Cam Removal on bike 16v

[Brianjonesphoto]

I've got an 83 gs550e with a non working tach. The gauge and cable work fine so I pulled the valve cover and discoverd the tach gear was missing a tooth and the matching gear on the exhaust cam wasn't in too good a shape. I'd like to have a working tach on this bike so I need to replace the exhaust cam.

Can you replace a cam while the engine is still on the bike? It looks like a pretty straight forward job from the manual. Any pointers? Anybody with an exhaust cam for a 16v 550?

Thanks

[Brianjonesphoto]

Here's the cam

[chef1366]

Bummer, someone didn't turn the gears into each other when reapplying the valve cover. Take off the valve cover then remove the cam chain tensioner.(loosen lock nut and tighten down the screw on the tensioner to lock it so you don't pop the tensioner piston into the motor) Check timing marks and count links between cam marks. Remove exhaust cam caps and remember where each one goes because they HAVE to go back on the way they came off. Remove exhaust cam and keep tension on the cam chain so it doesn't slip off the intake sprocket. Put in new exhaust cam and make sure timing is right.(make sure it isn't 180 degrees off.) Reinstall cam chain tensioner(do you know how to cock it and release it?) When you reinstall the valve cover turn the tach gear till it fits into the grooves of the cam gear.

[Brianjonesphoto]

Reinstall cam chain tensioner(do you know how to cock it and release it?)

How do I do this?

[chef1366]

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

Are you the Brian Jones, the dead guitar player of the Rolling Stones?

[Brianjonesphoto]

Are you the Brian Jones, the dead guitar player of the Rolling Stones?

No I'm his much younger identical twin. I can't tell you how many times I've been asked that question. you know the saying If I had a dollar for every.....
What's really funny I know a Jimmy Hendrix and a Jeff Beck When we're together it like the Rock and Roll hall of fame.

[jgordon]

No I'm his much younger identical twin. I can't tell you how many times I've been asked that question. you know the saying If I had a dollar for every.....
What's really funny I know a Jimmy Hendrix and a Jeff Beck When we're together it like the Rock and Roll hall of fame.

Who the heck is Jeff Gordon?

[chef1366]

My bud:-) Who is a rock star in my eyes.

[MekaniX]

WARNING !!

when you take the caps off, make sure you go slow and evenly.

If you can, try to keep pressure on the cam so it doesn't lift at all and then remove them.

Otherwise the threads will come out with the bolt. Personal exp on a 550