Cam timing... cam turning with no pin. What am I doing wrong?

[LeeH]

I've read this procedure so many times I can do it in my sleep... and have been for a week.

So I'm finally ready to time the cams, but every time I pull the pin and turn the crankshaft the cam moves too (ie with the chain as if the pin were still in place). The only thing that seems to help is loosening the tension on the idler pulley. However, I have to make it so it's just barely holding the chain up - with no real tension. I've tried putting oil on the cam and between the sprockets, but that hasn't helped. I pulled the chain and the outer sprocket spins freely on the cam sprocket with seemingly no serious friction.

What am I missing?

[dtw]

Nothing -- that's happened to me before too. I just hold the cam with the cam tool while turning the wrench on the crank.

[LeeH]

Originally posted by dtw
Nothing -- that's happened to me before too. I just hold the cam with the cam tool while turning the wrench on the crank.

I've got the later version.

[john walker's workshop]

if you have cams with the nut, you do the 360° thing back to TDC, pull the pin and turn the cam where you want it. bolt style is put the cam where it needs to be, pull the pin and turn the crank back or forward to TDC. what do you have? do you have all the rockers in place or just one on each side? i always install all the rockers. that way the cam stays put.

[LeeH]

I've got the later style with the bolt. I'm following Wayne's book and only have the rocker in for #1. The cams are 20/21 grind WebCam. When I get them set and pull the pin they immediately spin.

Problem solved.

[john walker's workshop]

so put the rest of the rockers in and do a quick "feel" adjustment so they're in the ballpark. then the cams will stay put.