SilentUnicorn said:
Can you imagine if these items were produced and shipped with the marks already in place? The cam sprocket is designed to mount in at least 4 different orientations. Can you imagine the fella that relies on a pre-marked sprocket? Does not degree his cam and then wonders why his engine doesn't run correctly? I will take an unmarked sprocket any day.Mark
Mark,
Yep, go in a parts store and see if you can find one without them. MILLIONS have been sold and installed using just the marks and things have worked out just fine.
It will mount in 4 diffrent locations, but only has two differnt timing variables. (by half a tooth either way.)
Line up the marks and it will run right. It might not be perfect optimal timing.....but it didn't come that way to begin with. Those that are that worried about it who run a wilder cam, can opt for the adjustable gear, which is why they make it. It left the factory with marks and they were lined up. It doesn't make manufacturing sense to degree EVERY cam that comes down the line, thus they have marks. In the real world, marks work out just fine. Neither my BL 1500 manual nor my Chilton say ~anything~ about dialing it it, but both give nice purty pitchers of sprokets with marks and a straight edge to line them up.
I have seen/sold and installed hundreds, if not thouands of timing set and each and evey one had marks, be it small engine or big diesel. (they do it on gear set too.)
Kim, I have had these things spit off on me since I was a child. My dirt bike would spit the link and pile the chain up into the case and bend my clutch rod ~EVERY~ time. On ALL of my street bikes that were chain driven (about 50), the master would come off sooner or later and either pile in (maybe crack) the case, drag down the road or lock the rear wheel.
I do not trust these things ~AT ALL~!
I've seen the dowels before, and offset keys, but they have always started off on marks. I don't mind the belts that much anymore, unless on an interference engine. Means more $$$ fer the service guy.