hey i see that CMSNL guy is helping you with measuring stuff, ha ha!
tappet screws in hard weld megacycle rockers:
i had one that absolutely didn't want to go through, it was so tight. tried different screws and it was a no-go. had to run a tap through.
interesting: my megacycle timing card for the 12600 (milder than your cam) gives a running clearance of 0.005/0.006 (wider than yours). if anything, i would have expected it to be the other way around.
degreeing with cover on: you can do it with your regular cover without cutting it open, but you'll be taking it on and off a few times. you don't need to use all the bolts...
from a fellow (ex-) first time degree-er, here's what worked for me (if i remember correctly):
1 - find TDC on #1 with your piston stop, and mark it on the ignition plate
2 - set up your degree wheel so that 0 degrees aligns with TDC
3 - install the cam on your slotted sprocket, using the stock method with the notch to get it close to where it should be
4 - adjust cam chain tension
5 - install cover
6 - set tappets to running clearance (on #1)
7 - at 0.04 lift, note down the opening and closing number for both the IN and EX valves of #1
8 - calculate IN duration: (IN open value before TDC) + (IN closing value after BDC) + 180
9 - calculate IN lobe centre: (IN duration / 2) - (IN open value before TDC)
10 - calculate the same way the EX lobe centre
11 - unless you're super lucky, the IN and EX lobe centres won't be the same
12 - remove cover (make sure the tappets are free by snapping them back with your fingers!)
13 - adjust cam back or forward as needed
14 - start at step 5 again (make sure the tappets are free by snapping/holding them back with your fingers!)
15 - repeat 5 to 14 until IN and EX lobe centres are even (or until you're so fed up that you don't care about the last bit of tiny difference any more)
16 - check valve to piston clearance on IN and EX, at 10 degrees before and after TDC
if you can get your hands on a spare cover that you can cut open at the cam sprocket, like brent has, then your life will be much easier.
your lobe centres are most likely not going to be exactly as on the timing card. just get them as even as you can. megacycle told me that they consider anything that's within 5 degrees of specs, to be within tolerances.
this gets the cam dialled in for running. if you want to measure it to verify the spec on the timing card, you need to set tappets to 0 clearance.
get into zen mode and take your time! you'll be repeating these steps a few times.
