Topic: brandEn's K4

[iron_worker]

You'll be jealous until you have to replace a valve cover gasket ... the 750 motor has to come out of the frame for that! Unless you have the splice kit of course... but I digress. 

IW

[Bankerdanny]

True. But if the engine already out, like my 550's is, I was looking forward to setting the valves when I took the cover off to inspect the cam and was disappointed to find out that the rockers came with the valve cover.

But yeah, all things equal and unmodified, being able to remove the valce cover and head without pulling the engine is a big plus.

[brandEn]

Yea actually I have read a few posts suggesting that. I went with a suggestion from Mike saying just go with lobe centerline, so that was what I focused on getting right. Hopefully I did it right!

Yes but you have to check the both sides.....the lobe seperation can be off a small amount which will effect the LC numbers....that's when you "split" the difference. Also...keep the indicator shaft parallel with the valve stem to avoid side deflection. That retainer is plenty large enough...

Thanks Mike,

What is "LC"

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

She's looking great Branden. 

[brandEn]

Can I check my cam with the lash set at .004"?
I will just check everything at .036" instead of the .040" with zero lash. Is that right?

[MRieck]

Can I check my cam with the lash set at .004"?
I will just check everything at .036" instead of the .040" with zero lash. Is that right?

Yes....your opening  and closing numbers will be later and earlier respectively. Example...if it is supposed to open @ 20 degrees BTDC it will open @ 16. If it supposed to close @50 degrees abdc it will be 46.

[brandEn]

Thanks Mike. As always I appreciate your input. I will post some more pictures and results when I get through another round of cam timing.

[MCRider]

Hey Ron.... any chance you can delete those ebay links for the oil pumps?
 

Sorry I missed this post. Done.  Curious though as to why to delete the links?

I found this post looking for a picture of how you've mounted the dial indicator. I see a heavy steel strap, got a better picture?

I've actually done this whole operation once last year, but can't remember for the life of me how I stood up the dial indicator. I usually save any homemade tools, fixtures that I make.

[brandEn]

Hey Ron.... any chance you can delete those ebay links for the oil pumps?
 

Sorry I missed this post. Done.  Curious though as to why to delete the links?

I found this post looking for a picture of how you've mounted the dial indicator. I see a heavy steel strap, got a better picture?

I've actually done this whole operation once last year, but can't remember for the life of me how I stood up the dial indicator. I usually save any homemade tools, fixtures that I make.

Thanks Ron, the one link you posted was so long it made it so you had to scroll way to the right... No big deal just made it little tougher to navigate on my iPhone haha

I don't have any better picture of the strap but I will take one when I get back in to recheck things later today or tomorrow.

[MCRider]

Hey Ron.... any chance you can delete those ebay links for the oil pumps?
 

Sorry I missed this post. Done.  Curious though as to why to delete the links?

I found this post looking for a picture of how you've mounted the dial indicator. I see a heavy steel strap, got a better picture?

I've actually done this whole operation once last year, but can't remember for the life of me how I stood up the dial indicator. I usually save any homemade tools, fixtures that I make.

Thanks Ron, the one link you posted was so long it made it so you had to scroll way to the right... No big deal just made it little tougher to navigate on my iPhone haha

I don't have any better picture of the strap but I will take one when I get back in to recheck things later today or tomorrow.

Oh I get it. Glad to oblige.

I must have had a thick piece of steel like that to do mine. I'll look around the shop.

[madScientist]

Judging from where you're at in the project you might be done with this girl by the end of the summer!!

Very excited to see the pictures and watch all the videos you're sure to take of the finished product!
Looks great man!

[brandEn]

Judging from where you're at in the project you might be done with this girl by the end of the summer!!

Very excited to see the pictures and watch all the videos you're sure to take of the finished product!
Looks great man!

Thanks!
If I had more funds it would not be a problem, however I still need carbs, pipes, brake lines, and controls. Gonna be a few months before I can come up with that much extra cash.

[brandEn]

HELP!


Either I am doing something wrong or my cam is WAY out of spec...


I hooked everything up to the exhaust side, reset the wheel for TDC, reset the valve lash to zero and rotated the engine to read .040" lift at the retainer and got


EXHAUST:
53 bbc / 15 atc  (its supposed to be  50 bbc / 23 atc)


INTAKE:
26 btc / 52 abc  (its supposed to be 25 btc / 52 abc)


Exhaust setup




.040" lift



53 bbc



15 atc ! WTF!? How is this possible?

[Flying J]

When i did my cb550 the cam card didnt even give the degrees. I just had to "square it up". Kept adjusting until the numbers were the same.
I was way more confused then you when i started so im sure you be fine.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=85698.msg1323759#msg1323759

[brandEn]

Thanks J.
I understand squaring up the lobe centers and I am confident I can do it. What has me scratching my head is how far from spec the exhaust seems to be. 7 or 8 deg seems like a huge amount to be off. Maybe not I don't know for sure. Hoping to hear from someone with more knowledge about this stuff soon.

[MCRider]

Thanks J.
I understand squaring up the lobe centers and I am confident I can do it. What has me scratching my head is how far from spec the exhaust seems to be. 7 or 8 deg seems like a huge amount to be off. Maybe not I don't know for sure. Hoping to hear from someone with more knowledge about this stuff soon.

I don't remember how far, I just remember mine was off too. Webcam 41. And I remember reading everyone's is off more than we would like. Don't know why, hard to make a cam I guess. That's why there are degree wheels for sale in the first place. Happens to the car guys too. That big blue wheel, I have one too, came from the automotive side.

[brandEn]

So I adjusted my cam and got the lobe centers real close. I took a picture of my notes. How does this look?

LC INTAKE 106.5
LC EXHAUST 106

[Doctor_D]

Branden:

You did it the way I did, and I got 76 or so HP out of that cam.  Not the same model, but the exact same cam. 

It was driving me nuts too, by the way.

[brandEn]

Branden:

You did it the way I did, and I got 76 or so HP out of that cam.  Not the same model, but the exact same cam. 

It was driving me nuts too, by the way.

Right on Dave. Thanks. Did you keep your notes from timing this cam? It would be fun to compare.

[iron_worker]

You are measuring .040" lift at the valve ... are you sure it's not supposed to be at the love itself? The rocker arm ratio changes the amount of lift from the cam to the valve due to different lengths on either side of the pivot.

I would think the cam specs would be at the cam itself not after the rockers but maybe someone can confirm.

IW

[Doctor_D]

Branden - Sorry, I didn't keep my notes.  I do, however, remember doing it over and over and over again and never getting the advertised numbers.

I settled on the most equal and closest to advertised lobe centers I could get and called it good.  In the end, I think I retarded the cam a bit as my 125-75 makes more low-end torque than the 65 did - but it was still more than fine.

[MRieck]

So I adjusted my cam and got the lobe centers real close. I took a picture of my notes. How does this look?

LC INTAKE 106.5
LC EXHAUST 106

Looks OK to me. You should have measured the actual lift....that would also be different than advertised. All lift #'s are taken off the retainer to answer an earlier question. When you work with these single can engines you are married to the lobe separation.....your best bet is to get the intake and exhaust LC's close to the same #....ie 105/105, 103/103 etc. Dual cams are a whole different story.

[brandEn]

Thanks Mike. I will get the lift numbers. I am still all set up.

[brandEn]

Lift

Intake
.380"      (spec= .375")

Exhaust
.347"       (spec= .354")

[MRieck]

As a side note....i get the LC buy subtracting the lower# from the higher #, adding 180 and dividing by 2. It is a bit easier to do in your head. Either method is correct.