Cam Placement

I have a 1977 kz1000. i replaced the valves, now i'm trying to set the cams. the "Clymer" manual is very vage. It say's to set the EX cam with the timing mark just above the head surfacein front of the bolt head. The manual shows the timing mark to be in front of the bolt yet there is no mark (dot, line, indent...). There is a dot straight across from the bolt on the what would be the bottom or back side of the triangle the gear. I installed the cams with the "triangle pattern pointing away from one another .: :. Counted my 28 teeth to the intake cam. when i run the motor (runs bad, carbs) the dwell and points plate needs to be turned all the way one direction to run at all. do you think the cams are off a tooth or something. and i had to swap the coil wires to fire opposite. I think the ex cam is not in time. can you sagest any help setting the Ex cam placement. You are known on the net for your knowledge with KZ's I'm hoping you can help me thank you, mark. 10 of 1976 KZ1000 A1 moter

Mark,are you setting pistons 1 and 4 at TDC(top dead center) when you do this?
That is a MUST,before you do anything else.
If you DIDN'T do that,then you risk bending a valve,because your CAM timing will have been out of sync with the pistons.

It's the little arrows on each cam sprocket,that you want to line up flush with the surface of the head.
Like you did,start with the exhaust cam,and do your 28 pin-count back to the intake cam,and the arrow on THAT sprocket should also line up flush to the head.

Again...you MUST be at TDC on 1 and 4 BEFORE you do anything else.

Yes i did put it on TDC is it right above the T (I hope)or is it beside it the 1 mark. I have looked and looked for a mark on the cam. Nothing in front of the bolt head. thats why i was wondering about being a tooth off with having to turn the timing plate all the way. There is a dot on the plastic part of the cam accrossed from the front of the engine. I SO APPRISIATE ANY HELP THANKS.

You say that you DID see the triangle?
THAT is what you want to be flush with the head surface.Those traingles are on BOTH cam SPROCKETS,btw.They are on the metal section of the sprocket,and not the nylon.Might be hard to see,so look close and clean those areas to make them more visible.
If you look at the INAKE sprocket,you WILL see a mark that says "28"

And a pic of the "triangle"...

THANK YOU I SEE IT NOW

Right on ,Mark.

Go slow,and make SURE everything is set properly...don't rush it,or you WILL regret it...slowly,Grasshopper.

Ask,if you're not sure.

Grasshopper went very slow and it runs much better Thanks so much.I have owned the bike for 16years, untaged for eight years now with bent Exhaust valves. with four doller a gallon gas, time to fix.

Right on,Grasshopper:laugh:

Just curious...how did the valves get bent in the first palce?
We ALL need to know.
And don't worry...lots of us have done it.:blush:

Just curious...how did the valves get bent in the first place?

Your evil Sandy....lol!

Markster90, it's actually a good question and a learning curve for the rest of us, especially if it was something you did wrong or the manual wasn't clear enough.

Example, I just snapped my lower case due to unclear service manual instructions. I felt like crap but I needed advice and ideas and the forum members came through in true form. I did receive some ball busting for my stupidity but they helped just the same...

I actually think they felt bad for me...

OMR

Your evil Sandy....lol!

Markster90, it's actually a good question and a learning curve for the rest of us, especially if it was something you did wrong or the manual wasn't clear enough.

That's what I was after.
I wasn't TRYING to be evil...honest.:laugh: