Cam timing questions. Is the Honda Manual Correct?

You’re right, Doug... there’s some interchangeability regarding index lines and punch marks. I think the only real punch mark is the one on the crank/Drive pulley.
Edit: all ST1100 camshafts have a punch mark on them. See this thread link for images.

John
 
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Update. I got it all back together right. Turns out I did have the cams in the right sides. There was an R stamped on the bottom of the left cam which I mistook for meaning the right side. But once I flipped it over I saw the LI and LE markings. What I had been doing was lining up the cam punches with the driven pulley punch mark instead of the cam index marks with the driven pulley punch mark. But once I figured that out it all went back together like a champ. I have the case covers back on and cleaned the old valve cover gasket sealant off. tonight I have a new set of honda valve cover gaskets going on, new NGK plugs, and I'm putting the PAIR system back on. After that I have a new oil pan gasket and will put the oil pan back on. There was no sludge in the pan or crankcase. so I believe it when the guy said this engine only had a couple of thousand miles on it before the bike was wrecked. And to finish the engine part before putting it back in the frame a new rear transmission cover gasket to get the correct rear cover with the breather hole for this 91 engine on. HOpefully will have this back in the frame by the end of the weekend.
 
Whew! Thank goodness. Great news! I was just about to warn about the different length cam follower bolts (put one of the steel 45mm bolts in a 40mm aluminum hole and overtorque :eek:).

Please keep us (me!) poSTed on your progress. We (me!) are now quite “inveSTed” in your very significant undertaking!

Continued beST wishes and good luck!

John
 
misterguitar said:
What I had been doing was lining up the cam punches with the driven pulley punch mark instead of the cam index marks with the driven pulley punch mark.
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Question: so you're saying that the cams have both the index "lines" and "punch marks", right? I couldn't remember for sure but I seem to remember there being both the last time I was in there. And as per the John Hudson diagram the lines are the appropriate alignment for all 4 cams. Can you confirm?

glad you got it back together correctly.
 
For those reading this thread, the camshaft reinstall issue is discussed further here, FWIW:

Setting the camshafts after a full top end strip down | ST1100 Related

Hi have searched and searched for a definitive article relating to setting up the camshafts after a full top end strip-down, specifically the left hand cylinder head cams and can't find an easy answer. Have fitted new refurbished water pump, new tensioner and idler, refurbed heads, here is my...
www.st-owners.com www.st-owners.com
 
As to the camshaft Punch Marks, their only use during a left-side camshafts reinstall is as final reference check after you’re all done, having carefully followed the manual. At that point, with all the cams reinstalled, when you return the #1 cylinder to TDC, crank at T1, the left-side camshafts’ Punch Marks should align with the top of the cylinder head and face OUT. That’s it, the only time...
 
To be clear... we’ve known for many years that the Haynes manual’s carb sync procedure is egregiously wrong. You don’t balance one cylinder bank to the other.

Simply put: the #4 cylinder is the base cylinder and the other cylinders are sync’d to it individually, in any order. Adjust the idle to spec during if necessary. Period.

John
 
Jim Van said:
Doug : I seriously doubt the clearances will ever be anything except dead-nuts in the center of the allowable range. They haven't changed in 50K miles.

But I bet when I do the first valve clearance check next year on my '08 Concours C-14 I will have to pull the cams and change some shims. Can't wait for that !! I had to get the Concours because I ran out of stuff to do on the ST1100. Kinda sad, isn't it ? BTW, doing a throttle body balance on the Concours is an absolute PITA compared to a carb balance on the ST1100.
Click to expand...

Update : I checked the valve clearances on my Concours C-14 with 18K miles this spring and every valve was tight and out of specs !! I had a lot of fun removing the two cams , measuring the shims, and determining the size of the new shim so all the clearances were on the high end of the acceptable range. It took some time, but the job went smoothly. Took care of a few other maintenance items while I had the plastic off. And I saved about $850 by doing it myself. Since I'm retired and on a fixed income, having the dealer do this job wasn't an option.

So if you are bored maintaining your ST1100 consider purchasing a Concours C-14. Just be careful when you twist the throttle, especially in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear. Seriously, the bike is scary fast.
 
Someone has commented on the Haynes manual.

Has anyone compared the Honda manual with the Clymer ST1100 manual
for the cams and timing belt procedures?

Does misterguitar have access to a Clymer?
 
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