Turning the engine

[Guest]

Hello All! I got a basket case project and don't know if it runs. So I took the cover off on the shifter side of the engine and turned the engine counter cockwise. I guess I should have checked here first but is that the correct direction? If it's not what kind of damage did I do? Thanks for the Help!

[Brendan W]

Crank runs forward. What makes you think you did damage?

[gsrick]

Engines aways run up and away from the cam chain tensioner. I doubt you did any damage, but you might want to check the timing marks to make sure it didn't jump a tooth before you try to fire it up just in case. I think that is the main concern if you turn an engine backwards is the slack in the chain can cause it to jump a tooth on the exhaust cam, IRC.

[Calandnr]

Well I never did anything like this before and was worried. I don't know when the last time this bike ran. Last inspection sticker is for 86 and it's only a 82!

[gsrick]

Well I never did anything like this before and was worried. I don't know when the last time this bike ran. Last inspection sticker is for 86 and it's only a 82!

How much did you turn it?

[gsrick]

I just reread your original post and realized which side you turned it from. I thought you were turning it from the ignition side. If you were turning it counterclockwise from the stator side of the crank, you were turning it in the correct direction. There should be nothing to worry about.

[Calandnr]

How much did you turn it?

1 or 2 turns.

[gsrick]

1 or 2 turns.

No worries. Like I said, I thought you were turning it from the ignition end of the crank. The small cover on the right side is where the ignition is located and most manuals tell you to turn the engine from the bolt under the cover.

[sharpy]

most manuals tell you to turn the engine from the bolt under the cover.

Well there wrong. You use the 17mm(maybe19) nut to turn that engine. Turning the 12 mm bolt will more than likely break it.

[gsrick]

Well there wrong. You use the 17mm(maybe19) nut to turn that engine. Turning the 12 mm bolt will more than likely break it.

I didn't say to use the 12 mm bolt, but thank you for clarifying that. Not all engines have that little bolt.

[Brendan W]

Mostly instructions about turning are in the context of the ignition side where you will find two.
Even with tensioner out, by hand would probably be too slow to do anything.
If you're worried, check the timing marks, then with the plugs out turn slowly clockwise from the big screw on the ignition side and see that everything is free.

[Steve]

Hello All! I got a basket case project and don't know if it runs. So I took the cover off on the shifter side of the engine and turned the engine counter cockwise. I guess I should have checked here first but is that the correct direction? If it's not what kind of damage did I do? Thanks for the Help!

Getting back to the original question, you probably did no damage. However, you DID turn the wrong direction and you were under the wrong engine cover to do that.

As others have mentioned, you should have been on the RIGHT side of the engine, under the ignition cover and used the 19mm nut to turn the engine clockwise.

You are correct in questioning, though, as not all engines turn the same direction.

.

[gsrick]

Getting back to the original question, you probably did no damage. However, you DID turn the wrong direction and you were under the wrong engine cover to do that.

As others have mentioned, you should have been on the RIGHT side of the engine, under the ignition cover and used the 19mm nut to turn the engine clockwise.

You are correct in questioning, though, as not all engines turn the same direction.

.

Well he did go in the right direction for that side, but like we've said, it was the wrong side to turn the engine from.

[chuck hahn]

Correct Rick..and the reason is that by using the rotor bolt to turn the engine over you risk loosening it or even breaking bit all together.

[gsrick]

Correct Rick..and the reason is that by using the rotor bolt to turn the engine over you risk loosening it or even breaking bit all together.