. Not sure if this is normal or not...

[DragonGunner]

Do several revalutions and then check......where is it then? I would say a cam chain can stretch just like a drive chain, in that case is can go from tight to loose in different spots, but guess thats what the tensioner is for. After several revelution I'm interested where the timing marks are at. Slightly off I would ok IMHO.