Hello,
I have a question on the ST1100 style cams where as there is a dual gear on the end, I see that they are slightly offset from each other so I have always thought that was to maintain tension with the driven gear with which they mate.
My question - on this spring-loaded dual-gear setup has anyone (other than me) seen them rotate and change position with relation to one another?
A bit more....my 1996 model has 98k miles and I was changing the timing belt and inspecting the clutch, while I was at it I decided to check valve clearances (last checked at ~60k miles) and I found that I had two exhaust valves out of spec on the right side. I have had the cams out and in a few times before so this was not a new procedure to me, I did as I always do, after lining up the index marks facing outward, for a little extra checking I always mark the two gears on the cam and the cam retainer cap so that it is a quick reference for putting the cam back in the correct orientation. This time, after changing out shims on the two exhaust valves, when I dropped the cam back in I noticed that the two marks I made on the cam gears were a whole tooth away from each other. I went ahead and finished installing the cam and the cam bearing caps, aligning the index marks with the head properly, but again the marks I made on the two gears were not in alignment anymore. Then while I was doing something else I heard a loud click or snap, like possibly a follower or spring had moved or sprung. I was able to install the exhaust cam without issue, I just had never seen before where the two gears on the cam had shifted in alignment from each other.
Here's a pic of the cam setup and what I'm talking about (no marks shown, just a generic pic).
Anyone else seen this? Just being cautious, loooooove my ST and it runs so good with some carb adjustments I did a few years ago, I want to make sure it stays happy,
Thanks in advance.
-mtnpat
I have a question on the ST1100 style cams where as there is a dual gear on the end, I see that they are slightly offset from each other so I have always thought that was to maintain tension with the driven gear with which they mate.
My question - on this spring-loaded dual-gear setup has anyone (other than me) seen them rotate and change position with relation to one another?
A bit more....my 1996 model has 98k miles and I was changing the timing belt and inspecting the clutch, while I was at it I decided to check valve clearances (last checked at ~60k miles) and I found that I had two exhaust valves out of spec on the right side. I have had the cams out and in a few times before so this was not a new procedure to me, I did as I always do, after lining up the index marks facing outward, for a little extra checking I always mark the two gears on the cam and the cam retainer cap so that it is a quick reference for putting the cam back in the correct orientation. This time, after changing out shims on the two exhaust valves, when I dropped the cam back in I noticed that the two marks I made on the cam gears were a whole tooth away from each other. I went ahead and finished installing the cam and the cam bearing caps, aligning the index marks with the head properly, but again the marks I made on the two gears were not in alignment anymore. Then while I was doing something else I heard a loud click or snap, like possibly a follower or spring had moved or sprung. I was able to install the exhaust cam without issue, I just had never seen before where the two gears on the cam had shifted in alignment from each other.
Here's a pic of the cam setup and what I'm talking about (no marks shown, just a generic pic).
Anyone else seen this? Just being cautious, loooooove my ST and it runs so good with some carb adjustments I did a few years ago, I want to make sure it stays happy,
Thanks in advance.
-mtnpat
Last edited:
What Bush said!
