Cylinder Head replacement - Cam chain advice required

[Big Daft Lad]

I’m about to rebuild the top end of the engine in my ’89 FZR600 after blowing the head gasket. I’m looking for some tips regarding replacing cams and the timing chain.

Can I slip the cams in place with the chain off the sprockets, then time in the cams once bolted down and put the chain on? The manual seems to suggest that I have to have the chain in place on the sprockets before putting the cams in. I think this would be pretty tricky to do, no?

Has anyone done this job? Thanks.

[reelrazor]

With all of the tensioner pieces out you can slide the cams in without even taking the sprockets off the cams.

That said, if you have the sprockets on the cams but not bolted it makes it a bit easier.

[Big Daft Lad]

Thanks, I was hoping someone would say that. I'll get out into the garage tomorrow!

[demon_knight69]

i've been inside the fzr600 motor more than i care to. the top end is not too difficult. i ended up taking everything apart, but i left the cams in the head so i didn't have to mess with them too much. the markers for TDC are very useful. keep this in mind when timing the engine, if you're looking at the picture of where the timing marker is on the flywheel (in the manual) it looks like the picture was taken while near the rear of the bike looking at the flywheel straight on, this is NOT the case. image you are standing at the front of the bike, looking at the flywheel, now cock your head to the left (upside down basically), that is how the took the picture. makes NO freaking sense. i ended up putting the bike all back together and then realized i was 180 degrees out because some dumb doesn't know how to take a picture that makes sense.

anyway, enough ranting, the cams themselves are not too difficult. once you get in there it starts to make sense.