Timing Question for an 82 GS850

[drycell]

I have a 1982 GS850G. It had a nasty leak from the heads so I put new gaskets on this weekend. That of course involved taking off the camshafts. When I went to set the timing I realized that Basscliff's online service manual (which is my reference) was for a 1979, which has points, where the 82 has electronic ignition. The closest I could come to setting it, which seems just about right, was to point the F mark on the crankshaft to the tab which had a 1,4 mark next to it. There's another tab 180 degrees across from it that says 2,3. Then the exhaust camshaft goes in with the #1 mark level with the gasket surface and the #2 pointing straight up. Then I counted 20 pins back and put the #3 on the intake camshaft on the 20th pin. When I put the timing light to it the F is right on the tab.
It starts up and runs, but last night when I let it idle the headers turned cherry red. This is the first time this happened, so I believe the timing might be a little retarded. Does anyone has experience in this matter?

[blowerbike]

cam timing or ignition timing?
you have a very little slot on the ignition plate...
when in doubt crank it full clockwise...thats full retarded.
there's only a couple degree's between the front and back of the slot.
not enough difference to make anything glow red.

[drycell]

cam timing. i believe that ignition timing is only possible with the camshaft on the later models.

[bwringer]

A diagram -- please note that in the photo it's actually rotated past TDC a bit. (It's a long story...)

The TDC mark is actually just past the "F".

http://bwringer.com/gs/tdc.html

Anyway, at TDC, the notches in the camshafts should be pointing directly at each other or 180 degrees away, and they should be in line relative to the cylinder head surface.

Sorta like this...

o>---------------<0 (or <o-------------o>

[drycell]

ok, so when i hook up the timing light the F is right on the notch. does that mean my timing is actually advanced too far?

[blowerbike]

i am lost now.
why would you use a timing light for your cam timing?

[tom203]

I think you're confusing yourself with the timing light- put it away and do what bwringer said to check the camshaft timing to the mark on crankshaft.
Just how long was it idling before pipes turn "cherry red" ?

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. drycell,

Just so you know, that GS850G manual contains supplements for all of the model years imported into the US. Look for the GZ supplement - chapter 17. Cam timing is 17-26 and ignition timing is 17-29.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[drycell]

@blowerbike - I used the timing light because I hoped for the best and put everything back together. I put the timing light on it to check afterwards.

@tom - it was idling maybe ten minutes. it was 10 at night and it was only the #1 exhaust pipe that did that. I haven't ridden it at night since then, but it doesn't seem to have done it again. I'm not too sure.

@ basscliff - heh, i guess i should look through the entire manual before i tear the engine apart next time.

thanks for the help everyone

[tom203]

What we were trying to emphasize was to first get the camshafts mechanically timed to crankshaft and then you can use timing light to ensure spark advance is correct.
I hope that hot pipe stays far, far away!

[drycell]

It's the first time I've done it, and although I had the proper information I didn't read it right. I wasn't sure where the timing mark was on the crankshaft. Now I do though, and I will get to work this Saturday taking it apart again... Fun

Thanks everyone!